The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said it plans to invest more than $400 million (approx. Rwf588 billion) in Rwanda’s agriculture sector over the next three years, according to the bank’s Rwanda 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review Report. The planned investment is part of the bank’s efforts to shift more financing towards agriculture and reduce its heavy concentration in infrastructure. ALSO READ: AfDB to invest over Rwf430bn in Rwanda’s agriculture The report, released on Thursday, August 20, says the shift is aligned with the country’s second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). The Bank’s active portfolio in Rwanda stood at 29 operations as of January 31, comprising 27 public-sector and two private-sector projects, with total commitments of about $2.6 billion. Infrastructure accounts for 87 per cent of the portfolio. The report says the concentration in infrastructure “poses a significant risk,” and could make it harder to justify additional infrastructure-only investments. ALSO READ: Rwanda, AfDB to partner for Gabiro Agribusiness Hub phase 2 “In response, and in direct alignment with NST2, the Government of Rwanda has requested a strategic pivot, with the Bank expected to invest over USD 400 million in agriculture over the next three years,” the report says. The reorientation is intended to rebalance the bank’s country portfolio, reduce concentration risk and support growth in priority productive sectors, according to the report. Infrastructure remains dominant AfDB said its Rwanda portfolio reflects the country’s development priorities and the objectives of Rwanda’s 2022-2026 Country Strategy Paper, as well as the bank’s Ten-Year Strategy for 2024-2033. Water and sanitation account for 34 per cent of the portfolio, followed by energy at 30 per cent. Finance accounts for 10 per cent, transport 9 per cent and multi-sector operations 11 per cent. ALSO READ: Rwanda seeks $2.9bn annually to fund development agenda – AfDB Agriculture, communications, social and urban development together account for the remaining 6 per cent of the portfolio. The bank said its infrastructure investments have delivered several results. Following the 2024 Mid-Term Review of the Country Strategy Paper, the report cites more than 195,000 new energy connections, 300 kilometres of upgraded regional roads and access to clean water for 67 per cent of the population. AfDB also mobilised $127 million in additional financing from partners, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the OPEC Fund, to support energy and aviation skills projects. The bank had announced in 2025 that it would inject some $300 million (approx. Rwf432 billion) into Rwanda’s agriculture in 2026.
