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Schar School of Policy and Government 2006 graduate Jean-Guy Afrika has been tapped by Rwandan President Paul Kagame as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). The announcement was made this week by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente and follows the December appointment of Francis Gatare as senior presidential advisor, leaving the RDB role vacant.
Afrika earned his master’s degree from George Mason University in International Commerce and Policy, now known as Global Commerce and Policy (GCP).
“This is primarily a testament to Mr. Afrika's dedicated career but for the program’s faculty, it is also reflective of their commitment to development policy as a field of research and practice.”
Afrika steps into the RDB role at a pivotal time, tasked with continuing Rwanda’s trajectory as a hub for investment, trade, and development.
A seasoned expert in regional integration and infrastructure financing, Afrika brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as lead for the Regional Integration Coordination Office at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) since May 2024, a position he first held in an acting capacity starting in 2021.
While at AfDB, Afrika advised senior management on the design, structuring, and financing of major infrastructure projects, overseeing the bank’s $14 billion regional integration portfolio, and collaborating with continental heavyweights like the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Afrika’s career spans key leadership roles with the East African Community (EAC) and Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), where he spearheaded initiatives to boost integration and export growth.
In addition to his George Mason degree, he holds executive education credentials in trade policy from Harvard Kennedy School and organizational leadership from the University of Oxford, along with a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Lynchburg.