Rwanda is stepping up efforts to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture, as African countries look for ways to turn new technology into practical solutions.
The country’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, hosted a session in New York on September 25 focused on how AI solutions can be deployed at scale in Rwanda.
The discussion brought together partners working on technology and development, with a focus on moving beyond small pilot projects and finding solutions that can be used more widely.
Rwanda sees healthcare and agriculture as two areas where AI could have a direct impact. In health, the technology can support disease monitoring, medical diagnosis and decision-making. In agriculture, AI can help farmers use information about weather, crops, soil and pests to improve production.
The discussions come as Rwanda continues to build its reputation as one of Africa’s active centres for digital innovation. A 2026 UNDP assessment said the country has built strong foundations for AI through its National AI Policy, digital infrastructure, data protection framework and growing technology ecosystem.
The assessment also identified opportunities for AI in areas including health, agriculture, finance, governance and climate resilience.
Rwanda has been developing its digital infrastructure for years, including expanding broadband connectivity and digital public services. Its technology ecosystem also includes institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University Africa and Kigali Innovation City, which support skills development, research and innovation.
The country is also trying to strengthen cooperation with international technology and development partners to help turn AI ideas into solutions that can operate at a larger scale.
However, Rwanda still faces challenges, including the high cost of computing, limited advanced AI skills and gaps in data systems. Addressing these issues will be important if the country wants more AI solutions to reach businesses, public institutions and communities.
The latest discussions show Rwanda’s growing interest in using technology not only as a digital industry, but also as a tool to address practical development needs.
For Rwanda and other African countries, the focus is increasingly shifting from simply adopting AI to building solutions that respond to local challenges and can eventually be expanded across the continent.
