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PROCUREMENT REFERENCE NUMBER: AFR/RFP-END PROJECT EVALUATION-DATA ANALYTICS CAPACITY IN RWANDA’S FINANCIAL ECOSYSTEM/JULY/2025.
- Introduction
- About Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR)
Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a Rwandan not-for-profit company established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development in Rwanda. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, Mastercard Foundation, Co-Develop and Jersey Overseas Aid.
AFR is part of the broader Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Network in Africa, which seeks to contribute to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth through financial inclusion and financial sector development by working with policymakers, regulators, financial service providers, and other market actors.
AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder access to financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth, and MSMEs. AFR is guided by the Market System Development (MSD) approach, recognizing that efforts to increase financial inclusion and financial sector development must be market-led, profitable, and sustainable.
- About the project/ Overview of the project
Data analytics is becoming an increasingly critical tool in the financial sector. Financial institutions are relying more heavily on data-driven insights to inform decision-making and improve overall business performance. At a broader level, data analytics also plays a key role in supporting evidence-based policymaking, regulatory oversight, and risk management, including fraud detection and prevention. To generate meaningful insights that drive innovation, the data used in decision-making must be accurately collected, processed, and analyzed. A particularly important aspect of this process is ensuring the inclusion of gender-disaggregated data to improve visibility and delivery of tailored financial services that meet the needs of different population segments.
In 2022, AFR conducted a scoping study to assess the data analytics capacity within Rwanda’s financial sector. The study revealed significant gaps, particularly in the development and implementation of data analytics strategies and in strengthening the internal data collection and analysis capabilities of financial institutions.
To address these challenges, AFR implemented a project, namely “Strengthening Data Analytics Capacity in Rwanda’s Financial Ecosystem”. This project aimed to drive transformative changes by building a strong, inclusive data analytics framework, with a particular focus on gender inclusion.
The project was implemented in partnership with five financial institutions: the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), Bank of Kigali (BK), the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), the Rwanda Bankers Association (RBA), and the Association of Insurers in Rwanda (ASSAR). The initiative primarily focused on three key areas: conducting data gap assessments, developing data maturity and governance strategies, and coaching dedicated teams in data analytics, including the establishment and operationalization of research functions. Details of the interventions for each partner institution will be provided during the inception phase.
In line with coverage of this assignment, the evaluation will cover three institutions: BNR, BK, and RBA. It should also be noted that lessons learned from the implementation with RSSB and ASSAR will be documented as well, with further discussion to take place during the inception phase.
- Objectives of the assignment
The overall objective of this assignment is to conduct an end-of-project evaluation for the “Strengthening Data Analytics Capacity in Rwanda’s Financial Ecosystem” project – assessing the extent to which the project has achieved its intended outputs, objectives and outcomes (while documenting potential gaps and challenges) as specified in the project logical framework and the overall organization’s theory of change.
Furthermore, the assessment also seeks to document learnings and success stories contributing to the overall AFR learning agenda, especially under AFR’s research and information pillar. Using OECD-DAC criteria for project evaluation, this evaluation intends the following specific objectives:
- Review the extent to which the project has achieved its intended targets, objectives, and outcomes and the overall performance against the theory of change.
- Assess the project implementation approach.
- Assess how it has contributed to the FR phase III strategy implementation.
- Reviewing AFR’s role in supporting the project, identifying key gaps, focusing on what worked and what did not work, as well as providing recommendations for any potential project scale-up.
- Provide recommendations to address the identified bottlenecks and implementation challenges
- Highlight impact stories and recommend areas of focus for future similar interventions
- Document key learnings and potential innovations as part of the AFR’s Knowledge Management Objectives.
Interested bidders must confirm their intention to submit a bid by Thursday August 7, 2025, at 17h00 HRS CAT
Any requests for clarifications to the RFP may be submitted by Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 17h00 HRS CAT.
Bidders should submit their proposals no later than Monday, August 18, 2025, 17:00 HRS CAT
Responding bidders are advised that this solicitation does not in any way obligate AFR to make a contract award or compensate the responding firms for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of their proposals. Additionally, AFR may award a contract without conducting negotiations; all proposals should be submitted initially using your most favorable terms. AFR reserves the right to award any resultant contract to other than the offeror submitting the lowest price proposal based on technical excellence, schedule superiority or client request.
All communications regarding this RFP should be addressed via email: procurement02@afr.rw
Below is the summary planned procurement schedule:
| Activity | Date |
| a) Date of issue of RFP | Wednesday July 30, 2025 |
| b) Confirmation of interest | Thursday August 7, 2025, at 17h00 HRS CAT |
| c) Request for clarifications | Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 17h00 HRS CAT. |
| d) Proposal closing date for submission of proposals | Monday August 18, 2025, 17:00 HRS CAT |
Note: This procurement is open to locally registered firms. However, collaboration or joint ventures with foreign firms to enhance technical capabilities are permitted.
Cordially,
Jean Bosco Iyacu
Chief Executive Officer
