Rwanda Looks to Space to Boost Efficiency, Improve Service Delivery

Rwanda is steadily advancing its efforts to integrate space technologies into public service delivery, through a national strategy that positions geospatial tools and data as key enablers of efficiency and better governance.

This week, the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA), in partnership with Esri Rwanda, has convened sector-specific stakeholder consultations aimed at showcasing practical applications of geospatial technologies while gathering feedback to inform further development and deployment.

Centralising access to geospatial tools:

The sessions, which began earlier this week and will run through Friday, bring together various ministries and public institutions to explore how satellite data, geographic information systems (GIS), and spatial applications can be applied in areas ranging from infrastructure and agriculture to finance, disaster management, and health.

The initiative comes on the back of an Enterprise Agreement signed between RSA and Esri Rwanda, under which RSA now centrally coordinates access to Esri’s powerful geospatial software across government.

In an exclusive interview with KT Press, Gaspard Twagirayezu, CEO of Rwanda Space Agency, explained that the aim is to reduce fragmentation, lower costs, and improve efficiency.

“We’re making sure government institutions don’t each procure their own separate licenses. Instead, we now have unlimited Esri licenses, and we support ministries to deploy these tools based on their specific needs,” he said in an interview on Thursday.

“But it’s not just about tools. It’s about applications, training, and helping teams embed geospatial insights into their everyday work.”

Sector-based consultations to drive use cases:

During the consultations, RSA and Esri have demonstrated tailored applications for each sector. For infrastructure, for example, geospatial tools are being used to detect unauthorized constructions and monitor urban growth.

In disaster management, they can support early-warning systems by mapping flood-prone areas or tracking deforestation. In agriculture, the tools help identify soil patterns, monitor crops, and plan interventions based on seasonal forecasts.

In the financial sector, agencies such as the Rwanda Revenue Authority have begun exploring spatial solutions for mapping tax zones and enhancing inspection efficiency.

According to Twagirayezu, feedback from stakeholders has been encouraging, with ministries not only expressing interest but also proposing improvements.

“There is an increasing appetite across government to use these tools. And what’s important is that institutions are now coming to us with very specific use cases. That tells us the awareness is growing, and they see real value in these technologies.”

Building an institutional culture around Geospatial Intelligence:

Twagirayezu said the consultations are part of a wider strategy to institutionalize space-enabled services within the fabric of Rwanda’s governance. That strategy includes expanding partnerships with academic institutions, setting up observatories to support weather and climate monitoring, and strengthening infrastructure such as the national teleport in Rwamagana District.

Beyond institutional applications, RSA is also exploring how some of these tools could eventually be commercialized.

“We’re building tools that serve government now, but there’s potential for some of these to be spun off and adapted by local startups for wider markets,” Twagirayezu said. “In the long run, this is not just about efficiency; it’s about building a geospatial economy.”

Moving from vision to tangible impact:

Since its establishment in 2020, the Rwanda Space Agency has focused on embedding geospatial tools into real-life governance needs. Twagirayezu believes Rwanda’s investment in space is both timely and strategic.

“If we position ourselves now, not just as users but as contributors—building our own data infrastructure, developing applications, and even exporting solutions—we can become a serious player in the region,” he said.

But perhaps more immediately, the focus remains on the practical, day-to-day applications that make governance more data-driven.

Twagirayezu highlighted examples where satellite imagery and spatial data have helped Rwandan authorities respond more effectively to environmental disasters, plan urban infrastructure, and even support school construction through site selection models.

“These tools help institutions make faster, smarter decisions. When you can visualize problems, map assets, and analyze trends geographically, you improve both planning and accountability,” he said.

A Roadmap for broader adoption:

The current round of stakeholder sessions is helping to further refine those capabilities, with ministries providing input on what works, what doesn’t, and what more is needed. The Rwanda Space Agency plans to consolidate this feedback into a roadmap for scaling up adoption, building on early successes while addressing challenges such as limited human capacity and the need for ongoing technical support.

“It’s a journey,” said Twagirayezu. “But the momentum is clear. From infrastructure to health, from agriculture to finance, geospatial technologies are no longer theoretical. They are here, and they are helping us build a smarter, more efficient state.”

As the consultations continue, RSA hopes to not only deepen adoption but also cultivate champions across government who will integrate spatial thinking into policy, planning, and execution.

With its eyes on both the sky and the ground, Rwanda’s bet on space appears to be paying off—not just in rockets and satellites, but in better roads, smarter farming, and more responsive public services.