• AI courses will be compulsory for all government employees, regardless of role

• Training aims to improve public service delivery and administrative efficiency

• Program aligns with Rwanda’s broader digital government strategy

The Rwandan government has announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI) training programs for all civil servants across the public administration, regardless of their functions or initial level of technological skills. Authorities say the initiative is intended to equip public employees with skills that will strengthen their capacity to deliver higher-quality public services.

“These trainings are designed to be accessible to everyone and require only a few hours per week. They explain what AI is, how it works, and how it can be applied in our daily tasks. It is both important and mandatory for all public servants to complete these courses. Their respective institutions are prepared to support them so they can complete the trainings while continuing their regular daily work,” the Ministry of ICT said in a statement published on social media on Monday, January 12, 2026.

The initiative is part of Rwanda’s strategy to integrate information and communication technologies across all sectors and make them a pillar of national socio-economic development. Public administration is among the priority areas, notably through the digitalization of government services. Authorities stress that AI has become part of everyday life, transforming ways of working, communicating, and delivering services, with potential gains in productivity and service quality for citizens.

This vision is shared by the United Nations. In its E-Government Survey 2024, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) notes that AI has strong potential to optimize public sector operations. Through the automation of administrative tasks, the technology can improve efficiency while reducing delays and redundancies. It can also help detect anomalies, classify data, and generate targeted recommendations.

DESA notes that most countries face an urgent need to improve the efficiency of public services while operating under tight budget constraints, a challenge for which AI algorithms can offer relevant solutions.

However, DESA also cautions that despite these opportunities, AI carries risks, including data bias and ethical, security, and social concerns. The institution further warns about the persistence of the digital divide, which remains a major obstacle to AI adoption in the public sector, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and least developed countries.

Rwanda ranked 118th globally in the UN DESA E-Government Development Index in 2024, with a score of 0.5799 out of 1, above the African average but below the global average.

Isaac K. Kassouwi