The Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project is a five-year project funded by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with the overall goal of increasing access to broadband and selected digital public services and strengthening the digital innovation ecosystem.

The project aims at accelerating country-wide digital transformation, focusing on critical digital enablers that “future-proof” economic growth and build on existing digital foundations.  Project activities seek to expand digital adoption, by spearheading a series of innovative digital access and inclusion initiatives.

The project will also enhance Government’s digital service capabilities, equipping the GoR with the ability to harness the power of big data and scale e-service based on shared digital standards, platforms, and infrastructure. Finally, the project will increase Rwanda’s capacity to support digitally-enabled innovation, by strengthening the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, supporting tech firms to move from startups to growth and developing Rwanda’s digital talent base.

The project is designed around four integrated and mutually reinforcing components.

The first component, digital access and inclusion will increase digital access and inclusion through investment in digital access enablers, focusing on under-served areas and groups. It consists of the following sub-components:

(i) access to affordable smart devices;

(ii) digital literacy for all;

(iii) last-mile connectivity access; and

(iv) legal, regulatory, and institutional capacity for broadband market development.
 

The second component, digital public service delivery will strengthen the Government of Rwanda’s (GoR’s) ability to securely deliver more digital services, allowing for increased resilience and adaptability to health, climate, and other shocks.

It consists of the following sub-components:

(i) digital identification and authentication;

(ii) government data management, sharing, and analytics;

(iii) e-services in key sectors; and

(iv) cybersecurity resilience and data protection.

The third component, digital innovation and entrepreneurship will strengthen the local digital entrepreneurship ecosystem and talent base. It consists of the following sub-components: (i) regional digital entrepreneurship hub; and (ii) next-generation capabilities for the digital economy.
The fourth component, project management will finance project management costs associated with administering the project, including core project management functions related to financial management (FM), procurement, monitoring and evaluation (M and E), environmental and social framework (ESF) compliance, as well as project communications and coordination.

The Project is implemented by the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and the Development Bank of Rwanda Plc (BRD). BRD is responsible for leading the implementation of a sub-set of project activities related to the establishment and administration of a smart device affordability and access program, as well as an early-stage financing scheme for digital start-ups.

- Increase access to broadband

- Increase access to selected digital public services

- Strengthen the digital innovation ecosystem