The findings are contained in the Ayre Index, which assesses how 56 Commonwealth countries are preparing young people to use and benefit from AI. The index was unveiled at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on November 5, 2026.
The study presents three possible scenarios for Rwanda’s economic gains from AI over a 10-year period. Under a low-impact scenario, the potential gain is estimated at $115 million, while the middle scenario puts it at $237 million. Under a high-impact scenario, the figure could reach $360 million.
The projections draw on data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to estimate the potential economic gains associated with AI adoption.
The report highlights the importance of aligning AI training with labour market needs and the practical challenges that entrepreneurs can address to ensure young people benefit from the technology.
In agriculture, for instance, young people could be trained to develop applications that help farmers identify signs of crop diseases. Such tools could reach more farmers if they were also available in Kinyarwanda.
Rwanda ranks fourth among assessed East African Community countries
In the Ayre Index, Rwanda ranked 47th among the 56 Commonwealth countries assessed, with a score of 38.1%.
Kenya was the highest-ranked of the four East African Community (EAC) countries included in the assessment, placing 22nd with 48.7 points. Uganda followed in 23rd position with 47 points, while Tanzania ranked 25th with 45.5 points.
Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and South Sudan were not included in the assessment because they are not members of the Commonwealth.
Of the 56 countries assessed, only 15 reached the benchmark score of 53 points used by researchers to evaluate countries’ readiness to help young people benefit from AI.
Training among Rwanda’s approaches to AI adoption
Rwanda has approximately four million people aged between 15 and 29. According to the report, 4G network coverage reaches areas inhabited by 98.8% of the population, while electricity access stands at 72%.
The researchers note that young people also need affordable internet access and suitable digital devices to benefit from AI.
In June 2026, the Government established the Rwanda AI Agency. In October, the agency invited proposals for the development of AI curricula in Kinyarwanda and English.
The planned training programmes are expected to address the needs of people working in sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, while also equipping communities with digital skills.
In the education sector, a programme implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) had trained more than 5,000 teachers in the use of AI by the end of 2025. The training continued in 2026.
However, the report notes that there is still a gap in data on how young people in Rwanda are using AI.
Leave a Reply