AGP Executive Report

Conservation & Tourism: Rwanda marked the 21st Kwita Izina with 22 newly named baby mountain gorillas at Volcanoes National Park, under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future,” highlighting the country’s recovery from about 250 gorillas in the early 1980s to more than 1,000 today. Infrastructure & Trade: Rwanda and China launched a Kigali road expansion and upgrade project on the Prince House–Giporoso–Masaka corridor, aiming to cut congestion and travel time with major widening, interchange works and drainage. Climate Finance for Farmers: IFAD and Equity Group launched ARCAFIM, a $200m climate adaptation mechanism for East Africa, operating in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda to finance 260,000 smallholder farmers and 500 MSMEs over 12 years. Agribusiness & Innovation: Ugandan agritech SANDI AI won a US$50,000 GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize for using technology to improve farmers’ access to infrastructure and finance. Regional Payments & Policy: Kenya’s new stablecoin rules tighten Central Bank control over foreign stablecoin access via licensed providers, with implications for cross-border trade and digital payments across East Africa. Business Diplomacy: The Pakistan-Africa Economic Council (PAEC) is set for launch this Friday, with an initial focus on Rwanda and other East African markets to connect investors and project opportunities.

Climate Finance for Farmers: IFAD and Equity Group launched the $200m (Sh25.8bn) Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism (ARCAFIM) in Kigali, targeting 260,000 smallholder farmers and 500 rural MSMEs across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, with revolving lending expected to generate about $266m in loans over 12 years. Rwanda-Oman Trade Push: President Paul Kagame’s visit to Oman produced two agreements and six MoUs, including visa exemptions and removal of double taxation, plus deals on agriculture, logistics, dry ports, investment promotion, labour and supply chains. Gorilla Conservation & Tourism Jobs: Rwanda plans to restore about 3,740 hectares around Volcanoes National Park to create more habitat for a growing mountain gorilla population and ease farmer-gorilla conflict, while supporting livelihoods tied to tourism. Infrastructure Investment Drive: Africa50 says it aims to more than double the value of projects it backs to at least $20bn over the next five years, focusing on power and transport gaps. Food Systems Focus: FAO rolled out tools to help governments track and optimise agrifood spending, while AU officials urged Africa to move from commitments to investment and production to transform food systems. Student Visa Costs: The UK raised international student maintenance funds to £1,570 per month in London and £1,203 elsewhere from Nov 30, 2026, increasing costs for African applicants.

Oman–Rwanda Trade Push: President Paul Kagame’s state visit to Oman is already translating into deals, with two visa-exemption and double-taxation agreements plus six MoUs covering agriculture, logistics and inland dry ports—aimed at making cross-border trade and investment easier. KIFC Leads Africa Finance Roundtable: Kigali International Financial Centre takes over the chair of the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres, signalling a push to boost collaboration among Africa’s financial hubs and their global competitiveness. Regional Mobility for Traders: Zambia and Rwanda are moving toward reciprocal visa exemptions after bilateral consultations in Lusaka, with the goal of cutting the cost of doing business and strengthening people-to-people links. Dangote IPO Fever (Regional Impact): Dangote Petroleum Refinery has kicked off preliminary steps for a landmark IPO, with plans to raise about N2.15tn and a low minimum subscription designed to pull in retail investors—while also outlining expansion across Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia. Governance & Integrity: Kenya’s EACC arrests six former sports officials and contractors over an allegedly irregular KSh 1.5bn CHAN stadium contract tied to a KSh 330m advance payment. Agribusiness Finance Spotlight: Uganda’s SANDI AI wins the GoGettaz Agripreneur Prize with US$50,000 to expand AI-enabled access to loans for farmers. Education & Screens: A new PISA readout shows reading declines linked to heavier device use, with Rwanda among the lowest-ranked.

Dangote Refinery IPO: Dangote Refinery has cleared its offer documents after SEC approval, setting a minimum subscription of 10 shares at ₦5,250 (₦525 per share) for its $1.6bn public equity sale opening next week, with 4.1bn shares on offer and proceeds aimed at doubling capacity to 1.4m barrels per day. Rwanda–Oman Dealmaking: President Paul Kagame’s two-day visit to Oman in Salalah is focused on mining, renewable energy, food security, land ports, logistics and healthcare, with talks expected to unlock new cooperation agreements. Climate Finance Gap: At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Heifer International and partners say climate finance remains out of reach for farmers because financing models don’t fit both lenders and smallholders’ risks and needs. Higher Education & AI: East African universities and regulators meeting in Kigali are rethinking quality assurance as AI reshapes how knowledge is produced and what future labour markets demand. Clean Cooking Finance: Carbon credit financing is expanding access to cleaner cookstoves across Africa, helping households switch from charcoal by lowering upfront costs. Rwanda Politics & Community: Rwanda’s Democratic Green Party expands grassroots structures in Gicumbi, electing sector committees for women and youth and pushing advocacy on land and healthcare. Regional Mobility Talks: Zambia and Rwanda hold bilateral consultations on MoUs including a proposed reciprocal visa exemption to boost trade, tourism and people-to-people movement.

Food Systems Investment: At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Parliament’s Food and Agriculture Committee chair Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw urged African governments to fund food systems more seriously and design investment plans that look commercially viable to unlock bank lending. Blended Agribusiness Finance: IFAD and AgDevCo signed a $10m loan to close early-stage financing gaps for agribusinesses, aiming to scale productivity and market access for underserved enterprises, including women and youth. Oman–Rwanda Trade & Logistics: Oman and Rwanda are deepening ties with new air connectivity and logistics cooperation, including direct SalamAir flights to Kigali and deals spanning dry ports, supply chains, data centres and emerging tech—positioning Rwanda as an East Africa gateway. Clean Cooking & Carbon Finance: A report highlights how carbon credit financing is helping clean cookstoves spread across Africa, making safer, cheaper cooking possible for households still using charcoal. Regional Energy Rivalry: East Africa’s refinery plans are again in focus as disagreements over where infrastructure should sit resurface amid shifting proposals for large-scale oil processing. Rwanda Conservation & Tourism Link: Rwanda’s 21st Kwita Izina named 22 baby mountain gorillas, reinforcing conservation as a platform for sustainable tourism and community-linked development. Kenya Trader Crackdown Fallout: Kenya’s hawker crackdown on foreign small traders is drawing backlash and raising questions about investor confidence and how to regulate informal trade without undermining regional integration.

Agribusiness Finance: IFAD and AgDevCo signed a $10m loan to back early-stage African agribusinesses with blended, risk-tolerant capital and technical support to scale productivity and market access. Climate Adaptation for Farmers: IFAD and Equity Group launched ARCAFIM, a $200m East Africa mechanism to expand climate adaptation finance for smallholders and rural MSMEs, targeting 260,000 farmers (at least half women) across Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Food Systems & Trade: AUDA-NEPAD urged Africa to scrap trade and logistical barriers so surplus can reach deficit markets, calling for AfCFTA-driven “food corridors” to cut fragmented food markets. Rwanda Conservation & Tourism: Rwanda named 22 baby mountain gorillas at Kwita Izina, reinforcing conservation-led community development and sustainable tourism. Rwanda-Oman Ties: President Kagame is set for a two-day official visit to Oman (Sept 7-8) to deepen cooperation in aviation, logistics, digital tech and investment. Infrastructure & Land: Kenya’s Mau Summit toll road design changes triggered emergency land purchases under “early entry,” signalling cost and timeline pressures for major transport projects. Gorilla Growth: Rwanda’s gorilla conservation enters a new phase as the population rises, with naming reflecting courage, unity and conservation.

Rwanda-Oman Deal Push: President Paul Kagame is set for a two-day official visit to Oman on Sept 7–8, as Kigali and Muscat move to deepen cooperation in political ties, trade, investment, aviation, logistics, digital tech and infrastructure. Food Systems Finance: IFAD and Equity Group launched a $200m East Africa climate adaptation finance mechanism (ARCAFIM) in Kigali, targeting about 260,000 smallholder farmers and rural MSMEs, with a strong focus on women and youth. Markets Over Production: At the Africa Food Systems Forum, NADF warned Africa’s agriculture bottleneck is investor confidence and weak institutions, while speakers stressed that fixing how food moves and is traded—through better market infrastructure and governance—is key to turning farming into real business. Regional Trade Agenda: AUDA-NEPAD urged African leaders to scrap trade and logistical barriers so surplus can reach deficit markets, arguing AfCFTA must translate into higher intra-African food trade. Anti-Money Laundering Focus: ESAAMLG meetings in Kigali pushed member states to move beyond “technical compliance” and deliver measurable results against financial crime, with Tanzania reporting progress and remaining legal gaps. Civic Engagement: Rwanda’s National Women’s Council partnered with Kigali Today to run a civic education campaign from Sept 21, aiming to boost women and youth participation in upcoming electoral processes.

Food Systems Finance in Kigali: IFAD and Equity Group launched the $200m Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism (ARCAFIM) to help East African smallholders and rural MSMEs access climate adaptation funding, targeting about 260,000 farmers across Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, with at least half women beneficiaries. Investor Confidence & Market Access: NADF’s Mohammed Ibrahim told the Africa Food Systems Forum that Africa’s agriculture bottleneck is not capital but low investor confidence and weak, credible institutions—calling for predictable markets, reliable data and stronger linkages. Trade Barriers Block Food Flows: AUDA-NEPAD’s Nardos Bekele-Thomas urged Africa to dismantle cross-border trade and logistics barriers so surplus can reach deficit areas, warning that fragmented food markets keep prices high and processors underused. Rwanda’s Health Tech Push: A Rwandan startup, NEEM Company, unveiled a smart insole to detect diabetic foot risks early, aiming to reduce ulcer-related amputations. Rwanda-Oman Deal Momentum: President Kagame is set to visit Oman (Sept 7–8) as both countries deepen cooperation in aviation, logistics, digital tech and infrastructure, including new direct flights. Regional Governance & Civic Participation: Rwanda’s National Women’s Council partnered with Kigali Today to run civic education ahead of elections, focusing on getting women and youth to participate and vote.

Rwanda Elections Push: Rwanda’s National Women’s Council has partnered with Kigali Today to run a civic education campaign urging women and youth to participate, vote and seek leadership, starting September 21 across radio, digital and social platforms. Climate Finance for Farmers: IFAD and Equity Group launched ARCAFIM, a $200m (about Shs755bn) climate adaptation financing mechanism for smallholders and rural MSMEs in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, targeting 260,000 producers with women at least half of beneficiaries. Rwanda Agri-Finance Deal: IFAD, Bank of Kigali and Aceli Africa announced a blended-finance Farmers’ Organizations Financing Programme (FOFP-R) mobilising $21m to strengthen about 215 farmers’ organisations and support over 35,000 smallholders. Gorilla Conservation Update: Rwanda’s Kwita Izina named 22 new baby mountain gorillas, with names reflecting values like courage, unity and conservation as authorities shift focus to protecting a growing population and sharing benefits with surrounding communities. Digital Government Link: Gabon is reaching out to Rwanda for collaboration on a digital government ecosystem, including digitising public services, civil registration/identity, AI policy and cybersecurity. Capital Markets Watch: Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s IPO in Nigeria cleared SEC approval, with an offer that could raise up to ₦2.15tn, while the order book is set to open mid-September. Energy Access in East Africa: Uganda’s dfcu Bank and Sawa Energy launched a pay-for-consumption/lease model to help SMEs and corporates adopt solar-plus-battery systems without upfront capital.

Rwanda Agriculture Finance: IFAD, Bank of Kigali and Aceli Africa signed a US$12m deal (with US$9m co-financing) under the Farmers’ Organizations Financing Programme–Rwanda, targeting about 215 farmers’ organisations and over 35,000 smallholders across maize, rice, cassava, dairy and horticulture. Rwanda Business & Education: BPR Bank Rwanda launched a six-year scholarship programme for 50 underprivileged secondary students (25 boys, 25 girls), covering school needs and adding mentorship with the Ministry of Education. Rwanda Justice Reform: The Judiciary says it cut average case resolution time from six months to four, resolving 123,027 cases in 2025/26 and pushing mediation to speed up disputes. Digital Government & Identity: Rwanda’s South-South work drew interest from Gabon, which is seeking Rwanda’s experience to build a digital public services platform. Digital Finance & Fraud: Unico rolled out “Smart Revalidation” to fight AI-powered fraud with continuous, risk-based authentication. Africa Food Systems Investment: NADF’s chief urged investor confidence built on credible institutions, reliable data and predictable markets as Africa targets bigger food-systems capital flows. EU Migration Outsourcing: Denmark and four EU states agreed a “return hub” model for rejected asylum seekers, with Rwanda and Uganda seen as possible partners. Global Markets: Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s IPO got SEC approval in Nigeria, with plans that could raise about ₦2.15tn.

Agribusiness Policy Push: Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, urged lawmakers to fast-track the Agricultural Extension Services Revitalisation Bill at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, saying it will modernise extension and boost farmer productivity. Food Systems Investment: African leaders at the same forum called for decisive funding and better coordination to make agri-food systems more sustainable, with AGRA leadership stressing stronger state delivery and farmer-market links. School Feeding as Growth Engine: Kenyan innovator Food4Education (F4E) pitched school meals as a jobs and market driver, saying its model now reaches 660,000 children daily using mostly local smallholder supply. Rwanda Conservation & Tourism: Rwanda’s Kwita Izina naming ceremony will name 22 baby mountain gorillas, adding to 460 named since 2005, reinforcing conservation-linked tourism. Finance & Ratings: Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu backed the African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) launch on October 7, arguing it must deliver independent, credible “fair ratings” to reduce an “Africa premium” in borrowing costs. Regional Energy/Trade Context: Coverage also highlights the push for ports and infrastructure to be treated as strategic assets, not just construction projects.

Rwanda’s Agri-Food Push: President Paul Kagame told young agri-entrepreneurs at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali to move from ideas to action, highlighting youth-led climate-resilient farming and market access. Food Systems Financing: The forum’s Deal Room theme kept returning to one bottleneck: capital that reaches local agri-SMEs. The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) urged a new financial architecture that coordinates public, private and concessional money, de-risks projects and builds bankable pipelines. Clean Cooking Transition: Rwanda’s clean cooking shift needs more than LPG/electric options—experts say it also requires attitude change and awareness of total costs and benefits for households. Industrial Parks & Energy Links: A World Bank-backed Rwanda industrial parks push is drawing lessons from Korea’s eco-industrial model, where shared energy systems help manufacturers cut costs and emissions. Capital Markets Watch: Investors are still rattled by long NSE suspensions, with Mumias Sugar, ARM Cement and Deacons East Africa facing renewed calls for clarity from regulators. Tech & Media Skills: MTN’s Pan-African Media Innovation Programme welcomed its first cohort, including journalists from Rwanda, to strengthen newsrooms for the AI-driven digital shift. Africa Credit Rating Agency: Nigeria’s Tinubu backed the AU’s African Credit Rating Agency launch on Oct 7, arguing Africa needs fair ratings grounded in local reforms.

Agribusiness & Jobs: Rwanda hosts the Africa Food Systems Forum as leaders push agriculture as an investment engine, with Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva urging private sector to turn potential into productivity and prosperity. Climate & Food Security: A new El Niño forecast warns of extreme heat, floods and drought, while CGIAR says proven climate-smart and digital agriculture innovations are ready to scale. Mechanisation Skills: Nigeria’s agriculture minister commends NADF for training 4,000 tractor operators and mechanics, supporting a mechanisation plan that will deploy 2,000 tractors and thousands of implements. Youth & Delivery: Former President Goodluck Jonathan tells African leaders to move from declarations to action, stressing technologies, patient capital and scaled commercialization. Rwanda Tech & Media: MTN, UJ and TAEF launch the MTN Pan-African Media Innovation Programme, starting with 42 journalists across 10 countries including Rwanda. AI in Farming: Rwanda’s ICT minister highlights AI’s role in giving farmers timely agronomy, weather and finance support. Education & Inclusion: SOLA opens a permanent school campus in Rwanda for Afghan girls, continuing classes after relocation for safety.

Rwanda’s Investment Push: President Paul Kagame told the Rwanda Development Board to turn investor interest into measurable results—improving how businesses operate, expand and deliver, as Kigali seeks more private capital, exports and jobs. Food Systems in Focus: At the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, leaders urged urgent investment and stronger public-private partnerships to transform agri-food systems, with calls for better seeds, fertiliser, irrigation, digital tools, finance and market access. Digital Trade Expansion: Kenyan e-invoicing firm DigiTax has entered the UAE after pre-approval from the Ministry of Finance, positioning itself for mandatory electronic invoicing and reporting. Regional Business Connectivity: Rwanda also hosted an India investment and tourism opportunities event highlighting cooperation in critical minerals, healthcare, tourism, manufacturing and film. Health Aid Shock: Rwanda is among countries facing steep US health funding cuts to 2030, raising concerns over co-financing demands and alignment with local priorities. Tech & Youth Safety: Meta settled a $18bn children’s safety lawsuit and proposed new youth protection measures, while Bill Gates cautioned on AI risks.

Food Systems Forum in Kigali: The Africa Food Systems Forum opened in Kigali, with delegates pushing for more financing, climate resilience, technology and better market access for farmers, as speakers asked whether two decades of agricultural promises have delivered real change. Agriculture & Soil Innovation: The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT signed an MoU with MATI to run five-year field trials on enhanced rock weathering in smallholder farms, aiming to boost yields and restore degraded soils. Pension Power Move: Rwanda’s pension fund RSSB took full control of Inyange Industries, Ruliba Clays and BK General Insurance in a five-day buying spree, signaling a more aggressive investment strategy for long-term returns. Banking for Workers: Bank of Kigali launched an “Employee Banking Solution” to bundle payroll, savings, loans and digital services for employers and employees. Trade & Compliance: Rwanda published a list of 10 goods banned from import or export by individuals and foreigners, including counterfeit currency, narcotics, mercury cosmetics and used tyres. Energy Costs Pressure: Rwanda’s producer prices rose 20.8% in July as mining costs jumped 77.1% and electricity prices climbed 34.8%, feeding into broader inflation concerns. Water Infrastructure Gap: Rwanda needs to expand water storage capacity more than eightfold by 2034 to meet irrigation demand, highlighting the scale of upcoming infrastructure investment. Insurance Expansion: Continental Reinsurance received Rwanda’s licence to open a representative office in Kigali to deepen local market support.

Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali: Policymakers, farmers, investors and researchers met to push solutions for financing, climate resilience, technology, post-harvest losses and market access, with entrepreneurs warning that trade barriers still block scaling across borders. Rwanda trade controls: Rwanda published a list of 10 goods individuals and foreigners are barred from importing or exporting, including counterfeit currency, narcotics, hazardous waste, mercury-based soaps/cosmetics, used tyres and counterfeit goods. Energy affordability pressure: Nigeria’s electricity subsidy bill hit N1.928tn in 2025 as regulators kept end-user tariffs frozen below cost-reflective levels, widening the fiscal gap. Banking and inclusion: Equity Bank Rwanda and SINC Today signed an MoU to unlock opportunities in the creative economy. Rwanda–Switzerland ties: Senior officials held political consultations in Bern to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, tourism and technical assistance. Agriculture investment push: Malawi pitched a $2.4bn mega-farm plan for 470,000 hectares at the forum, targeting commercialisation and climate-resilient growth. Sports/health diplomacy: Tanzania’s MOI said it is expanding capacity for medical tourism and Afcon 2027 preparations.