UNDP
About us
Meet the Decision makers
Mr. Stephen Rodriques
UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda.
Mr. Stephen Rodriques (Jamaica) is the UNDP Resident Representative for Rwanda. Prior to this appointment, Stephen served as Country Director for UNDP Rwanda (2015-2018) and was UNDP Deputy Country Director in Indonesia (2010-2015). From 2005-2010, Stephen worked as Programme Advisor in the Operations Support Group/Executive Office in UNDP New York. He was also Head of the Governance and Poverty Unit in UNDP Jamaica (2002-2005) and a part-time Lecturer in Political Science at the University of the West Indies (2004-2005). Prior to joining UNDP, Stephen occupied various positions in the Jamaican Government, serving as Director of Social Policy in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development (1999-2000), Head of Planning and Development in the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (1996-1999), and Assistant to the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (1993-1995).
Stephen holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and both a Master’s of Philosophy in Government and Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
He speaks English and Spanish. Stephen took up him new assignment on 15 February 2019.
Ms. Varsha Redkar-Palepu
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Programme & Operations in Rwanda.
Ms. Varsha Redkar-Palepu (Canada, Sri Lanka) is the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Programme & Operations in Rwanda.
Prior to this appointment Varsha served as Head of the UN RC Office & Senior Policy Advisor for Ethiopia 2018-19, and was UNDP Head of the Regional UNDG Secretariat Arab States/ MENA in New York 2013-2017. Varsha served as UNDP Assistant Resident Representative for Armenia 2011-13 and UNDP Governance Advisor for Somalia 2009-12. Varsha supported the first generation One UN pilot countries as Programme Specialist UNSSC 2007-09, prior to that she was UNDP Learning & Capacity Development Specialist at HQ in New York 2003-07. Varsha has worked as an educator in Community Health promoting youth and women’s empowerment and with the Canadian Ontario College of Teachers 1998-2002. She was a Gender Researcher in Sri Lanka with the Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA, and the University of Guelph 1996-97.
Varsha holds a Masters of International Public Administration, New York University, Bachelors of Education from the University of Toronto and a Bachelors of International Development & Philosophy, University of Guelph, Canada.
Our Team
UNDP team in Rwanda is made of 56 people. They come from different corners of the world and drew their expertise together to support Rwanda attein its vision.
Meet UNDP Rwanda Team
| Title | Names | |
| UNDP Resident Representative | Mr. Stephen Anthony Rodriques, | stephen.rodriques@undp.org |
| Executive Associate to the RR | Ms. Alice Kayibanda | alice.kayibanda@undp.org |
| Deputy Resident Representative | Ms. Varsha Redkar-Palepu | varsha.redkar-palepu@undp.org |
| Administrative Associate (DRR's office) | Mr. Placide Ruhungande | placide.ruhungande@undp.org |
| Head of Management Support Unit | Ms. Evelyn Wangu | evelyne.wangu@undp.org |
| Progamme Associate, Management Support Unit | Ms. Aline Kayitesi | kayitesi.aline@undp.org |
| Communication Analyst | Ms. Gisele Nyampinga | gisele.nyampinga@undp.org |
| Communication Associate | Vacant |
UNDP advisory Team
| Senior Economics Advisor (for Rwanda and Uganda) | Ms. Yemesrach Workie | yemesrach.workie@undp.org |
| JPO Economist | Vacant | |
| Research Associate | Mr. Evard Havugimana | evard.havugimana@undp.org |
| Research Assistant | Ms. Claudine Uwineza | claudine.uwineza@undp.org |
UN Volunteers Coordination Office
| UNV Country Coordinator | Mr. Sibomana Jea Dedieu | jean.sibomana@unv.org |
| UNV Programme Assistant | Mr. Claude Ruzigande | ruzigande.claude@unv.org |
UNDP Programme
Transformational Governance Unit
| Programme Specialist | Ms. Nadine U. Rugwe | nadine.rugwe@undp.org |
| Programme Analyst | Mr. Jean de Dieu Kayiranga | jean.kayiranga@undp.org |
| Programme Analyst, JPO | Ms. Gertie Steukers | gertie.steukers@undp.org |
| Programme Analyst | Ms. Kanzayire Theopista Nwaigwe | theopista.kanzayire@undp.org |
| Programme Associate | Ms. Eugenie Musabyeyezu | eugenie.musabyeyezu@undp.org |
| Programme Associate | Ms. Cecile Mupfasoni | cecile.mupfasoni@undp.org |
| Programme Assistant | Ms. Chantal Mutavu | chantal.mutavu@undp.org |
Sustainable Growth Unit
| Programme Specialist | Ms. Madeleine Nyiratuza | madeleine.nyiratuza@undp.org |
| Programme Analyst (Environment) | Mr. Bernadin Uzayisaba | bernadin.uzayisaba@undp.org |
| Programme Coordinator (Environment) | Mr. Alexis Ndayisaba | alexis.ndayisaba@undp.org |
| Programme Analyst | Mr Nicolas Schmids | nicolas.schmids@undp.org |
| Programme Analyst | Ms. Hyesu Yoon | hyesu.yoon@undp.org |
| Programme Associate (Environment) | Ms. Lucie Masudi | lucie.masudi@undp.org |
| Environment Specialist | Ms. Reina Ostuka | reina.otsuka@undp.org |
| Programme Assistant | Mr. Egide Kundinshuti | egide.kundinshuti@undp.org |
| Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist | Mr. Jehwee PARK | jehwee.park@undp.org |
| Partnerships, Resource Mobilization & Innovation Specialist | Mr. Amine Ammor | amine.ammor@undp.org |
| Programme Specialist | Mr. Qamer Uddin Jatoi | qamer.jatoi@undp.org |
| National Technical Advisor (NTA)-PEA |
Mary Rucibigango |
mary.rucibigango@undp.org |
| Environment Specialist (REMA) | Mr. Fred Sabiti | fred.sabiti@undp.org |
Finance
| Finance Specialist | Ms. Valentine Niwemukobwa | valentine.niwemukobwa@undp.org |
| Finance Associate | Mr. Fidele Safari | fidele.safari@undp.org |
| Finance Assistant | Ms. Alida Prudence Niyibizi | prudence-alida.niyibizi@undp.org |
Human Resources
| Human Resources Analyst and Learning Manager | Mr. Livingstone Mfizi | livingstone.mfizi@undp.org |
| Human Resources Associate | Ms. Felicite Dusabe | felicite.dusabe@undp.org |
Procurement Unit
| Procurement Analyst | Mr. Mbasa Rugigana | mbasa.rugigana@undp.org |
| Procurement Associate | Mr. Nadine Umuhire | nadine.umuhire@undp.org |
Information Technology
| ICT Manager | Mr. Fidele Habimana | fidele.habimana@undp.org |
| IT Assistant | Mr. Rene Ndayambaje | rene.ndayambaje@undp.org |
Accelerator Lab
| Head of Exploration | Ms Elizabeth Mutamba | elizabeth.mutamba@undp.org |
| Head of Solutions Mapping | Ms. Vaster Kanyesigye | vaster.kanyesigye@undp.org |
| Head of Experimentation | Vacant |
General Administration
| Protocol Assistant | Mr. Chrysante Birasa | chrys.birasa@undp.org |
| Documents Assistant | Mr. Deogratias Nshimiyimana | deogratias.nshimiyimana@undp.org |
| Administrative & Logistics Associate | Ms. Placide Murekatete | placide.murekatete@undp.org |
| Senior Driver | Mr. Amin Kagabo | amin.kagabo@undp.org |
| Driver (RR) | Ms. Godelieve Mukayiranga | godelieve.mukayiranga@undp.org |
| Driver | Mr. Jovin. K. Rutagarama | jovin.rutagarama@undp.org |
| Driver | Mr. Didace Mupenzi | didace.mupenzi@undp.org |
