![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-10-25_at_11.58_52_am_2_-f9a7d.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nAfter returning to the United States, he and his wife knew they would eventually come back to Africa. Their decision to settle in Kigali, he says, was primarily a family choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted a city that gives us the highest probability of not burning out, safety, pace of life, and access to the rest of the continent. Kigali just felt right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, the Shafers are firmly rooted. His wife works at the International School of Kigali, their two children are thriving, and the family is building a home in Kibagabaga. \u201cNow that we\u2019re here, this is really where we\u2019re supposed to be,\u201d he says with conviction.<\/p>\n
Arriving only two months before Covid-19, Shafer witnessed Kigali\u2019s transformation from lockdown quiet to post-pandemic vibrancy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s happened since then, from tourism to sports and infrastructure, is incredible,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s an honour to be in Rwanda during this phase of its journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
{{A mission to bridge capital and impact
\n}}<\/p>\n
Through Fortis Green Holdings, Shafer is working to solve a global problem: the lack of electricity affecting more than 600 million Africans. His mission is to attract American capital to invest in sustainable African infrastructure that delivers both financial and social returns.<\/p>\n
\u201cRwanda offers the perfect balance,\u201d he notes. \u201cThere\u2019s institutional stability, rule of law, and a genuine partnership spirit from government agencies like REG, EUCL, MININFRA, and RDB.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fortis Green today owns three power plants in Rwanda, including the 8.5 MW Agahozo Shalom solar farm, the Rwaza hydropower plant near Musanze, and another project in Nyamasheke.<\/p>\n Beyond the energy itself, Shafer finds meaning in the land that hosts the Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, once home to orphans from the Genocide against the Tutsi and now a haven for vulnerable youth. <\/p>\n \u201cPaying rent there supports their work. We even employ graduates from that school. It\u2019s humbling.\u201d<\/p>\n {{Building the Masaka eco-estate Last month, Fortis Green broke ground on the Masaka Views Eco-Estate, a $25 million (approximately Rwf 36 billion) project that merges sustainability with community living. Spread over seven hectares, the development includes 33 townhouses, 51 family homes, and about 300 apartments, mixing for-sale and for-rent models.<\/p>\n \u201cMost developers build to sell. We build to own and rent because we believe in Rwanda\u2019s growth story. Selling today means giving up the future value we know this economy will create,” Shafer explains the long-term vision.<\/p>\n He adds that the housing component will play a critical role in supporting broader national development, particularly in the upcoming Masaka Medical City.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is core infrastructure that\u2019s required for the Masaka Medical City to operate effectively. As we continue to expand Kigali\u2019s housing stock, we\u2019re creating environments where families and workers can live, thrive, and ultimately go out and impact the economy more broadly.\u201d<\/p>\n The project will deliver its first homes by early 2026 and the first apartments within 12 months. Each unit is designed with EDGE certification, a global green-building standard that ensures energy and water efficiency, solar water heating, and sustainable materials.<\/p>\n Fortis Green offers three finishing options, from basic shell units to luxury packages, giving families flexibility in choosing their home. Three- and four-bedroom single-family houses are priced between $120,000 and $135,000, appealing to middle-income buyers seeking more flexible financing options.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to be here long term,\u201d Shafer stresses. \u201cOur goal is to make quality housing attainable without compromising sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n {{Nurturing wellness and community Fortis Green\u2019s philosophy extends past walls and roofs. The Masaka Eco-Estate is designed as a living community with gardens, recreation areas, and wellness spaces.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 18 to 24 months, we\u2019ll have 400 families living there,\u201d Shafer says. \u201cWe take that seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n Plans include community gardens, yoga and exercise classes, and partnerships with mental-health professionals. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still developing these programs, but we want to promote holistic well-being, physical, mental, spiritual, and social.\u201d<\/p>\n {{Rwanda\u2019s investment advantage Having worked in more than 15 African countries, Shafer considers Rwanda\u2019s environment unique.<\/p>\n \u201cThe professionalism and predictability are unmatched. You can register a business in 24\u201348 hours, meet officials who show up on time, and have zero tolerance for corruption. That gives investors confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n Most of Fortis Green\u2019s funding comes from the United States, complemented by local financing such as loans from the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD). Shafer believes Rwanda\u2019s consistency and transparency are key to attracting more international capital.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to build trust is through success stories,\u201d he says. \u201cRwanda is already providing that.\u201d<\/p>\n {{Jobs, growth, and the next chapter Fortis Green employs about 40 people across its energy and housing divisions. The Masaka project alone will engage 300 to 400 workers daily during construction.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bigger impact,\u201d Shafer notes, \u201cis in powering and housing the infrastructure that keeps Rwanda\u2019s economy growing.\u201d<\/p>\n The company plans to build 10,000 housing units in 10 years, with several new projects set to be announced soon. Meanwhile, its second energy fund, Green Fund II, targeting $100 million (Rwf 145 billion), is due to launch next year to expand renewable investments across Africa.<\/p>\n {{Basketball, community, and family life Outside the boardroom, Shafer\u2019s passion takes him to the court. A former college basketball player, he co-founded the Kigali Hoops League, a youth program that trains over 100 children in the Rwandan capital.<\/p>\n \u201cWe get the opportunity to play on some courts around the city. We play at Zaria Court on Saturday mornings, and I\u2019d say it\u2019s probably the best thing I\u2019ve started in Kigali on a personal level,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n At home, family remains his grounding force. \u201cOur kids have grown up here,\u201d he reflects. \u201cThey get to be children longer, with fewer distractions. We\u2019re grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n As for his long-term vision, Shafer says his goal is to make Fortis Green a trusted pathway for American investors, creating opportunities that deliver both financial returns and real impact for African communities.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re here to stay. We\u2019re building a lasting business and, hopefully, a legacy that endures here in Rwanda,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n Watch Jonathan Shafer’s full exclusive interview with IGIHE below.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/png\/screenshot_2025-11-12_163224energy.png\")
<\/figure>\n
\n}}<\/p>\n![\"Masaka](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-11-11_at_5.07_20_pm_2_.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n
\n}}<\/p>\n
\n}}<\/p>\n
\n}}<\/p>\n![\"Fortis](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/whatsapp_image_2025-10-25_at_11.58_48_am_1_-6d445.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n
\n}}<\/p>\n![\"Outside](\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/480921629_626147473904937_5653931063217958066_n.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n