AFD's New Office in Rwanda: “Symbolic of France’s Return”

AFD Group officially opened its new office in Kigali on 31 March 2022. What significance should be attached to this renewed physical presence in Rwanda? 

Arthur Germond: Rwanda has been waiting for France’s return. This also holds true for AFD, which hadn’t had an office in the country since 1994. This new situation has come about through the presentation of the Duclert Report to the French President on 26 March 2021, then his official visit to Kigali on 27 May.

We had already had an activity since 2010 through our subsidiaries Proparco, which is dedicated to the private sector, and Expertise France (for technical cooperation), albeit very limited. President Paul Kagame received the Chief Executive Officer of AFD Group, Rémy Rioux, in June 2019, which gave AFD the opportunity to renew dialogue with the Rwandan authorities. The recognition of France’s “heavy and overwhelming” responsibility in the Tutsi genocide normalized relations between the two countries. The inauguration of AFD Group’s office in Kigali, just a few weeks ahead of the start of the commemorations of the genocide, is part of this strong and resolutely forward-looking partnership. 

Find out more: Our country page on Rwanda 

What action will AFD Group take in Rwanda?

A.G.: The declaration of intent signed between Rwanda and France in May 2021 provided for the mobilization of €500 million for 2019-2023. AFD Group has already committed €218 million. For 2022-2023, we’re anticipating about €200 million of financing. The cross-cutting theme includes access to sports activities in school and spotting young talent. 

These investments are based on three pillars:

• Human capital (health, education and vocational training) 
• Sustainable economic development (digital technology, innovation, green finance) 
• Local development and access to basic services (access to electricity, neighborhood renovation)

Furthermore, the establishment agreement we recently signed covers the entire Group, a first for AFD. This creates a favorable regulatory and administrative environment for the activities of Proparco and Expertise France. We have about a dozen officers already working in Rwanda and we hope to rapidly expand.

Find out more: AFD Group Opens its Doors in Kigali 

An agreement has been signed with a longstanding partner of AFD, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), as well as with the Rwandan Ministry of Health. What are the objectives of these two partnerships? 

A.G.: We have a very strong commitment with the Rwandan Government for health. By the end of 2022, Rwanda will be able to produce vaccines against Covid-19, as well as other types of Messenger RNA vaccines. We will help train people working in the manufacturing plants for these vaccines. We will also support the construction of a new hospital in the north of the country, which will also be a regional hospital for eastern DRC and southern Uganda.

Regarding the Development Bank of Rwanda, we’ve been working together since 1974. In early April 2022, we signed a strategic partnership agreement with the aim of working together on an equal footing. The objective is to develop new financing tools tailored to Rwanda’s needs, in particular for cultural and creative industries and digital technologies. The intention is also to work together in international forums, for example, with the IDFC international coalition of development banks and the Finance in Common initiative. Expertise France has also initiated  discussions with its counterpart Rwanda Cooperation to the same end of working together internationally. The partnership between France and Rwanda has been revived at all levels. 

Further reading: Reinventing Development: an Interview with Achille Mbembe and Rémy Rioux