Kigali November 6, 2024

Today, the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) had the pleasure of hosting a delegation of nine officials from Zimbabwe's Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Promotion. This visit underscores RTDA’s growing efforts in enhancing efficiency and transparency in public procurement practices.

The Zimbabwean delegation, comprised of senior officials with extensive experience in economic development and investment promotion, expressed a keen interest in learning about RTDA’s approaches, particularly in public procurement and the agency’s adoption of digital platforms like the E-procurement (Umucyo) system.

RTDA management began the session with a comprehensive presentation outlining the agency’s public procurement procedures and the role of the Umucyo E-procurement system. The Umucyo system, a key pillar in Rwanda's efforts to streamline government operations, has revolutionized public procurement by promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency. RTDA’s successful implementation of this system was highlighted as a major factor in optimizing procurement timelines, reducing costs, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Following the presentation, both teams engaged in in-depth discussions focused on identifying best practices and exploring opportunities to refine their respective systems. Key topics included enhancing transparency in procurement processes, developing robust evaluation frameworks, and ensuring fair competition to boost the private sector's role in public infrastructure projects.

The RTDA leadership team also shared practical insights on overcoming implementation challenges, fostering internal capacity-building, and adapting to evolving procurement needs. Zimbabwean delegates shared experiences from their own public procurement systems, enriching the dialogue with a comparative analysis that highlighted the unique strengths and challenges each country faces in its journey toward transparent, efficient procurement.

This benchmarking visit represents a meaningful step toward fostering greater collaboration and knowledge exchange within the region. RTDA’s dedication to sharing its successes and lessons learned is a testament to Rwanda’s commitment to supporting peer institutions as they strive to enhance public service delivery in their home countries.

As the Zimbabwean delegation departs with fresh insights, RTDA looks forward to potential future partnerships that will continue to promote innovation, transparency, and efficiency in public procurement practices across Africa.