Rwanda has used its official session at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026 in Geneva to make the case that AI strategies alone are not enough.
The real challenge, speakers argued, is building institutions that can turn those strategies into measurable benefits for citizens.
The session, titled From AI Strategy to AI Delivery: Building National AI Institutions for Public Impact, was led by the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, and brought together AI and policy leaders from Rwanda, Egypt and across Africa.
Moderated by Robert Kainamura, the discussion featured Crystal Rugege of Rwanda C4IR, Dr. Hoda Baraka, Egypt’s National AI Strategy Lead, and John Kamara, CEO of CORTEX Africa and the AI Center of Excellence.
The panel explored what it takes to move from AI policy to implementation, focusing on governance, institutional capacity, digital infrastructure, talent development and partnerships.
Speakers agreed that countries will ultimately be judged not by the strategies they publish, but by the institutions they build and the public impact those institutions deliver.
The discussion formed part of the WSIS Forum 2026 in Geneva, where governments, development partners and technology leaders are examining how digital technologies can accelerate sustainable development and improve public service delivery.
