Rwanda and Luxembourg partner to measure the impact of rural infrastructure

How do roads, schools, health centres and water systems contribute to local economic development and an improved quality of life? To help answer this question, researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) travelled to Rwanda as part of a collaboration with LuxDev to develop an evidence-based approach for assessing the economic and social contribution of rural infrastructure investments financed through the Basket Funding for Pro-Poor Development (PPD-Basket).

The mission combined field visits, technical discussions and stakeholder consultations to ensure that the study reflects both local realities and community experiences.

By engaging with district authorities, infrastructure users and local residents, the team gained first-hand insights into how infrastructure investments influence access to services, economic activity and everyday life. These observations will help strengthen the study design and ensure that the methodology captures not only costs and outputs, but also the wider benefits generated for communities.

The mission also provided an opportunity to review key methodological aspects of the study and clarify the collaboration required during its next phases.

A stakeholder workshop in Kigali brought together government institutions, development partners and technical experts to provide input before the methodology is finalised. This collaborative approach aims to build a shared understanding of the study's objectives and of how its findings can be used to support future infrastructure planning and investment decisions.

Beyond the study itself, the initiative highlights the value of the Rwanda-Luxembourg partnership in promoting evidence-based development. By bringing together scientific expertise, local institutional knowledge and community perspectives, the collaboration seeks to generate credible and practical evidence on the socioeconomic benefits, economic returns and value for money of rural infrastructure investments.

Ultimately, the study is expected to contribute to better-informed decisions, helping to ensure that future investments continue to reduce poverty and support inclusive local economic development across Rwanda.

The PPD-Basket is funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Agence française de développement (AFD) and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), and implemented by the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) with the support of LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.