On July 7, Rwanda’s flagship Digital Ambassador Program (DAP), led by the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) with the support of the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, was named a WSIS+20 Champion, recognizing its remarkable contribution to advancing digital literacy and citizen engagement across the country. On July 10, Rwanda was again honored with a WSIS+20 Partner Certificate, acknowledging its strong national contribution to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process. Both awards were received on behalf of the Government of Rwanda by Her Excellency Urujeni Bakuramutsa, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The WSIS+20 Partner Certificate reflects Rwanda’s ongoing commitment to people-centered, inclusive digital development through institutions such as the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA). These efforts encompass the expansion of digital infrastructure, the promotion of digital literacy, and the acceleration of citizen-focused e-services—core values promoted under the WSIS framework.

Launched in September 2017, the Digital Ambassador Program was established in response to Rwanda’s digital transformation agenda under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST-1). At the time, less than 10% of the population had basic digital literacy. DAP set out with the ambitious goal of reaching 60% by 2024 and continues working toward universal digital literacy by 2029, in line with NST-2.

The program recruits ICT-skilled youth—secondary school graduates or university alumni—as digital ambassadors. Starting with 50 ambassadors during its pilot phase, DAP has since grown to over 2,000 active ambassadors and 60 district-level supervisors, thanks to support from various development partners.

Operating at the grassroots level, digital ambassadors train citizens to:

• Access and utilize e-government platforms (e.g., Irembo/Byikorere)

• Use financial services and digital business tools

• Perform secure online transactions

• Navigate smartphones and computers

• Practice online safety and responsible technology use

From 2017 to 2024, DAP trained 3,262,869 citizens, helping raise Rwanda’s basic digital literacy rate from under 10% in 2017 to 75.2% by October 2024 (National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda).

Beyond digital skills, DAP’s nationwide impact includes:

• Increased use of self-service government platforms

• Growth in smartphone ownership and digital engagement

• Improved access to services in health, education, and land management

• Expansion of e-commerce and digital payments

• Job creation and empowerment for Rwandan youth

Together, these two WSIS+20 recognitions reaffirm Rwanda’s standing as a global leader in digital transformation and cooperation. They spotlight Rwanda’s dual focus on empowering citizens and shaping international digital development norms—offering a model for other countries seeking to bridge the digital divide.

Speaking on this recognition, Hon. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation said:

"We are honored by this global recognition of Rwanda’s Digital Ambassador Program. It reaffirms Rwanda’s belief that digital transformation starts with people: empowered, skilled, and equipped to serve their communities. We thank the World Bank, AIIB, and KOICA, our partners for their continued support. We remain committed to building a digitally literate Rwanda where no one is left behind."

Rwanda is currently a member of the ITU Council for the term 2023–2026 and will seek re-election for the 2027–2030 term during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference to be held in Doha, Qatar in November 2026.