Bénigne Mugwaneza Ishimwe began her working life telling stories – as a youth radio journalist in Rwanda, interviewing, listening well, and translating complex ideas for an audience. That early instinct for how communication shapes understanding has never left her. It runs through everything she has done since: facilitation, stakeholder engagement, governance coordination, and now the leadership of the Riva Network's secretariat at a pivotal moment in its evolution.
She works in the space between ideas and action – where complex processes need someone who can keep a conversation on track, synthesise what matters, and help people with different languages, disciplines and interests find common ground. She brings that to her work with governments and institutions across Rwanda, most recently in district governance and planning — and increasingly, across the Riva network as a whole. She also brings it to her coordination and delivery role in our flagship event, the Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium 2026.
What makes Bénigne distinctive is the combination of disciplines she has worked across: civil engineering, water policy, environmental science, facilitation, journalism and institutional coordination, which allows her to translate between them. Selected as one of twelve young water professionals globally for the International Water Association LeaP leadership programme in 2024, she holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Rwanda and an MSc in Water Policy from the Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences. She is fluent in English and French, and based in Kigali.
A few highlights
- Led the re-establishment of district water, sanitation and hygiene governance structures across ten districts in Rwanda – including district boards and annual reflection processes – strengthening multi-stakeholder accountability and planning
- Lead facilitator, Africa Water and Sanitation Systems Leadership Symposium 2026 – coordinating delivery across partners, workstreams and ministry-level stakeholders
- Developed ten district water, sanitation and hygiene investment plans under the Isoko y'Ubuzima programme, supporting more structured and sustainable district planning
- IWA LeaP Programme (2024–2025) – selected as one of twelve young water professionals globally for a leadership development programme focused on peer exchange and collaborative action
- Earlier roles spanning radio journalism, leadership training, UN-Habitat urban planning support, and integrated water resources management research
- Working languages: English and French