Kagame meets 25 global leaders to showcase Rwanda’s development strides

By The Inspirer.

President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, hosted 25 executives from leading global organizations to discuss Rwanda’s remarkable development journey over the past 23 years and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.

The delegation included Bobby Pittman, founder of Kupanda Capital and CEO of the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD); Nick Allardice, CEO of GiveDirectly; Jocelyn Wyatt, CEO of Alight; and other leaders from international development and finance.

According to the Office of the President, discussions highlighted Rwanda’s governance reforms, post-conflict recovery, national unity, and inclusive economic growth.

President Kagame emphasized the role of strategic partnerships in sustaining development progress and creating opportunities across sectors critical to long-term prosperity.

BRD, Rwanda’s national development bank, continues to finance strategic initiatives in agriculture, industry, housing, energy, and trade while mobilizing investment capital both locally and internationally.

GiveDirectly, which provides unconditional cash transfers to vulnerable households, signed a five-year, Rwf218 billion agreement with Rwanda in February 2026 to help citizens escape extreme poverty.

Beneficiary households receive over Rwf800,000 directly via mobile money, with the program already reaching more than 170,000 families across 17 districts since 2016, including Ngoma, Gisagara, Nyamagabe, Musanze, and Ngororero.

Alight supports refugees and disaster-affected communities by delivering clean water, sanitation, skills training, and livelihood programmes to promote self-reliance.

The meeting underscored Rwanda’s growing appeal as a partner for international development, with the government and global organizations exploring practical interventions that advance sustainable and inclusive growth.