The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced Wednesday that it will invest $300 million in projects aimed at boosting agriculture in Rwanda, part of a broader effort to strengthen one of the country’s most profitable sectors.
The announcement came during the bank’s annual talks with the Rwandan government and other development partners. The discussions are held each year to review AfDB-funded projects, evaluate progress, and identify challenges and opportunities for improvement.
AfDB officials said the bank has invested $2.5 billion in Rwanda over the past two years, supporting 28 projects primarily focused on infrastructure, including water and sanitation, energy, and transportation.
Aissa Touré Sarr, AfDB’s country manager for Rwanda, said about 85% of those projects are currently being implemented.
“Of the projects we manage, 34% are in water and sanitation, 30% are in energy, and 16% are in transportation,” Touré Sarr said. She credited the progress to strong collaboration with the Rwandan government, which she said has allowed the bank to play a key role in the country’s development.
Touré Sarr said the annual meetings offer an important opportunity to assess performance and coordinate priorities.
“These discussions help us review how far we’ve come in implementing our projects, identify the challenges we’ve faced, and make sure our initiatives continue contributing to Rwanda’s development,” she said.
According to Touré Sarr, the number of AfDB-supported projects in Rwanda has increased from 26 to 28 over the past two years, while total funding rose from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion.
She said agriculture will be a key focus going forward, following a request from the Rwandan government to invest more in agro-processing and irrigation.
“After the government asked us to increase support for agriculture, we allocated $300 million for irrigation initiatives,” she said.
Emmanuel Nuwamanya, director of planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure, praised the AfDB for its continued partnership with Rwanda.
“We appreciate AfDB’s role in supporting projects related to water and sanitation, transportation, and energy, which help improve people’s lives and advance national development,” Nuwamanya said.
The AfDB began operations in Rwanda in 1974. While most of its funding has historically gone toward infrastructure, the bank said it now plans to direct more resources toward projects that promote agricultural development.
