Rwanda has secured an additional €17 million loan, equivalent to about $19 million, from the World Bank to strengthen its digital infrastructure, cybersecurity systems and electronic government services.
The funding, provided through the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), will support the ongoing Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project (RDAP) and help address financing gaps.
The additional financing will also extend the project’s implementation deadline to June 2028.
Launched in 2021 with an initial $200 million jointly provided by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the project aims to improve broadband connectivity, expand access to digital public services and strengthen Rwanda’s technology and innovation ecosystem.
According to the Rwanda Information Society Authority, 258 digital public services had been introduced or improved under the programme by December 2025.
Part of the additional funding will support the development of a national digital identity system designed to simplify identification and improve access to public and private-sector services.
The National Identification Agency reported that about 13.7 million people had completed biometric registration as of October 4, 2026.
Implementation of the digital identity system was reportedly 76 per cent complete, while the digitisation of civil registration and vital statistics had reached 89 per cent.
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The government is also developing a centralised Data Hub to facilitate information sharing among public institutions, although procurement challenges have affected implementation.
Cybersecurity is another priority under the additional financing, with planned improvements to national systems for protecting digital infrastructure and responding to cyber threats.
Institutions expected to benefit include the National Cyber Security Authority and the Rwanda Computer Security Incident Response Team.
Despite progress in digital transformation, Rwanda continues to face challenges related to internet access, smartphone ownership and digital literacy.
The additional investment is expected to help address these barriers while improving the security and efficiency of digital public services.
The funding forms part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to expand its digital economy and strengthen the infrastructure supporting technology-driven services.
