Board of Directors

Mary Balikungeri is an accomplished Gender and Development specialist with over two decades of experience, Mary has dedicated her life to ending gender-based violence and advancing the socio-economic empowerment of women and girls in Rwanda and beyond. Born in Rwanda, Mary was just six years old when the war against the Tutsi forced her family to flee to Uganda. Growing up as a refugee exposed her to injustice and instability, but it also gave her access to opportunities like education that would later shape her life’s mission. After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and upon hearing the devastating stories of violence endured by women, Mary knew she had to act. In 1995, she returned home and founded Rwanda Women’s Network, creating safe spaces for women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence who had nowhere else to turn. From the beginning, these spaces were designed not only for healing, but also for transformation integrating financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership development into every program. As Mary often says, “When women are economically viable, they are able to deal with issues of violence, feed themselves, take care of their families—they won’t stick with violence.” One of her most outstanding contributions is the Polyclinic of Hope model—a holistic approach addressing the psychosocial and medical needs of survivors of SGBV. This model has supported the establishment of over 24 Women Safe Spaces across Rwanda, providing refuge, raising awareness, and mobilizing communities to denounce and prevent violence. Beyond service delivery, Mary is a powerful advocate. Under her leadership, RWN strengthens collaboration between community facilitators and local authorities to ensure sustainable, locally owned responses to GBV. Nationally and globally, she has championed gender equality through platforms such as the Rwanda CSO SDG5 Forum and regional networks advancing women’s rights. Her activism extends across Africa and the world. Mary serves as Chairperson of the African Network of Women Shelters (ANWS), an affiliate of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters (GNWS), and has represented African voices on global advocacy platforms, including serving on the UNAIDS Board. Through these roles, she has strengthened the global women’s shelter movement and elevated grassroots voices to international policy spaces. In 2018, her extraordinary service was recognized when she received the ‘Point of Light’ Award from Queen Elizabeth II, honoring her inspirational and exceptional support to thousands of survivors of gender-based violence. Yet Mary’s greatest inspiration remains the women she has mentored. Through Rwanda Women’s Network Organization, she continues to nurture emerging leaders who are breaking cycles of violence and shaping Rwanda’s future. And she is not done.

Rosette Nkundimfura is an Assistant Lecturer at the Centre for Gender Studies, University of Rwanda, and a recognized expert in gender equality, women’s empowerment, and inclusive governance. With over 11 years of experience in advancing gender mainstreaming, she has contributed extensively to policy development, capacity building, and program implementation across government institutions, civil society, and international development projects. She has held senior roles including Acting Director at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), Gender Specialist at ADRA Rwanda, and Capacity Development Officer at Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe/CARE International, leading initiatives to strengthen women’s participation in decision-making, service delivery, and community development. Ms. Nkundimfura also serves on the boards of Rwanda Women’s Network and Girls’ Leaders Forum, and is a member of UN Women’s Civil Society Advisory Group for East and Southern Africa. Her work encompasses gender policy, governance, leadership development, and disability inclusion, with a strong track record in training, research, and facilitating multi-stakeholder initiatives that promote equality, social inclusion, and transformative gender practices at the local and national levels in Rwanda.

Esther B. Mutamba is a Senior Urban and Community Development Manager and Project Manager with over 21 years of experience leading urban development, infrastructure projects, and community-based initiatives. She currently serves as a Short-Term Consultant for the World Bank in Rwanda, supporting participatory informal settlement upgrading and urban infrastructure development across multiple districts. Throughout her career, Ms. Mutamba has held leadership roles in key urban development projects, including Chief Operations Officer for the Kigali Convention Centre, Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority, and Urban Planning Officer for the City of Kigali. She has contributed to the formulation of national urban policies, affordable housing programs, participatory neighborhood planning, and sustainable infrastructure initiatives, impacting hundreds of thousands of residents. Ms. Mutamba has also supported regional and international development efforts, advising on urban management strategies, climate-resilient infrastructure, and community engagement frameworks, and has been recognized for her expertise in project management, stakeholder coordination, and innovative urban solutions.

Ms. Rose Rwabuhihi is the Director of Inspire Impact Hub, a pan-African social enterprise advancing gender equity and equality across the continent. She has been a prominent leader in promoting women’s empowerment and gender-responsive governance in Rwanda since 1995. Ms. Rwabuhihi served as Chief Gender Monitor at Rwanda’s Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) from 2013, where she spearheaded initiatives to institutionalize gender accountability at both local and national levels, including the Gender Accountability Day and the Gender Equality Seal Certification Programme. She also launched the bi-annual Rwanda Country Gender Profile, a key reference for policymakers on the state of gender equality. Prior to her work at the GMO, Ms. Rwabuhihi spent over 15 years with UN agencies, including UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women, focusing on governance, peace, and security across Africa and the United States. She is an active member of several civil society boards, including Imbuto Foundation and Rwanda Women’s Network, and has been recognized internationally as one of Apolitico’s “50 Game changers” for her impact in advancing gender equality and women’s rights.

Peter Turyahikayo is a seasoned development and business leader with over 26 years of experience working with both international and local NGOs in Rwanda and the region. His expertise includes program management, grant management, institutional capacity building, governance, peace building, gender programming, and advocacy. He has worked with major organizations and donors such as USAID, DFID, the European Union, UN Women, World Food Programme (WFP), UNAIDS, the Global Fund, CARE International, World Vision, and Church World Service, among others. Mr. Turyahikayo previously served as Program Manager at Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) and has strong experience in project planning, proposal development, donor relations, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, and strategy development. In addition to his development work, he is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the petroleum retail business, having worked with Shell, Kobil, and currently ORYX Rwanda. He is the Director of P&A Distributors Ltd and Cash-line Ltd, companies operating in fuel retail and financial services under the supervision of the National Bank of Rwanda. His leadership experience covers both the development and private sectors at national and regional levels.

Dr. Joseph Mucumbitsi is Chief Consultant Pediatrician and Cardiologist at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda, and DEVA Medical Center, as well as Associate Professor (Hon.) of Pediatrics at the University of Rwanda. He is the country’s first Pediatric Cardiologist and has been a driving force in establishing comprehensive cardiac care services in Rwanda, including coordinating the National Cardiac Surgery Program since 2006. Dr. Mucumbitsi is the Founder and President of the Rwanda Heart Foundation and serves on multiple national and international boards, including the Rwanda NCD Alliance, Global NCD Alliance, African Heart Network, and Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR). He has played a key role in shaping Rwanda’s cardiovascular health policies and non-communicable disease strategies, contributing extensively to research, publications, and capacity-building in congenital and rheumatic heart disease care.

Ms. Naomi Umuhoza is a legal educator, researcher, and children’s rights specialist with over 18 years of experience in teaching, legal practice, and advocacy. She is the Director of the Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Rwanda, where she trains law students, provides community legal services, and leads research on children’s rights, criminal justice, and mediation. Ms. Umuhoza has extensive experience in advancing child protection, gender justice, and access to legal aid, having conducted research, policy analysis, and trainings at national and international levels. She holds a PhD in Children’s Rights from Uppsala University, a Master’s Degree in International Law of Human Rights and Criminal Justice from Utrecht University, and a Bachelor of Law from the National University of Rwanda. She is an active member of the Rwanda Bar Association and has contributed to numerous initiatives strengthening legal frameworks and practical protections for vulnerable children in Rwanda.