President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, received a delegation of 25 leaders from global companies and organizations for discussions centered on Rwanda’s development progress over the past 23 years.
According to a statement shared by the Office of the President on X, the meeting focused on Rwanda’s governance model, economic transformation and long-term development strategy.
Among the executives were Bobby Pittman, founder of Kupanda Capital and Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD); Nick Allardice, CEO of GiveDirectly; and Jocelyn Wyatt, CEO of Alight, alongside other global leaders.
During the discussions, President Kagame outlined Rwanda’s journey in rebuilding national unity, strengthening good governance and fostering inclusive growth. The leaders also explored partnership opportunities to support Rwanda’s sustainable development ambitions across key sectors.
The represented institutions already maintain active engagement in Rwanda. BRD, the country’s national development bank, finances strategic projects in agriculture, industry, housing, energy and trade, while also mobilizing capital through domestic and international markets.
GiveDirectly provides unconditional cash transfers to vulnerable households, supporting improvements in agriculture, small business development, education and overall livelihoods. In February 2026, Rwanda and GiveDirectly signed a five-year agreement worth Rwf218 billion aimed at helping citizens transition out of extreme poverty. Under the programme, each beneficiary household receives more than Rwf800,000 directly through mobile money accounts.
Since launching operations in Rwanda in 2016, GiveDirectly has worked in 17 districts, reaching more than 170,000 households, including in Ngoma, Gisagara, Nyamagabe, Musanze and Ngororero, among others.
Alight, a humanitarian organization, supports refugees and vulnerable communities affected by conflict and disasters by providing access to clean water, sanitation services, skills training and livelihood programmes designed to promote self-reliance.
The high-level engagement signals continued international confidence in Rwanda’s governance model and development trajectory, as the country deepens collaboration with global partners to accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth.
