Airtel Africa Foundation Partners with ITU, RISA & Cisco to Equip Digital Transformation Centers in Rwanda
AI Quick Summary
- Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), and Cisco have formed a partnership to boost digital skills development in Rwanda.
- The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by providing free internet connectivity and digital skills training to underserved communities.
- Seven Yego Centers across Rwanda will be equipped with routers, Wi-Fi, and data packages by Airtel, while ITU will provide digital skills training content and networking opportunities.
- This collaboration supports Rwanda's National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), Vision 2050, and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
- The partnership seeks to empower Rwandan youth with digital literacy, foster economic development, and establish a model for expansion into other African countries.
The partnership was formally launched in October 2025 as planned, marking the commencement of efforts to equip Yego Centers with connectivity and digital skills training.
Airtel Africa Foundation has announced a landmark partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), and Cisco to boost digital skills development in Rwanda. The joint initiative, announced on October 22, 2025, focuses on capacity building and digital skills development under the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) Initiative.
According to the official announcement, this partnership aims to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion by providing free Internet connectivity and digital skills training to underserved communities in Rwanda, in connection with the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Partners: Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, Cisco
• Target: Underserved communities in Rwanda
• Locations: 7 Yego Centers (Digital Transformation Centers)
• Services: Free internet connectivity, routers, Wi-Fi, data packages, digital skills training
• Alignment: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Rwanda NST2, Vision 2050
What the Partnership Delivers
Under this initiative, Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Rwanda, will equip seven Digital Transformation Center locations—specifically Yego Centers—with routers, Wi-Fi, and data packages at no cost. This infrastructure will ensure the effective rollout of training programs and access to digital educational platforms for underserved communities.
ITU will provide digital skills training content to the DTCs under the Initiative along with other ITU regional capacity development activities. Additionally, ITU will facilitate networking opportunities related to promoting digital literacy and inclusion, enabling access to expertise and best practices.
What Leaders Are Saying
Airtel Rwanda
"Today's partnership between the Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, and Cisco marks a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and empowering Rwandan youth with digital skills. This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when government, private sector, and international organizations come together to empower communities."
— Mr. Sujay Chakrabarti, Airtel Rwanda Managing Director
Airtel Africa Foundation
"This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting national development goals and closing the digital divide through meaningful collaboration. We are honoured to partner with ITU to bring this vision to life and contribute to Rwanda's journey toward becoming a digitally empowered society."
— Ms. Esi Asare Prah, Head of Programs at Airtel Africa Foundation (on behalf of Dr. Segun Ogunsaya, Chair of the Airtel Africa Foundation)
International Telecommunication Union
"Our partnership with Airtel Africa Foundation begins in Rwanda, where we are joining forces to strengthen digital skills in underserved communities to advance connectivity. This initiative lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration, as we aim to expand this work to other Digital Transformation Centres across Africa."
— Dr. Emmanuel Mannaseh, Regional Director for ITU
Rwanda Information Society Authority
"What we are seeing here today is partnership in action. Statistics show that about 900 million people in Africa remain unconnected, extra effort needs to be made to make sure that no one is left behind. This positions Rwanda a step ahead by being intentional to involve the youth. These centres are going to play a transformative role in educating the youth to leverage AI. Digital Transformation is driving the world and Africa or Rwanda can not be left behind."
— Mr. Antoine Sebera, CEO of RISA
Alignment with National Goals
The landmark partnership aligns with Rwanda's ambition to become a knowledge-based economy and complements national programmes such as 'Connect Rwanda' that promote access to smartphones and digital services for underserved communities.
RISA is a public institution mandated to drive Rwanda's digital transformation agenda in alignment with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and Vision 2050. RISA leads the implementation of key national ICT projects that promote digital literacy, innovation, and service delivery across all sectors.
Addressing Africa's Digital Divide
Mr. Sebera highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that approximately 900 million people in Africa remain unconnected. This partnership represents an intentional effort to ensure that no one is left behind in Rwanda's digital journey, with particular focus on involving youth who will be educated to leverage emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.
• Youth Empowerment: Equip young Rwandans with digital skills for employment and entrepreneurship
• Digital Literacy: Promote understanding of technology, AI, and digital tools
• Community Access: Provide free internet connectivity to underserved populations
• Economic Development: Support Rwanda's transition to a knowledge-based economy
• Regional Model: Establish framework for expansion to other African countries
About the Digital Transformation Centres Initiative
The Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) Initiative was launched in September 2019 by the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) in partnership with Cisco. The Initiative's objective is to support countries to strengthen digital capacities of citizens, particularly in underserved communities.
The Initiative operates through a global network of national institutions—the Digital Transformation Centres—which have a mandate to deliver digital skills programmes in their countries. Rwanda's seven Yego Centers will now join this global network, receiving support from ITU, Cisco, and Airtel Africa Foundation.
Foundation for Regional Expansion
Dr. Mannaseh emphasized that while the partnership begins in Rwanda, it lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration. The partners aim to expand this work to other Digital Transformation Centres across Africa, potentially replicating Rwanda's model in other countries facing similar digital inclusion challenges.
Airtel Africa Foundation's Mission
Airtel Africa Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services with a presence in 14 countries in Africa. The Foundation's mission is to empower Africa through Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Protection, and Digital Inclusion.
This partnership represents a concrete manifestation of the Foundation's Digital Inclusion pillar, leveraging Airtel's telecommunications infrastructure and expertise to bridge connectivity gaps in underserved communities.
ITU's Role in Global Connectivity
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and works to ensure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities.
What Happens Next
With the partnership now formalized, the immediate next steps include equipping the seven Yego Centers with connectivity infrastructure and launching digital skills training programs. The centers will provide access to ITU's digital skills training content and facilitate networking opportunities that connect Rwandan learners with global expertise and best practices.
By fostering collaboration between government institutions, private sector, and international partners, RISA continues to build an inclusive, knowledge-based society where no one is left behind in Rwanda's digital journey. This partnership represents a powerful example of multi-stakeholder collaboration driving meaningful impact in digital inclusion.
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Cishahayo Songa Achille
Chief EditorCishahayo Songa Achille is a Rwandan software engineer and tech entrepreneur focused on democratizing digital skills. He is best known as the Founder and Managing Director of Techinika, an edtech firm established in 2020 to make complex technological advances accessible to the general public and build solutions for the biggest problems.
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