Zipline’s drone deliveries in Rwanda to increase threefold and provide nationwide instant logistics

Zipline, the world leader in instant logistics and drone deliveries, announced today a new agreement with the Rwandan government to perform approximately 2 million instant deliveries and fly over 200 million autonomous kilometers in Rwanda by 2029.

Rwanda will triple its delivery volume under the new collaboration by opening up Zipline’s drone delivery service to additional government agencies and adding new delivery stations in rural and urban areas around the nation.

In doing so, Rwanda is introducing innovative and ecologically friendly logistics and delivery to the nation, and it will be the first country in the world with the potential to make autonomous immediate deliveries to its whole population.

Zipline‘s drone deliveries started six years ago with transporting blood, but have now expanded to include pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, nutrition, and animal health goods.

The new collaboration between Zipline and the Rwandan government builds on that foundation to help the country’s banking, e-commerce, and tourist businesses.

In fact, any government agency can use Zipline’s instant logistics and drone delivery system, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Medical Supply, and the National Child Development Agency.

“With this new agreement, we will be incorporating Zipline into many aspects of our national operations from providing a reliable healthcare supply chain, to addressing malnutrition, to creating an unforgettable eco-tourism experience. Rwanda is an innovation hub and we’re thrilled to be the first country in the world to launch a national drone delivery service,” said Clare Akamanzi, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board.

Zipline supplies 75% of the country’s blood supply outside of Kigali from its distribution sites in Muhanga and Kayonza.

Because of Zipline’s quick drone delivery network, more than 400 hospitals and clinics get blood, medicine, and supplies within minutes of ordering, allowing them to address both routine and emergency medical situations.

In fact, using data from Rwandan public hospitals, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania discovered that Zipline’s logistics and delivery system resulted in an 88% decrease in in-hospital maternal fatalities due to postpartum hemorrhage.

Simply said, more mothers are living today as a result of their attendance at a medical institution that uses Zipline’s quick delivery network.

“Instant logistics has saved thousands of lives and is solving some of the world’s most important problems – hunger and malnutrition, road congestion and environmental pollution, and lack of access to healthcare,” said Daniel Marfo, Senior Vice President and Head of Zipline’s Africa business and operations. “We are honored to expand our relationship with our first customer to support additional sectors of government and create more impact together.” 

Using Zipline, the Ministry of Agriculture distributed over 500,000 doses of animal health vaccinations and over 8,000 units of swine semen to veterinarians and farmers this year alone.

Access to animal husbandry goods boosted fertility by 10% among farmers that use Zipline delivery, compared to the national average.

Farmers may breed more pigs with a healthier genetic profile, expand their enterprises, and eventually offer communities with greater protein availability and enhance population health.

Zipline’s drone deliveries enjoy a strong track record

Every two minutes, Zipline completes an immediate delivery on behalf of companies and governments on three continents.

Zipline has delivered over 450,000 shipments, 4.5 million goods, and flown over 30 million autonomous kilometers to date. Each trip generates around 30 times fewer CO2 emissions per mile than a typical electric car and up to 98% less CO2 emissions than a combustion engine vehicle, according to industry calculations.

The company’s immediate logistics system is utilized internationally to assist the medical, health, and retail sectors, providing blood, vaccinations, COVID supplies, prescriptions, e-commerce and retail goods, food, and health-related products.