Rwanda Boosts Digital Literacy with KOICA Support

Why this is here: The Digital Ambassador Program facilitated over 5 million requests for online services through platforms like Irembo and Byikorere, demonstrating a substantial increase in citizen engagement with digital government tools.

KOICA and the Rwandan government concluded a $4.5 million project in Kigali to expand digital literacy across the country. From 2022 to 2026, the two entities collaborated on the Digital Ambassador Program, aiming to include rural and marginalized communities in Rwanda’s digital transformation. The initiative trained over 1,567,034 citizens in basic digital skills with a network of 1,000 Digital Ambassadors.

The program significantly increased use of public services. Usage of the Irembo and Byikorere platforms rose from 30% to 73%, resulting in over 5 million requests.

It also supported biometric registration and the rollout of the eKash National Payment System, pushing weekly digital users past 90%. Five Service Access Points were renovated in underserved communities to provide essential e-services.

Despite these gains, sustaining the program’s impact beyond the project timeline remains a focus. Future work will center on expanding the digital ambassador network and strengthening inclusive digital transformation efforts across Rwanda.