Francis Gatare, a former CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), has returned to the office, with long-serving Ms. Clare Akamanzi taking a bow from the position, as Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on Wednesday 27 September 2023 made key changes in his government.
An economist, Francis Gatare, who until his latest appointment served as the Senior Economic Advisor in the President’s Office since 2021, was previously the chief executive of the RDB from 2014-2017, having been involved in setting up the agency. Shortly after his appointment, Mr. Gatare said his strategy would be to advance public-private partnerships as the engine of Rwanda’s economic growth.
Under the leadership of Clare Akamanzi, RDB has successfully rebranded and positioned Rwanda as an attractive tourism destination with the Visit Rwanda campaigns. The East African nation has also grown as a competitive investment destination with favourable rankings from international indices by the World Bank and the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ease of doing business and competitiveness.
Responding on her official X handle to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office announcing the changes, Ms. Akamanzi posted on 28 September “I am deeply grateful to H.E (Paul Kagame) for the opportunity to serve at the Rwanda Development Board. The growth and mentorship I’ve experienced have been truly unprecedented. RDB has been more than a job; it’s been a labour of love that has greatly enriched me both personally & professionally…”
The new changes in government announced on Wednesday on behalf of the President, by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente also saw General James Kabarebe, who was recently retired and has previously served as Chief of Defence Staff of RDF and Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security as new State Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, erstwhile State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Nshuti Manasseh was assigned a new role as the Senior Advisor in the Office of the President in charge of Special Assignments. Other appointees include: Dr. Yvonne Umulisa (Permanent Secretary, Office of the PM), Alphonse Rukaburandekwe (Director General, Rwanda Housing Authority RHA), and Bonny Musefano (First Counsellor, Rwanda Embassy, Tokyo).
Francis Gatare, CEO Rwanda Development Board
Born in 1967, Gatare is married with three children. He has extensive experience in the public sector spanning decades. Prior to his latest appointment, Gatare served as Senior Economic Advisor to President Kagame – from September 2021. Before then, he was the CEO of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), from February 2017.
From October 2009 to July 2014, he served as Principal Private Secretary in the Office of the President. He also served as the Chief Economist and Deputy Head of Policy and Strategy in the Office of the President.
Prior to joining the Office of the President, he served as the Principal Deputy CEO of the RDB, from January 2008 – October 2009. This followed the government policy to consolidate business-facing agencies into RDB, mainly to create a one-stop centre for business and investments. Here, Gatare coordinated the transition plan and built a governance framework for the Board.
Playing that role, he managed the entire merger process including the migration of agencies, closing and consolidating financials, and establishing a unified human resources management framework, among other tasks.
Gatare also served as the Director General of the now-defunct Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency – from May 2007 to September 2008, which existed before RDB was established.
From April 2005 to October 2009, he was Rwanda’s Representative to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) – a holistic, comprehensive integrated strategic framework for the socio-economic development of Africa. Gatare also served as Country Office Economist at UNDP Rwanda from September 2000 – April 2005.
University education
Gatare’s education journey includes a Masters of Public Policy and Public Administration at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government from 2013-2014. In this programme, he expanded his knowledge and understanding of advanced economic development policy and strategy, the interlinking partnership between private and public sectors.
He spent most time studying disruptive innovations, as well as successful strategic investments in infrastructure and energy sectors. Prior to that, he studied at the University of Windsor, Canada, in its Master of Arts, Economics, from 1996 –1998; and at the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies, in Ontario (Canada), from 1991 to 1993. He also studied at Makerere University, in Uganda; Bachelor of Arts, Economics and Political Sciences, from 1988-1991.