Ms Jeanne UMUHIRE
Jeanne is the Deputy Director of the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), since March 2025.
A public health leader and enthusiast, Jeanne has acquired more than a decade of experience and field practice, working to improve access to quality health care in Rwanda and beyond; notably in Central and West Africa. In her current and previous roles, she managed the implementation of multiple disease and health systems strengthening programs, where she set the strategy and oversaw the management of programs, their budgeting and operations. Jeanne has core competencies in health policy, program management, resource mobilization, leading and mentoring high caliber technical and operational teams while ensuring a unified working environment and shared vision. Jeanne has worked and continues to work closely with government partners, donors, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and coordination of efforts to build sustainable and equitable health care systems.
Early on, Jeanne’s passion for health systems strengthening in the development context has shaped her academic background. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Project Management from EHESP - École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and Medical Humanities from Wofford College. She has also studied Global Health and Development Policy at the School for International Training (SIT).
Prior to joining RBC, in 2015, Jeanne started working for the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Kigali, at first as an Analyst then an Associate, in their newly established Hepatitis Program. Through its initiation phase, Jeanne provided instrumental support to the Ministry of health and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre in launching the National Viral Hepatitis Program and the development and implementation of a long-term elimination plan of Viral Hepatitis in Rwanda. In late, 2016, Jeanne became the Country Director of Team Heart, Inc., where she initiated a country office and establishing Team Heart’s strong country presence. Notable work projects were the spearheading of the initiation of the first registry on Rheumatic Heart Disease in the country, leading the research and development for the building and running of the first Cardiac Care Center in Rwanda and the elaboration of cardiovascular training and mentorship programs.
In 2019, Jeanne re-joined CHAI in their Global Malaria team, based in Dakar, as a West and Central Africa Regional Manager for Malaria. She guided the provision of technical and operational assistance to national and sub-national malaria control programs in West and Central Africa, most especially in Benin, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Jeanne shaped CHAI’s support in the Francophone Africa region, initiating and expanding CHAI Malaria country programs and supporting government partners to strengthen case management, surveillance, and response systems to reduce malaria-related deaths and accelerate progress towards elimination.
Most recently, in 2021, Jeanne joined the CHAI DRC country office, as their Associate Director for Infectious and Neglected Tropical Diseases Programs. In her tenure, she spearheaded the development and coordination of effective implementation of technical and operational activities, management systems, and supervision of a growing CHAI team across the areas of infectious diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and nutrition. Moreover, Jeanne oversaw the effective start of CHAI as a Global Fund Sub-recipient (SR) in one province of the country and the implementation of activities while building a highly competent national and subnational programmatic and operational team.
A native of Rwanda, Jeanne is a global citizen with a deep appreciation of cultural diversity. Jeanne enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling in and outside of Rwanda and dreams to see health care for all become a reality!
