1. The Kigali Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI)

1.1. About the UFI Project

The Kigali Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI) is an informal settlement upgrading project implemented in conjunction with the City of Kigali under the Kigali Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (KISUP). The aim is to fund small-scale public space upgrading and community infrastructure projects co-designed and co-produced by residents and urban stakeholders, implemented in close collaboration with local authorities, community representatives, and the City of Kigali. 

The project is sponsored by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) And European Union (EU). Urban Fabric Initiative (UFI) is a participatory project to develop public spaces and social facilities in a collaborative manner, bringing together all stakeholders involved in the production of the city.

City of Kigali, as a major stakeholder in the UFI, plays a central role in project oversight and implementation. The City of Kigali monitors the execution of works in its capacity as:

• The local authority responsible for safeguarding community interests and ensuring compliance with applicable standards and regulations; and
• A direct beneficiary of UFI funds. 

Three partnering organisations have been appointed as a consortium to be the Kigali UFI Operator: Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN; based in Kigali), Bantu Studio Design & Research (Bantu; based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Espelia (based in France). RWN is a local non-profit organisation responsible for stakeholder and community engagement and project administration. Bantu is responsible for the co-design and co-construction of selected social facilities within the project, as well as quality control advising to the City of Kigali. Espelia is a French consulting firm with expertise in the design and implementation of economic, financial, institutional, and organizational aspects of public policies and projects in emerging and developing countries and is responsible for the development of operation & maintenance (O&M) strategies and a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for the project.

Collectively, the RWN-Bantu-Espelia consortium (the UFI Operator) has been engaged by AFD for a three-year contract to implement the Kigali UFI within three informal settlements of Kigali. The UFI Operator sees this project as an opportunity to not only build positive interventions but also to establish real, measurable, and lasting socio-economic benefits to the surrounding communities. The UFI Operator, together with Sectors’ elected Community Upgrading Committees (CUCs), developed the ‘Impact Strategy’ that focuses on the positive change brought by the construction of the interventions. It has six goals, each of which considers the overall welfare of the communities and the ways small projects can make a larger impact:

• Keep project expenses in the community: The project aims to boost the local economy by prioritizing spending within the sectors where facilities are built. Community members will be actively involved in construction, with a focus on local contracting, and job creation.
• Develop tradecraft: The project aims to enhance the skills and experience of construction crew members, enabling them to take on more complex projects in the future. Workmanship quality will be assessed, with skill-building workshops provided as needed. 
• Support underrepresented and vulnerable groups: Economic benefits of the project expenditures should be equitably distributed amongst participants regardless of gender, age, religion, etc. Unemployed or under-employed individuals should be prioritised for work they are capable of performing. The participation of women disabled and/or other vulnerable groups shall make up at least 30% of the construction workforce. For Unskilled labour, the contractor shall prioritise the selection of individuals on the “List of Interest”, which is a regularly maintained registry of unemployed/under-employed individuals who have expressed interest in applying for Unskilled Labour positions within the project. This list will be created and maintained by the Construction Committee, determining its prioritisation criteria and rotational employment strategy, and keeping contact details and employment status up to date over time.
• Mainstreaming of environmental sustainability: The project will prioritize sustainable materials and practices in construction and maintenance while educating workers on sustainability considerations for future projects. This includes using low-carbon and locally sourced materials, integrating nature-based solutions, recycling, and planning for material maintenance and end-of-life treatment. 
• Create a fair, transparent structure for implementation: A transparent and fair selection process will be established for contractors and workers, incorporating input from all relevant stakeholders, including the UFI and Sectors’ elected Community Upgrading Committees (CUCs). Clear communication protocols will ensure broad access to opportunities, while defined roles and requirements will guide participation. A fair recruitment policy will be implemented, with flexibility for amendments as needed.
• Prepare a way of working for longer-term projects: The five outlined goals will be integrated into the public tendering process for the next phase of UFI, ensuring alignment with Rwandan public procurement regulations.

1.2. The Construction Committee 

The UFI Operator, together with elected community representatives, formed sectors’ construction committees that will oversee labour selection and construction management. 

The Construction Committees will oversee recruitment, project management, and compliance to ensure fair and inclusive employment practices. It will document meetings, and update stakeholders. The committees will manage the List of Interest (registry of individuals who have expressed interest in applying for Unskilled Labour positions), prioritizing and rotating employment opportunities while maintaining applicant records. The committees will evaluate contractor bids, and organize training sessions on skills, inclusivity, and sustainability where needed. Additionally, it will enforce safety standards on construction site and ensure contractor compliance with recruitment policies. 

1.3. Scope of work

The UFI Operator is seeking a general contractor, inclusive of all relevant subcontracts as necessary, to execute the construction of a Community Library and Nursery School in Nyakabanda sector, Kigali.

This is a prequalification based on contractor’s qualifications. Detailed drawings, specifications and a bill of quantities (BoQ) will be made available only to shortlisted bidders following the first stage of evaluation. 

Basic information on the scope of work is given below: 

Preliminary schematic drawings and renderings are included below to enable the bidding entities to understand the proposed size and characteristics of the project. These are preliminary only and will not be used for construction. A full construction documentation drawing set, specifications, and bill of quantities will be listed to shortlisted candidates.



Front view

 

Left: ground floor plan; right: upper floor plan. Not to scale.


Side view


Left: interior view of library; right: interior view of classrooms & flexible event space.

1.4. Application for Prequalification 

1.4.1. Submission Format & Deadline

All must meet the requirements set out in section 2 below according to the following provisions: 

• Documentation shall be submitted in separate files in .pdf format, including:
  • A copy of the RDB business registration certificate. 
  • A signed declaration from the bidder demonstrating commitment to Environmental and Social (E&S) standards, as well as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.
  • A bank statement or equivalent financial document demonstrating the bidder’s financial capacity or access to funds of a minimum of 35,000,000 Rwandan Francs.
  • Form A: Bidder Information & Project Experience Details (see Form A below and download at the link below).
  • Form B: Bidder’s Commitment to Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Provision (see Form B below and download at the link below).
• The relevant forms (A, B, & C) may be downloaded as Word files from this link. Samples of them are included in this .pdf as a reference.
• All documentation must be submitted by email to rwawnet@rwanda1.rw with kigali@bantustudio.co.za in copy, not later than 27th April, 2026, 12:00.
• Please note that because photos of work are requested, file sizes may be large and may need to be sent separately.

1.4.2 . Additional information

Questions, requests for clarity, or requests for additional information may be addressed to: rwawnet@rwanda1.rw with kigali@bantustudio.co.za in copy.