Wife, mother, qualified professional, and a leader with a remarkable passion for financial inclusion and empowerment of her fellow women, Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa devotes to achieving significance and purpose in life. With a group of women in finance and business, she co-founded New Faces New Voices Rwanda and has been its chairperson since inception. The organisation counts more than 3000 members today and has created tangible impact for women across the value chain as well as for stakeholders. For the last couple of years, Dr Monique has led the efforts towards the operationalization of a women fund, the organisation’s flagship project.

Dr Monique has occupied key roles in the government of Rwanda where she served as Minister of Trade and Industry- the first female minister to be appointed in that portfolio (2008-2011) and Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning (2003-2008).

Currently, she is Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (since 2011). In this capacity, she serves on the Gender and Women’s Financial Inclusion Committee of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI). She also represented the voice of regulators on the Women’s World Banking African Advisory Council and continues to be an active member of WWB Advisory Councils Alumni. In addition to financial inclusion, she is also a strong advocate for statistics and evidence-based policy making. She chairs the Board of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, a government agency she contributed to establish as State Minister for Economic Planning.

Besides her official duties, Dr Monique always spares time to engage in societal, community and church activities. She is first vice chairperson of Unity Club, a nonprofit organization of Rwandan former and current cabinet ministers and their spouses, founded by H.E. Madame Jeannette Kagame to promote unity and peace as foundation of sustainable development. She co-founded Friend Indeed Organisation, a nonprofit organisation that empowers teen and single mothers and their children back in her home community.

Dr Monique holds a PhD in Economics (2012), a MA cum laude in Economics (2002), and a Doctorate of Commerce Honoris Causa (2017), all from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is a Fellow of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Education in Public Financial Management, a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative East Africa & the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a member of the African Leaders Network.