Esther Dusabe is a Rwandan distinguished Senior Policy and Development Professional with over 15 years of experience driving, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Gender mainstreaming, GBV Prevention, gender-responsive policy, inclusive economic development, and regional trade integration in Rwanda and across Africa.
She is a nationally, regionally, and internationally recognized advisor, speaker, and advocate whose work sits at the critical intersection of gender equality, trade, agriculture, and public health.
Currently a Senior Gender Mainstreaming and Women & Youth Empowerment Expert working as an individual consultant,
Esther recently concluded a high-profile tenure as the Senior Technical Advisor on Women, Girls’ Empowerment and Gender Equality at Rwanda’s Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF).
In this capacity, she was the government’s technical focal point for different initiatives and with different partners, playing a pivotal role in the national alignment. She provided strategic advisory support across government, translating different global commitments into actionable national policies and ensuring gender equality was prioritized as a key economic driver.
Her expertise lies in Gender mainstreaming across sectors, policy mapping, regulatory alignment, and evidence-based reform. Esther has led barrier and opportunity analyses, managed multi-stakeholder consultations, and produced high-level reports and policy briefs that have shaped national strategies.
Her work has been instrumental in supporting women- and youth-owned SMEs to meet compliance standards (ISO, SPS) and access regional and digital markets, directly addressing the structural barriers that limit their participation.
A proud AWARD-GRASP Fellow (2025-2026) specializing in Gender Responsive Agriculture Systems Policy, Esther is a champion for inclusive value chains and green growth.
Her interdisciplinary approach combines trade policy, digital inclusion, and private sector development to empower rural women, smallholder farmers, and youth entrepreneurs. Her current work on “Advancing the Role of AfCFTA protocol on Women and Youth in Trade in promoting Women and Youth owned Businesses and advocacy for a National Policy for Integrated Circular Smallholder Farming” seeks to drive productivity and market access in alignment with AfCFTA particularly for Women and Youth small holder farmers.
Beyond trade, Esther’s foundational background in Gender and Climate change, health systems and nutrition, including her work at the Kigali University Teaching Hospital (CHUK) and NGO’s and as a Food Safety Manger/Team Leader for the Radisson Blu Hotel, gives her a unique, holistic perspective. She has led programs linking food safety, nutrition, climate resilience, and gender equality, showcasing her ability to connect human well-being with economic development.
Esther holds Bachelor’s degree in General Nursing and a MSc in Gender and Development from the University of Rwanda and is a sought-after mentor, board member (including FAWE Rwanda Chapter and Nyamata High schooll), and facilitator.
Her accolades include being the Best Participant in the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy Makers Training by the South Korean Ministry of Gender (MOGEF). Passionate about translating high-level commitments into measurable outcomes,
Esther is on a mission to create enabling environments where women and youth can fully participate in and benefit from Africa’s economic growth.