Rwanda earned Rwf 587 million in the 2023/2024 fiscal year through South-South cooperation, showcasing its innovative development model and strengthening diplomatic ties with 70 countries.
Rwanda generated Rwf 587 million during the 2023/2024 fiscal year from study visits by foreign delegations and the export of homegrown technological solutions to other developing countries, Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe told senators Tuesday.
The funds were earned through programs led by the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), a government agency that promotes Rwanda’s locally developed solutions abroad.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, Nduhungirehe said the country has hosted 7,662 visitors from 70 nations since RCI’s establishment in 2018.
“Through RCI, Rwanda has advanced its economic diplomacy, particularly with developing countries,” Nduhungirehe said. “Technology projects have been deployed to countries including Chad, Guinea and Kenya, and we are preparing to send more to Lesotho, Eswatini and Chad again.”
He noted that the Rwf 587 million was generated last fiscal year through these study tours and international project partnerships.
According to the minister, Rwanda is becoming a continental hub for good governance, innovation and environmental policy. He pointed to achievements such as the country’s ban on single-use plastics as examples that inspire visiting delegations.
RCI Director General Eng. Patricie Uwase told senators that since the agency’s launch, it has focused on sharing Rwanda’s post-genocide development experience and lessons learned.
“Out of the 70 countries that have requested partnerships, 45 are from Africa,” Uwase said. “When we engage with these nations, we emphasize that the solutions to development challenges already exist within Africa.”
Uwase said foreign visitors are introduced to Rwanda’s policy decisions and development path to help them understand what led to the country’s current status. As a result, several countries have sought Rwanda’s support to replicate successful initiatives in areas such as governance, digital services and planning.
“In Chad, for instance, we partnered on digital transformation projects,” she said. “They came to understand how Rwanda efficiently manages donor aid and implements technology-based public services.”
Rwanda has assisted Chad in setting up digital platforms for budgeting and public finance management, as well as electronic tax systems and electronic billing machines (EBM), modeled after Rwanda’s own systems.
Nduhungirehe said the country currently maintains 49 embassies worldwide, with nearly half located in developing countries.
In response to questions from senators about how African countries can overcome poverty, the minister said regional collaboration and local problem-solving are essential.
RCI is also in discussions with the University of Rwanda to develop a curriculum that would teach students about the country’s homegrown approaches to national development.
“This could be integrated into Rwanda’s education system,” Uwase said.
She added that visitors are often curious about how Rwanda recovered after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, citing interest in the country’s cleanliness, environmental efforts and investment climate.
“When they visit, we show them Rwanda’s journey and the key decisions that shaped its progress,” Uwase said. “That’s why some countries are open to working with us on joint tech projects.”
RCI currently works with countries including Chad and Eswatini to support the delivery of public services through digital platforms.
