An African Development Bank (AfDB) mission to Rwanda has commended the significant progress made on the construction of the Muvumba Multipurpose Dam and reaffirmed the Bank’s continued support for its timely completion. The project, situated on Rwanda’s Muvumba River, is the centerpiece of a wider water resource development initiative, for which the Bank has committed €121.5 million in financing.
The delegation, led by Mtchera Chirwa, the Bank Group’s Director for Water Development and Sanitation, met with senior Rwandan government officials, including ministers from finance, agriculture, environment, and infrastructure. The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration, improving the implementation of Bank-funded projects, and ensuring sustainable outcomes in Rwanda’s water and sanitation sector. Chirwa also held talks with Aissa Sarr Toure, the Bank’s Country Manager for Rwanda, to assess the performance of ongoing projects and explore new opportunities for cooperation.
During their visit, the AfDB team toured the Muvumba Dam construction site. The 39-meter-high dam, designed to store 55 million cubic meters of water, will serve multiple purposes such as irrigation, hydropower generation, fisheries, livestock rearing, and domestic water supply. Once completed, it will support Rwanda’s Nyagatare District—its largest and second most populous—by providing 50,000 cubic meters of water daily, irrigating 10,000 hectares of farmland, and benefiting around 800,000 people.
Approved in October 2020, the Muvumba Multipurpose Water Resources Development Program is currently 36.6% complete, with full completion expected by October 2026. Beyond infrastructure development, the program also promotes climate resilience through catchment protection, forest management, and capacity building, including training opportunities for local university students interning at the project site.
The African Development Bank remains Rwanda’s leading development partner in the water and sanitation sector, accounting for 42%—or $889.5 million—of the country’s sectoral portfolio. Its support extends to various national initiatives, including the Rwanda Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation Program, the Rwanda Sustainable and Resilient Water and Sanitation Program Sector Budget Support, and the Rwanda Transformative and Sustainable Water and Sanitation Program. As of September 2025, the Bank’s active portfolio in Rwanda comprises 28 projects valued at approximately $2.2 billion, underscoring its strong commitment to supporting the nation’s sustainable growth and water security goals.
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