Rwanda will become the first nation with complete nationwide drone delivery coverage following a major expansion with Zipline, the autonomous logistics company. The move, backed by a significant U.S. State Department award, deepens a decade-long partnership that began with delivering blood to remote clinics and now aims to include groceries to urban doorsteps .
The expansion is the first to proceed under a USD 150 M pay-for-performance award the U.S. State Department granted Zipline in late 2025 . Under this model, Zipline receives upfront U.S. government funding to build the delivery infrastructure, while African governments commit to long-term service fees for ongoing drone deliveries . Rwanda has signed the first contract under this scheme, which could triple Ziplines network on the continent .
This partnership is an example of the innovative, results-driven partnership at the core of the America First foreign assistance agenda, said Jeremy Lewin, a U.S. Under Secretary of State .
