Rwanda’s built environment at a crossroads: The law is passed, but the real work begins now

Last week, Rwanda achieved a landmark milestone in its development journey. Parliament passed a long-anticipated amendment to the law regulating the professions of architecture and engineering, officially bringing quantity surveying into the fold. ALSO READ: From memory to momentum: Building Rwanda with vision, values, and purpose This move is far more than a legal update. It is a clear and bold message that Rwanda is serious about raising the bar in its built environment sector by ensuring that its infrastructure is safe, smart, and sustainable. It also aligns directly with Vision 2050 and Rwanda’s ambition to be a regional leader in innovation and resilience. But while this is a significant step, it is not the finish line. In fact, this is where the real work begins by laying the legal foundation as a necessary but incomplete victory. This law is like the foundation of a skyscraper which is absolutely essential, but far from complete because foundations do not house people, drive economies, or symbolize progress until the walls, systems, and finishing touches are added. ALSO READ: Engineering for industrialization: A call to action for Rwanda’s transformative growth Similarly, while this new law introduces much-needed professional standards and oversight, it is just one pillar in a much larger structure. If we do not follow it with equally decisive reforms, this moment of progress will fade into missed opportunity. First of all, why does this law matter? The amendment is a game-changer for two key reasons: Professionalization: It sets a clear benchmark for competence and ethical conduct across architects, engineers, and now quantity surveyors. It will help weed out poor practice and bring integrity back to the center of project delivery. Alignment with Vision 2050: Every building, road, or bridge, now plays a defined role in advancing Rwanda’s long-term socio-economic vision. This law binds infrastructure development to national transformation. ALSO READ: What needs to be done to leverage professional engineering data for Africa’s future The understanding of what still needs to happen forces us to recognize that this law is only one piece of a larger puzzle. Hence Rwanda’s built environment is an ecosystem, and transforming it requires holistic, multi-layered actions of six urgent priorities that must follow: Collaboration and governance The establishment of an Infrastructure Development Coordination Council (IDCC) will create a unified space for government, academia, and industry to align efforts by eliminating duplication, inefficiencies, and regulatory fragmentation. 2. Contractor licensing and classification As it stands, any registered company can pose as a contractor, even without tools, staff, or technical expertise. The results are poor-quality work, delayed delivery, and misused public funds. Therefore, Rwanda must urgently establish the Contractor Licensing and Classification Board (CLCB). Without this, public trust, infrastructure safety plus skills and knowledge transfer for sustainability remain at risk. 3. Competency framework for the whole workforce The professions’ law is vital but it does not properly cover all the players such as technicians, artisans, and trades people who bring designs to life. These workers also need clear standards and regulations to exercise their duties. Hence, develop a national competency framework aligned to the international standards that sets training and certification benchmarks across all construction and engineering roles. This, will reduce reliance on imported labour, raise wages, and boost Rwanda’s regional competitiveness. 4. Technology adoption for leapfrogging into the future From Building Information Modelling (BIM) to 3D printing and AI project management, technology is transforming how infrastructure is delivered. Inevitably, Rwanda should offer tax incentives, innovation grants, and public-private partnerships to encourage firms to adopt smart construction tools. Without this, our infrastructure will remain expensive, outdated, and slow to build. 5. Access to finance for SMEs Small and medium construction firms are the backbone of our sector, but most struggle to win tenders or access affordable loans. There is need to launch a “Groom and Grow” initiative by combining government-backed project guarantees, mentorship programmes, and procurement incentives for local SMEs. This will empower local companies to scale, instead of sidelining them in favour of foreign firms. 6. Enforceable sustainability standards Climate change is no longer a future threat. It’s a present danger where floods, landslides, heatwaves, and erosion are already testing the strength of our infrastructure. The solution is to fully enforce the Rwanda Building Code and Green Building Minimum Compliance System, promote resources efficiency practices, the use of renewable energy, efficient water systems, and climate-resilient materials. Rwanda must not build for today alone but for generations to come. My call to action is to not lose momentum. The amended professions’ law is a triumph but it is not enough because if we pause here, we risk stagnation, if we act boldly, we position Rwanda as a regional model and here’s what should happen next: CLCB must be established and rolled out immediately; National graduate and competency frameworks aligned with international accords for engineers, technologists and technicians must be adopted and rolled out; Technology incentives must go live before we fall behind; SMEs must be given the financial tools to thrive; Green standards must be enforced and not optional. The time to build is now and Rwanda has shown it can dream big and deliver. This professions’ law is a proof but a foundation without a structure is not enough. The sector is now at a crossroads. Let us seize this moment and build a Rwanda where every architect’s sketch, every engineer’s calculation, and every contractor’s effort contributes to a legacy of excellence, resilience, and innovation. The foundation is laid and the next chapter begins today. The author is the CEO of Tasks Africa, a community benefit company registered in Rwanda and immediate past president of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO).

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Rwanda’s built environment at a crossroads: The law is passed, but the real work begins now