Rwanda is poised to accelerate sustainable investment in by introducing a dedicated platform designed to channel capital into climate-resilient business infrastructure, agriculture and low-carbon growth.
The upcoming launch of the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) ‘Green Exchange Window’ (GEW) will provide a specialist market segment for green, social and sustainability-linked financial instruments.
The move places Rwanda at the centre of Africa’s sustainable-finance drive, according to Celestin Rwabukumba, CEO of the RSE and President of the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA)
He noted that the new platform will attract investors seeking credible green products: “We have seen strong investor appetite in sustainability-linked bonds, with over Rwf 70 billion already raised through instruments like Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD)’s green bond.”
The GEW supports Rwanda’s broader financial and climate architecture, including the Rwanda Green Taxonomy, which defines what constitutes a “green investment”. This framework guides both issuers and investors and supports the country’s ambition to become a regional hub for sustainable finance.
Setting up a dedicated segment for green instruments offers several key benefits. It helps issuers align with international standards, strengthens investor confidence through improved transparency and risk management, and provides a clear channel for mobilizing capital toward projects that deliver environmental and social impact.
As Rwabukumba explains, the window will “attract investment in climate-resilient and environmentally friendly projects while ensuring transparency and compliance with international standards.”
For the domestic market, the impact is significant since Rwanda has already listed a range of sustainability-linked bonds and green instruments, signaling growing investor interest.
In July 2025 the International Finance Corporation (IFC) listed a Rwf 24 billion bond designed to support private sector green investments. With the GEW in place, such listings become part of a coherent ecosystem enabling scalable growth.
Regionally, the GEW sends a strong indication that East Africa is ready to embrace sustainable finance in earnest. By offering investors a credible and regulated marketplace for ESG-aligned products, Rwanda enables domestic and international investors to deploy capital with confidence.
As noted by investment-bank executives, the window “gives investors access to credible green products and encourages issuers to align with ESG standards.” Beyond the financial markets, the platform supports Rwanda’s green-growth agenda.
Thapelo Tsheole, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Market Authority, noted that the initiative fits seamlessly into Rwanda’s ongoing push for sustainable finance. He remarked that “the country’s vision for a green economy is very clear, and RSE is right at the centre of that effort.”
The country’s updated Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) require multi-billion-dollar finance flows. The new window bolsters that effort by making it easier to channel investment into sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and circular economy projects.
By bringing together global best practices and local innovation, Rwanda aims to establish the GEW as a model for other African exchanges. The collaboration with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (which runs a leading green-securities platform) ensures the technical design meets international benchmarks while remaining adapted to African realities.
The Green Exchange Window is a strategic infrastructure for sustainable development. With this platform in place, investors and issuers alike gain clarity, confidence and opportunity and Rwanda reinforces its ambition to serve as a beacon for inclusive, climate-smart growth.
