AfDB Reviews Rwanda Projects to Boost Delivery and Impact
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, has successfully concluded the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR), assessing the effectiveness of its active project portfolio in the country.
The two-day workshop, held from 12–13 November 2025 at the Ubumwe Hotel in Kigali, brought together around 50 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, implementing agencies such as project implementation units (PIUs), and Bank task teams covering sectors including transport, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture, social development, ICT, and governance.
During the sessions, sectoral presentations from executing agencies and PIUs identified key challenges affecting project implementation. Participants worked collaboratively to develop a practical action plan to address these issues, reviewing portfolio performance and discussing obstacles to timely and effective delivery.
Speaking at the opening, Aissa Toure Sarr, AfDB Country Manager for Rwanda, highlighted the importance of collaboration and accountability in realising the Bank’s strategic priorities. She described the workshop as “a vital platform for reflection and joint action.”
“It enables us to take stock of progress, tackle challenges, and ensure that AfDB-funded projects deliver tangible results for the people of Rwanda,” Toure Sarr said. “Our shared goal is to improve efficiency, strengthen implementation capacity, and accelerate transformative impact in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the Bank’s priorities.”
The 2025 review also assessed progress on recommendations from the 2024 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan (CPIP), which focused on enhancing project implementation capacity, improving financial and procurement management, and strengthening coordination between executing agencies and the Bank.
Notable achievements include regular training for PIU staff, inclusion of compensation funds under Bank loans to prevent project start-up delays, the creation of a joint Technical Committee to monitor portfolio performance, and reinforced adherence to environmental and social safeguards through targeted training and follow-up.
The CPPR concluded with the formulation of a 2025 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan and an agreed Action Plan for 2026, aimed at further improving delivery, efficiency, and impact. The outcomes will inform strategic adjustments to better align the Bank’s portfolio with Rwanda’s Country Strategy Paper, ensuring sustainable and effective development results.
On behalf of the Government of Rwanda, Gerald Mugabe, Director General for External Finance at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, praised the strong collaboration between the Bank and government in resolving implementation challenges.
“The CPPR provides an important opportunity to ensure our joint projects remain aligned with Rwanda’s development priorities,” Mugabe said. “Through ongoing dialogue, capacity building, and policy alignment, we are strengthening delivery systems and ensuring that AfDB-supported investments achieve measurable outcomes across key sectors.”
As of 2025, the Bank’s active portfolio in Rwanda comprises 28 operations valued at approximately USD 2.6 billion, covering critical infrastructure and human capital development.
The portfolio consists of 26 public sector projects (98 percent) and two private sector operations (2 percent), supporting Rwanda’s efforts to expand energy access, improve water and sanitation services, enhance transport connectivity, increase agricultural productivity, develop youth skills for employment, and strengthen governance and regional integration.
