2018 Tutu Fellow Jean-Guy Afrika has been appointed by President Paul Kagame as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

The appointment was announced by The Office of the Prime Minister of Rwanda on January 13th, 2025, and has taken effect immediately.

Jean-Guy was the Acting Director Regional Integration Coordination Office of the African Development Bank Group. He has had several roles at AfDB since 2010, including significant contributions to the Agriculture and Rural Infrastructure Department, the NEPAD Regional Integration and Trade Department, and the Industrialization and Trade Development Department.

Jean-Guy also worked as Senior Policy Expert at the East African Community and as Director of Export Promotion at the Rwanda Investment & Export Promotion Agency. In these roles, he implemented policies and reforms for regional integration, improved Rwanda’s business environment, and sustained export growth.

His contribution in this new role will bring the changes needed to transform Rwanda into a regional economic hub and a more competitive international economy.

 Header Image: Image from the Africa News Agency