Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme


In partnership with

       

The Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme is a six-year digital transformation initiative by the Government of Rwanda, the Mastercard Foundation and Cenfri. The programme works with 71point4 and policymakers to develop evidence-based and inclusive policies to reduce poverty and digitise the Rwandan economy.

For more information on this programme, download the brochure or email either the Director General of Innovation and Emerging Technologies at MINICT at ekunda@minict.gov.rw or Cenfri Rwanda’s Country and Partnerships Policy Lead at Arlette@cenfri.org

Digital Transformation & Data

Rwanda’s human journey to big data: Inside the NISR

The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) has long been known for its censuses, household surveys, and economic measurements. But it is evolving, with a shift from traditional statistical production to increased reliance on big data or alternative sources of data. To understand this shift, we sat down with

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Digital Transformation & Data

Kigali’s Data Community of Practice

The initiatives undertaken as part of Cenfri’s Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme are designed to strengthen the data ecosystem in Rwanda. We want to see people excited about using data and unlocking its potential for improved policymaking and service delivery. One such initiative is a Community of Practice – a safe

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

Transitioning a stats agency to a data services provider: Lessons from Ireland

In this interview, Pádraig Dalton, former Director General of the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, reflects on leading the shift from an organisation producing statistics to one providing insights and data services across the system. Having consulted with the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) under the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation

Read More »
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Testing how digitalisation could transform MSMEs in Rwanda

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for 98 percent of all businesses in Rwanda, employing over 2.5 million people according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. However, despite increased business digitalisation globally, the digital journey of many MSMEs in Rwanda is still fragmented, potentially inhibiting their growth. While

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

Aligning workforce skills and economic ambition in Rwanda

Gaining speed: Rwanda’s economic momentum Vision 2050 is Rwanda’s blueprint for achieving prosperity; the country is aiming for an upper-middle-income status by 2035 and a high-income country status by 2050. The country’s journey from being a low-income nation at USD 1,040 currently to USD 4,036 by 2035 is an ambitious, yet

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

What we can learn from merging datasets

Data in isolation often tells only one part of the story. Sometimes, to gain a full picture, multiple datasets must be combined to incorporate different variables, uncovering insights that drive better decision-making. Merging two or more datasets is a powerful technique that enables organisations to analyse information stored in different

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

Data wrangling with graph theory

As a Data Scientist, most of my time is spent wrangling data – dealing with inconsistent formatting, unstandardised data collection and unclear documentation (if documentation even exists). The frustration can be immense, that is, until you find a solution to your puzzle. Cenfri’s work in the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Read More »
Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Leading with data governance: Setting the foundation for a data-driven future

As outlined in the discussion on developing a data strategy, the journey to becoming a data-driven organisation begins with a clear vision, practical objectives, and strong frameworks. Data governance plays a critical role in this transformation. Whether or not the data strategy has been finalised, the responsibility to protect and

Read More »
Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Developing an organisational data strategy

To enhance the use of data for decision-making, it is important to develop not only individual data skills but also institutions that have embarked on a journey to data maturity. This note provides some guidance on the key components of an institutional data strategy and a summary of the core

Read More »
Governance, Policy & Regulation

Data and scenarios provide a glimpse of a future Rwanda

For the past three decades, Rwanda has had remarkable growth. Between 1999 and 2023, real GDP per capita grew on average 5% per annum. But the aim is even higher: Rwanda’s vision is to become a high-income country by 2050 and to reach this goal it would need to surpass

Read More »
Digital Transformation & Data

Rwanda’s human journey to big data: Inside the NISR

The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) has long been known for its censuses, household surveys, and economic measurements. But it is evolving, with a shift from traditional statistical production to increased reliance on big data or alternative sources of data. To understand this shift, we sat down with

Digital Transformation & Data

Kigali’s Data Community of Practice

The initiatives undertaken as part of Cenfri’s Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme are designed to strengthen the data ecosystem in Rwanda. We want to see people excited about using data and unlocking its potential for improved policymaking and service delivery. One such initiative is a Community of Practice – a safe

Digital Transformation & Data

Transitioning a stats agency to a data services provider: Lessons from Ireland

In this interview, Pádraig Dalton, former Director General of the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, reflects on leading the shift from an organisation producing statistics to one providing insights and data services across the system. Having consulted with the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) under the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation

MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Testing how digitalisation could transform MSMEs in Rwanda

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) account for 98 percent of all businesses in Rwanda, employing over 2.5 million people according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. However, despite increased business digitalisation globally, the digital journey of many MSMEs in Rwanda is still fragmented, potentially inhibiting their growth. While

Digital Transformation & Data

Aligning workforce skills and economic ambition in Rwanda

Gaining speed: Rwanda’s economic momentum Vision 2050 is Rwanda’s blueprint for achieving prosperity; the country is aiming for an upper-middle-income status by 2035 and a high-income country status by 2050. The country’s journey from being a low-income nation at USD 1,040 currently to USD 4,036 by 2035 is an ambitious, yet

Digital Transformation & Data

What we can learn from merging datasets

Data in isolation often tells only one part of the story. Sometimes, to gain a full picture, multiple datasets must be combined to incorporate different variables, uncovering insights that drive better decision-making. Merging two or more datasets is a powerful technique that enables organisations to analyse information stored in different

Digital Transformation & Data

Data wrangling with graph theory

As a Data Scientist, most of my time is spent wrangling data – dealing with inconsistent formatting, unstandardised data collection and unclear documentation (if documentation even exists). The frustration can be immense, that is, until you find a solution to your puzzle. Cenfri’s work in the Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Leading with data governance: Setting the foundation for a data-driven future

As outlined in the discussion on developing a data strategy, the journey to becoming a data-driven organisation begins with a clear vision, practical objectives, and strong frameworks. Data governance plays a critical role in this transformation. Whether or not the data strategy has been finalised, the responsibility to protect and

Rwanda Economy Digitalisation Programme

Developing an organisational data strategy

To enhance the use of data for decision-making, it is important to develop not only individual data skills but also institutions that have embarked on a journey to data maturity. This note provides some guidance on the key components of an institutional data strategy and a summary of the core

Governance, Policy & Regulation

Data and scenarios provide a glimpse of a future Rwanda

For the past three decades, Rwanda has had remarkable growth. Between 1999 and 2023, real GDP per capita grew on average 5% per annum. But the aim is even higher: Rwanda’s vision is to become a high-income country by 2050 and to reach this goal it would need to surpass