The African Development Bank Group, in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda, recently concluded the 2025 Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) workshop, which assessed the effectiveness of delivery within the Bank's active portfolio in Rwanda.
From 12-13 November 2025, at the Ubumwe Hotel in Kigali, some 50 participants representing the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, implementing agencies -- including project implementation units (PIUs) -- and Bank task teams from the transport, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture, social development, ICT, and governance sectors gathered for this annual joint exercise.
The two-day workshop included sectoral presentations from executing agencies and PIUs to identify key constraints affecting the implementation of the Bank's portfolio in Rwanda and to agree on a realistic action plan to resolve them. Specifically, the workshop reviewed portfolio performance and discussed key implementation challenges.
Speaking during the opening session, Aissa Toure Sarr, Country Manager for the Bank Group in Rwanda, emphasised the importance of collaboration and accountability in achieving the Bank's strategic priorities in the country and called the workshop a "vital platform for reflection and joint action."
"It enables us to take stock of progress, address challenges, and ensure that AfDB-financed projects deliver tangible results for the people of Rwanda," Toure Sarr said. "Our shared objective is to improve efficiency, strengthen implementation capacity, and accelerate transformative impact in line with Rwanda's Vision 2050 and the Bank's priorities."
Beyond evaluating performance, this year's review took stock of progress on key recommendations from the 2024 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan (CPIP), which emphasised strengthening project implementation capacity, improving financial and procurement management, and enhancing coordination between executing agencies and the Bank. Notable progress has been made in areas such as regular training for PIU staff, the inclusion of compensation funds under Bank loans to prevent project start-up delays, the establishment of a joint Technical Committee to monitor portfolio performance, and reinforced compliance with environmental and social safeguards through targeted training and follow-up actions.
The CPPR culminated with a 2025 Country Portfolio Improvement Plan and an agreed Action Plan for 2026 to further enhance delivery, efficiency, and impact. The outcomes of the workshop will guide strategic adjustments to strengthen alignment between the Bank's portfolio and Rwanda's Country Strategy Paper, ensuring greater development effectiveness, sustainability, and impact.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Rwanda, Gerald Mugabe, Director General in charge of External Finance at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, commended the strong collaboration between the Bank and the Government in addressing implementation bottlenecks.
"The CPPR provides a vital opportunity to ensure our joint projects remain responsive to Rwanda's development priorities," Mugabe said. "Through continuous dialogue, capacity building, and policy alignment, we are strengthening delivery systems and ensuring that AfDB-supported investments translate into measurable outcomes for citizens across key sectors."
As of 2025 the Bank's active portfolio in Rwanda comprises 28 operations valued at approximately $2.6 billion, spanning critical infrastructure and human capital development sectors. The portfolio includes 26 public sector projects (98 percent) and two private sector operations (two percent), supporting Rwanda's efforts to expand energy access, improve water and sanitation services, enhance transport connectivity, boost agricultural productivity, develop skills for youth employment, and strengthen regional integration and governance systems.
