Clare Akamanzi

Rwandan tech visionary driving financial inclusion through mobile innovation

Clare Akamanzi (born 1978) is the CEO of Rwanda Information Society Limited (RISL), a pivotal role in shaping Africa's digital revolution. As architect of Rwanda's mobile money revolution, she helped create the M-Pesa system that now serves 12 million users. Her work has transformed financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 85% of transactions now occur digitally.

A Harvard graduate and former Google executive, Akamanzi pioneered the RISL strategy that turned Rwanda into a tech hub. Her 2016 initiative 'Smart Rwanda' connected 90% of citizens to broadband within three years. The World Bank credits her with raising Rwanda's global ICT ranking from 120 to 54th between 2010-2020.

Her TEDx Talk "Why Rwanda is Africa's tech leader" explains how public-private partnerships drive innovation. Akamanzi's advocacy led to Africa's first national digital ID system, enabling access to healthcare and education for marginalized groups. In 2021, she launched the 'Girls in ICT' program training 50,000 young women annually.

Her book 《Rwanda's Digital Leap》 details how small nations can leapfrog traditional development paths. Akamanzi currently advises the African Union on digital policies, influencing continent-wide strategies for fintech and e-government.