96.7%
geographic coverage, 4G LTE services
96.6%
population coverage, 4G LTE services
81%
mobile phone penetration
1,067,077
Mobile Payment subscribers (2018)
89
government services offered online
100%
of health centers connected to Internet
About
The Future Planning Directorate General leads long-range planning and strategic foresight for Rwanda’s ICT and innovation sector. It uses data analytics, horizon scanning, and scenario planning to anticipate technology and socio-economic trends and align national priorities with Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation, and the ICT Sector Strategic Plans. The directorate coordinates sector strategies and performance frameworks to ensure programs across government and partners are evidence-based, future-ready, and deliver inclusive socio-economic impact.
The directorate also leads the ministry’s data portfolio—championing trusted data-sharing and stewarding implementation of the National Data Sharing Policy (NDSP) in close coordination with RISA (platform enablement) and NISR (standards and governance), as well as delivery partners such as Cenfri/REDP, Irembo, etc. Through these partnerships, the directorate turns foresight and data into action by surfacing national policy priority issues: Transition beyond legacy 2/3G networks toward universal high-speed connectivity, advancement of smart agriculture to ensure sustainable productivity and food security, transformation of education systems for improved learning outcomes, and development of agile skills and labour markets aligned with future economic demands.
The Directorate General cultivates a coherent, data-driven agenda for digital transformation by:
- Building foresight and analytics to anticipate technology, market, and societal shifts;
- Coordinating cross-government implementation and sector performance frameworks with clear KPIs;
- Partnering with regulators, academia, development partners, and industry to de-risk data-driven decision-making adoption;
- Translating global best practices on strategic foresight and data governance into our planning cycle;
- Institutionalizing evidence in policy & strategy design, annual plans, and medium-term expenditure frameworks.
- Strategic Foresight & Scenarios: Horizon scanning, trend monitoring, and scenario exercises that guide policy choices and investment sequencing.
- Sector Analytics & Performance: Dashboards, KPI frameworks, and delivery reviews that inform decision-making across the ICT sector.
- Policy Design & Alignment: Ensuring initiatives align with Vision 2050, NSTs, and the ICT Sector Strategic Plan (2024–2029).
- Data Governance: Policy sandboxes and testbeds (e.g., responsible AI/data) to accelerate safe adoption of frontier technologies.
- Data & Insights Portfolio: Operationalising the National Data Sharing Policy; championing data sharing, interoperability, and secure exchange across the public sector and economy.
- Priority-Issue Intelligence: Using data to anticipate and address national concerns such as climate change, emergency response, agriculture, education, food security, and labour-market skills.
- ICT Resilience & Preparedness: Leading the National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP) implementation and coordinating the ICT Emergency Cluster for disaster readiness and response.
- Digital Infrastructure Competition & Consumer Choice: Supporting Mobile Number Portability (MNP) policy implementation in collaboration with the regulator and operators.
- Catalytic Initiatives: Advancing the Food Innovation Hub and Logistics & Transport Tech priorities (smart mobility, data-enabled logistics, electrification, and intelligent transport systems) that blend technology, research, and market linkages.
- Industry Research and Development: Promoting innovation and technology development in Rwanda by researching emerging trends, supporting local innovators from ideation to market, and fostering collaboration among universities, industry, and partners.
- Cross-Border Data Flows & Data Diplomacy: Developing policy and operational arrangements that enable trusted, lawful movement of data across borders to support trade, public services, and innovation, leading alignment with regional and continental frameworks, ensuring privacy/security safeguards, and brokering MOUs/DPAs with peer agencies and providers.
- Agriculture & Food Security: Early-warning insights, productivity analytics, and value-chain intelligence.
- Education: Learning-outcome analytics and skills-pipeline alignment to industry demand.
- Labour Markets & Digital Jobs: Evidence on skills gaps, training effectiveness, and emerging opportunities.
- Public Service Delivery: Performance monitoring and service-design improvements grounded in citizen-centric data.
- Resilience & Emergency Preparedness: Risk mapping, coverage analytics, and continuity planning for critical communications.
- Urban Mobility & Transport: Traffic, safety, and emissions data to inform investment and policy choices.
Director General
Fiacre Mushimire Niyigena
Director General, Future Planning
Mr. Niyigena is a digital policy and emerging technology specialist with over 15 years of experience in technology policy and regulatory environments. His work spans the design of web and mobile solutions—particularly around mapping, payments, and coordination tools—as well as mobile money standardisation, security, and vulnerability management.
Before joining MINICT, Niyigena was Policy Support Lead at Cenfri, where he worked alongside policymakers to adapt and design policies and interventions for inclusive digitalisation based on ongoing data discovery and analysis. Prior to that role, he served at the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) as Senior Manager in charge of Technology Innovation. In this role, he led the establishment of regulatory frameworks for the smooth integration of emerging technologies, applications, and services in the Rwandan market, promoted innovation through enabling regulations, and supported new business models with the capacity to test them safely.
To get in touch with the directorate, email: planning@minict.gov.rw
Affiliated Agencies
MINICT has a vision to foster ICT development and diffusion in the Rwandan Society and Economy. To achieve its mission, the Ministry works closely with the following affiliated agencies in the implementation of its policies and programs.
