Kigali, 08 May 2024 – The Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Mastercard Foundation and Cenfri announced today, the launch of the second phase of the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme. This phase builds on the successes achieved during phase 1 of the programme and aims to further leverage data analysis in driving policy and strategic business decisions, ultimately improving the lives of Rwandan citizens.

Over the past 3 years, the programme has generated some of the most reliable data on financial inclusion in Rwanda by creating data pipelines and an analytical environment. Additionally, the programme has been able to access and analyse more than 46 datasets from the public and private sectors. With its focus on data-driven decision-making, it has impacted at least 15 discrete policy issues and has materially changed the trajectory for most of these.

The second phase of the programme will target poverty relief through increased adoption of data-driven decision-making to manage complex trade-offs in the agriculture, education, retail, and tourism sectors. The programme also seeks to improve operational efficiency and market visibility for the private sector by exploring how data and digitalisation can boost digital financial inclusion and promote youth employment within rural micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The programme is additionally supporting the Government of Rwanda in developing policy options to achieve the objectives of vision 2050 through a scenario building exercise.

As the key implementation partner, Cenfri, along with its data partner 71point4, is collaborating with Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, National Bank of Rwanda  Development Board, Rwanda Space Agency, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources , Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Ministry of Commerce, Rwanda Management Institution   and other key private institutions to develop capacity in leveraging data to achieve their respective mandates and business goals.

“We are excited about this second phase of the Programme and delighted with the continued support of our partners, the Mastercard Foundation and Ministry of ICT and Innovation” said Doubell Chamberlain, Managing Director of Cenfri. “We will continue strengthening the data ecosystem in Rwanda by working alongside our government and private sector partners to build skills, support the maturing of data value chains and to demonstrate the impact of a data-led approach on key policy and business decisions. The Government of Rwanda has established itself as an advocate of data-driven policymaking and we look forward to building on this powerful demonstration case in the next phase of the programme.”

In reaffirming the commitment to advancing digital progress, Honourable Minister Paula Ingabire stated, “The Ministry of ICT and Innovation is committed to propelling Rwanda towards a knowledge-based economy, with ICT as a driver for economic growth and development. Our partnership with organisations such as Cenfri and the Mastercard Foundation plays a pivotal role in actualising our vision of digitising services, generating employment, and empowering MSMEs through data analysis.”

“At the Mastercard Foundation, we believe that digital inclusion is a catalyst for job creation. As such, this programme targets the use of data insights for longer-term impact through policy change, leading to poverty relief, improved resilience, additional employment or income-generating opportunities and improved financial inclusion,” stated David Rurangirwa, Country Director, Rwanda Programmes at the Mastercard Foundation.

This programme is part of the Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works strategy sets out an ambitious goal to enable 30 million young people in Africa, especially young women, to secure dignified and fulfilling work opportunities by 2030.

For more information about the programme, email Arlette Rwakazina Rwanda Country Lead or Esther Kunda, the Director General of Innovation Emerging Technologies at MINICT.

About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership.

About the Ministry of ICT and Innovation

MINICT has the mission to address national priorities relating to economic growth and poverty reduction through development and coordination of national policies and programmes related to information, technology, communication, and innovation as well as citizen’s empowerment.