ACCESS TO FINANCE RWANDA

Request for Proposals

For

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN RWANDA’S ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING
(AML)/COUNTER TERRORIST FINANCING (CFT)/ COUNTER PROLIFERATION FINANCING (CPF) FRAMEWORK IN ADDRESSING DEFICIENECIES IDENTIFIED IN SECOND ROUND OF MUTUAL EVALUATION AND PREPARING FOR THE THIRD ROUND
 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PROCUREMENT REFERENCE NUMBER: AFR/RFP- STRENGTHEN RWANDA’S AML/CFT/CPF
FRAMEWORK/MARCH/2026

1. Introduction 

This intervention will be implemented through close collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) through the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR), whose respective mandates are summarized below.

2. About Access to Finance Rwanda 

Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a Rwandan not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development in Rwanda. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, the Mastercard Foundation, Co-Develop, and Gates Foundation. AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder effective and sustainable access and usage of financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth, smallholder farmers, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). AFR is a gender-intentional organization and mainstreams gender equality across all its programs. It 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.

3. About MINECOFIN and FIC

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) is mandated to promote sustainable economic growth, expand economic opportunities, and improve the living standards of all Rwandans. Under its supervision, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) was established in 2020 with the primary mandate of generating and analysing financial intelligence to prevent and combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing. In fulfilling this mandate, the FIC works closely with security, judicial, and administrative institutions at national, regional, and international levels to facilitate the exchange of information and strengthen efforts to combat these financial crimes.

4. Overall objective

The consultancy will support the strengthening of Rwanda’s AML/CFT/CPF framework by addressing the technical compliance and effectiveness gaps identified in the Second Round Mutual Evaluation and enhancing national preparedness for the Third-Round evaluation.

a. Specific Objectives

The consultant shall:

1. Conduct a comprehensive diagnostic gap analysis of Rwanda’s AML/CFT regime, assessing both technical compliance and effectiveness.
2. Develop a prioritized national remediation roadmap to address identified gaps.
3. Benchmark Rwanda’s low-rated Immediate Outcomes and recommendations rated non-compliant or partially compliant against best-performing peer jurisdictions to guide improvements in national ratings.
4. Support the implementation of corrective actions across relevant institutions.
5. Ensure that all stakeholders are adequately prepared for the Third Round Mutual Evaluation.
6. Strengthen institutional capacity, domestic coordination, and collaboration mechanisms.
7. Establish sustainable monitoring and reporting systems to evaluate and track the country’s readiness for the Third Round Mutual Evaluation.

Interested firms must confirm their intention to submit a proposal by Friday, April 3, 2026, at 17h00 HRS CAT

Any requests for clarifications to the RFP may be submitted by Thursday, April 9, 2026, 17h00 HRS CAT.

Bidders should submit their proposals no later than Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 14:00 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:

Cordially,

Jean Bosco Iyacu

Chief Executive Officer