Eric Karerangabo isn’t just leading IT at the Rwanda Green Fund, he is building its climate finance digital backbone. From custom-built M&E tools to patented commercial solutions, Eric’s hands-on tech expertise now powers major initiatives at the fund.
When Eric Karerangabo swapped dreams of medicine for a future in tech, he had no idea that he would one day help digitise Rwanda’s largest climate finance institution. Now head of IT and a business analyst at the Rwanda Green Fund, Eric has led various innovations like an online M&E reporting system that replaced clunky spreadsheets with real-time data tracking. “We’re no longer chasing Excel files around the office,” he quipped. “Now, we chase results.”
He notes one of his proudest achievements as building and patenting software for petrol stations to track sales and expenses; a side hustle that turned into a commercial success. “I sold it to several companies,” he said, “and it’s still in use today.”
At the Green Fund, he is now driving a digital transformation agenda that includes rolling out an ERP system and designing a fund management platform to streamline operations. “Technology is not just about efficiency,” Eric notes. “It’s about unlocking value and scaling impact.”
But it hasn’t all been plug-and-play. Driving change in a mixed workforce comes with its share of resistance, especially when introducing new tech.
“Change management is the real mountain,” Eric admits. “The systems are the easy part, it’s the people you have to onboard, one conversation at a time.” Add to that the challenge of limited resources, and it becomes clear that Eric’s success isn’t just technical but also strategic, diplomatic and deeply human.
Still, he is betting big on the future. With AI now part of his toolkit, Eric sees it as a game-changer for climate finance and resource mobilisation. “AI can help us track funding flows, review complex proposals and even predict bottlenecks before they happen,” he explains.
Beyond flashy tools
It’s not just about automation, but also augmentation. “We’re not replacing people; we’re freeing them up to think strategically. The goal is to make data work for us, not the other way around.” In a world where speed, accuracy and scale matter more than ever, Eric is steering the Green Fund toward a smarter, sharper digital edge.
Eric’s transformation agenda at the Green Fund goes beyond flashy tools. Since late 2022, he has spearheaded the development of ICT and data strategies, along with a new solution architecture that aligns technology with the fund’s long-term vision. At the heart of it is the implementation of Odoo ERP, selected not just for its open-source flexibility but for its ability to unify operations across departments. “We needed a system that could speak the language of finance, HR, procurement – all in one,” he said. “And it had to be adaptable to our growth.”
Next on the roadmap was a fund management information system that would digitise core operational workflows, from grant disbursements to project monitoring. For Eric, these tools are more than digital checkboxes; they’re enablers of transparency, accountability and smarter decision-making in climate financing. “If you can’t track it, you can’t manage it,” he said. “And if you can’t manage it, you can’t scale your impact.”
Even with limited resources, Eric has leant into creativity, while managing a lean team that punches above its weight. With just a data scientist and an IT help desk officer under his wing, he focuses on strategic alignment, infrastructure security, and creating space for innovation. Cybersecurity, he emphasises, is a shared responsibility.
“We’re fortunate to have strong national support,” he said, referring to Rwanda’s dedicated institutions that conduct system monitoring and vulnerability assessments. “They help us stay one step ahead, so we can focus on strengthening internal protocols and user awareness.” His leadership style is collaborative but focused: “We work like a start-up within a government entity,” he joked. “Small team, big ambitions.”
Outside the office, Eric recharges through faith, family, and swimming. But even in his downtime, he’s never far from a systems-thinking mindset. “If I weren’t in IT, I’d be in monitoring and evaluation,” he says. “I like knowing what’s working, what’s not, and how we can improve.” That clarity has made him one of the quiet forces behind Rwanda’s digital shift in climate finance.
