Rwanda has unveiled a national Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) strategy aimed at improving how institutions share data, deliver services, and build digital innovation—paving the way for a more connected digital economy and accelerating the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence, according to officials. The strategy was introduced during Rwanda’s first DPI Day, held on Monday, March 9, and organised by Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) in collaboration with Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation. The event also marked progress since the establishment of Rwanda’s Centre of Digital Public Infrastructure in 2025. ALSO READ: Press release: Access to Finance Rwanda launches Terimbere MSME Facility to connect enterprises to tailored growth support Digital public infrastructure refers to foundational and interoperable digital systems, such as digital identity platforms, payment systems, and data exchange layers, that function as public goods and allow governments and private actors to build services at scale. Officials stated that the initiative aims to create a shared digital foundation that allows institutions to collaborate more efficiently, while supporting innovation across sectors. Over the past decade, Rwanda has made significant progress in digitising public services. However, many digital platforms were developed independently, creating systems that serve specific institutions but are not always designed to communicate with one another, officials observed. Antoine Sebera, Chief Executive Officer of RISA, said the introduction of DPI seeks to address this challenge. “Digital public infrastructure is about creating the shared foundation that allows services across government institutions to work together seamlessly,” Sebera said. He explained that without such a foundation, the growth of multiple standalone platforms can lead to fragmentation, limiting interoperability, scalability, and long-term sustainability. Foundational DPI systems, including digital identity, interoperable payment platforms, and trusted data exchange systems, enable digital services to integrate and scale more efficiently, while improving the experience for citizens. “DPI is like roads and electricity for the digital economy. It allows services, innovation, and inclusion to move faster across the entire country,” Sebera said. ALSO READ: Techies decry barriers 'holding back' Rwandan-context AI He emphasised that the strategy is not meant to replace existing digital systems but rather to provide a framework that ensures future digital solutions are interoperable, secure, and aligned with Rwanda’s national development priorities. Unlocking innovation and AI potential Sebera also noted that establishing a shared digital infrastructure will support Rwanda’s ambitions to become a regional hub for artificial intelligence (AI). With stronger data exchange systems and interoperable platforms, he said, AI technologies can access larger volumes of reliable and high-quality data from different sectors, making them more effective. Sebera underscored that the development of DPI will enable both government institutions and private companies to build innovative digital services on top of a shared national infrastructure. However, he added that such a system cannot be built by a single institution. “Its very nature requires collaboration among government institutions, private sector innovators, civil society, and development partners,” he said. Jean Bosco Iyacu, Chief Executive Officer of Access to Finance Rwanda, emphasised that the conversation around DPI must go beyond policymakers and include innovators, businesses, and academic institutions. “The DPI ecosystem should be open to everyone, the public sector, private sector, innovators, think tanks, and academia,” Iyacu said. ALSO READ: How Rwanda is regulating artificial intelligence He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of digital systems in enabling access to services and financial inclusion. “We are looking at shared technologies that are reusable, where innovators can build new services from where others have stopped,” he said. Iyacu added that AFR remains committed to expanding inclusive financial systems and ensuring digital innovations benefit underserved communities, small businesses, and rural populations. “DPI is a powerful framework for us to achieve this by creating shared digital realms that reduce barriers financially and enable innovation at scale,” he added. Building Rwanda’s digital foundations Sharon Umunyana, Director for the Rwanda Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure, said the centre’s role is to ensure the country’s DPI infrastructure works effectively in practice. She cited initiatives such as digital identity systems – whose rollout is planned by June 2026 – and interoperable payment platforms like e-Kash as early steps in Rwanda’s DPI journey. According to Umunyana, the centre will support the development of foundational digital systems, strengthen collaboration between public and private sectors, and build technical capacity within the ecosystem. “Technology is actually the easier part,” she said. “The real question is how we build digital foundations that enable innovation, inclusivity, and economic growth through coordination and collaboration, while avoiding silos.” She added that the private sector will play a critical role in building applications, financial services, and digital platforms on top of these foundational systems. Safeguards, trust, and collaboration Yves Iradukunda, State Minister at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, stressed that implementing DPI will require strong collaboration across institutions. “We must ensure that all stakeholders work together to remove silos that could lead to duplicated investments,” he said. “The success of this effort will depend on strong collaboration between government institutions, regulators, the private sector, development partners, and the broader technology community.” Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, Resident Representative of UNDP to Rwanda, also highlighted the importance of trust, safety, and inclusion in developing digital infrastructure. “A trusted and open platform invites private sector and civil society to build upon it,” she said. She noted that safeguards are essential to ensure that women, rural communities, and marginalised groups are not left behind in the digital transformation. “Digital public infrastructure is not an end in itself. It is a foundation for Rwanda’s future digital economy, including the adoption of artificial intelligence,” she said. Building technical capacity The event also featured a technical training programme on foundational DPI, organised by RISA. The training covered DPI architecture and principles, interoperable payment systems, data exchange frameworks, and practical implementation considerations. Participants who completed the programme received certificates, marking the creation of a growing community of certified practitioners expected to support the implementation of Rwanda’s digital public infrastructure.
