On May 26, 2025, the Rwandan Cabinet meeting officially approved the National Data Sharing Policy, a landmark initiative aimed at creating a secure, efficient, and legally compliant framework for data exchange across public institutions.

It was developed under the leadership of the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) in collaboration with Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA). The policy establishes a unified, secure, and legally compliant framework for sharing data across public institutions. It aims to enable more efficient public service delivery by allowing institutions to exchange data in a structured and secure manner. 

By improving interoperability, it will unlock insights from multiple datasets such as combining demographic, agriculture, and transport data to inform smarter urban planning and food security strategies. It also introduces strong data protection and privacy measures to ensure that only non-sensitive or anonymized data is shared openly, while access to restricted datasets is governed through clear protocols.

Beyond enhancing public sector efficiency, the policy opens pathways for academic research and private-sector innovation. With a clearer legal framework, collaboration across sectors becomes more effective, transparent, and impactful. 

As the custodian of national digital systems and standards, RISA will play a key role in supporting institutions to implement the policy, aligning with Rwanda’s broader digital transformation and data governance goals.