Mr. SAHINGUVU Richard holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering obtained at the University of Burundi, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in 2000.
He has a professional career with experience in managing rural development projects, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change. SAHINGUVU Richard also has extensive experience in facilitation for self promotion and capacity building of professional agricultural organizations or agricultural cooperatives.

As Project Coordinator or Director, he has extensive experience in context analysis, project development, management and monitoring and evaluation.
SAHINGUVU Richard has worked with several rural development organizations. From 2010 to date, he is the National Director of the International NGO working in Africa “INADES-FORMATION -Burundi. From 2007-2010, he was Expert in Training and Animation within the NGO INADES-FORMATION in the implementation of the project PRASAB, project of the World Bank in the province of Kirundo and the project “Accompanying Organizational Dynamics Farmers: ADOP “.

From 2003 to 2007, Ir SAHINGUVU Richard worked at the International NGO IRC as Expert in Animation in the implementation of the project of reintegration of ex-soldiers children in the province of Rutana.
From 2000 to 2003, Ir SAHINGUVU Richard worked at the international NGO Terre sans Frontières as manager of agricultural production and agroforestry at the agro-pastoral farm of Rwira, with supervision of associations grouped within the association for the development of Rwira’s farm.

Richard SAHINGUVU is a member of the Integrated Development Commission of ERB. His commitment to the progress of ERB “My rich experience in the development of the agricultural rural world will be used to this NGO that it can achieve its main mission of fight against poverty and hunger”

Dr. Sandra NKURUNZIZA is currently Professor and Researcher on the Community Health and Head of the Public Health Department at Medicine Faculty of Burundi University. She is graduated as Medical Doctor in 2007 and she is obtained the Master degree in Public Health/System Management and Policy in 2014 at the University of Antwerp in Belgium and she is still student for PhD degree at this same Belgium University. She has expertise in performance based financing-health system strengthening- capacity building- Quantitative and Qualitative Research and data analysis- Monitoring and Evaluation program-Evidence on nutrition interventions. She worked as Independent consultant for the « African Network for the Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (ANECCA-Burundi), RENAFOGED. From September 2007 to July 2012, she was Head of medical service in Centre Nouvelle Espérance (HIV patients’ management center). She is serving as member of Empowering Response Burundi “ERB” from September 2017.

Her contribution is highly appreciated in research on the community health and formulation and implementation strategies related to the community based care as a strategic objective of ERB.

Vestine Kanyamuneza has a degree in Political and Administrative Sciences from Great Lakes University. Since 2002, her professional career journey started in an International Christian Organization “African Revival Ministries International” in which she held various positions. She has been the Human Resources Manager for (2006-2012), the Head of Administration (2011-2015). Today, she’s currently serving as the National Director of African Revival Ministries International.

As an active board member of ERB, she is bringing her expertise in Economic Empowerment and Health Nutrition Commissions for Women.

Julien BAREGUWERA holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and a License in Law. He has a rich and varied experience of more than 15 years. Former Public Prosecutor, Julien BAREGUWERA is currently professor of law, lawyer and consultant. He has proven expertise both as a trainer and researcher in the areas of capacity building, gender and development, human rights and social cohesion. His professionalism, his strong editorial abilities, his communication skills and his adaptability to the relationship justify the fact that many national and international organizations make use of his services.

Since 2012, Julien BAREGUWERA has been working as a Professor of Law in the different Private Universities in Burundi. Since 2007 to date; He is a lawyer at the Court of Appeal of Bujumbura. In his career as a lawyer, he defends cases before the courts and tribunals., Legal consultations and contribution to the drafting of laws, Listening and counseling victims of gender-based violence
As an expert in gender and legal education and capacity building, he has been working since 2006 with several international organizations including GIZ (German Cooperation), World Bank, UNFPA, UN WOMAN, ACCORD , UNDP, Inter-Parliamentary Union
His commitment to being a member of the NGO ERB is motivated by the desire to support the mission of the NGO by putting to his advantage his experience and know-how acquired during his 16 years of professional career. Within the NGO, he is both a member of the Legal Commissions and the Economic Empowerment of Women.

Honoré NSHIMIRIMANA holds a degree in Law from the University of Burundi in 2001 and he also holds a Master’s degree in Cyberspace Law. He is a former president of the Bujumbura High Court in 2006. Prior to 2006, he was a researcher at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Honoré is also Founder of a Christian NGO with evangelical vocation “The Dawn for the World Awakening”. As a member of ERB, Honoré NSHIMIRIMANA will contribute to the Juridical Commission.

Alain Gashaka is an expert and Consultant in Communication. Candidate for the International Master of Media Management at “Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme in Lille, France, he holds a degree in Communication Sciences and Audiovisual Design. At the GIZ (German Cooperation Development Agency) in Burundi, he offers his Communication Expertise within the Improvement Project to Management and Land Governance in Burundi.

Has 14 years of experience as a Journalist, Media Analyst, Advocacy and Outreach Officer. Alain also works as a Consultant and Researcher in the same field. He worked as Communication and Media Manager (in Burundi, DRC and Rwanda) on a Regional Conflict Transformation Program of OXFAM NOVIB. He has served at FAO / SmartFish Project, UNOPS / UNDP, GIZ / PROSECEAU, FORSC, UNICEF Burundi, Lake Tanganyika Authority, French Cooperation / CELEC, Central African Media Organization (OMAC), Journalist in Danger (JED) and the Bonesha FM Radio.

Alain’s quote is this: “Capital does not fail. What is missing is the vision.” This principle will guide him in the mobilization of funds at ERB as member of  Fundsraising and Communication.

Dr.Bélyse MUPFASONI, with a Burundian Nationality, is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences (FSEG) at University of Burundi (UB) since May 2008.

She has a PhD in environmental Sciences obtained at Wageningen University and Research (WUR), The Netherlands in 2020. Her PhD research was on “sustainable agriculture in rural Burundi: Exploring the role of entrepreneurial group activities”. 

She obtained a master degree in Sciences of Entrepreneurship from Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Uganda in 2013.

Between her master and PhD degrees, she obtained 3 certificates on gender aspects (Introduction of gender-sensitive planning and budgeting instruments; Local development and gender issues; Gender Academy ) by following a training program in Burundi and Italy co financed by UNWOMEN, ITC-ILO, Wallonie Bruxelles and Government of Burundi.

She is a member of APUB (Association des Professeurs de l’Universite du Burundi); She is a researcher at CURDES (Economic and Social Development University Research Center) under FSEG at University of Burundi.

She is the Burundi Chapter Coordinator of EANLAR (East African Network of Learning of Administrators and Researchers).

She is a board member of Empowering Response Burundi (ERB) and East Africa (EREAC) which is a regional NGO with mission to contribute to finding lasting solutions to the challenges of hunger, poverty and ignorance in East Africa Community Partner States (Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Soudan and DRC- South KIVU).

She has over 15 years of experience as a Lecturer, Researcher, and Consultant. She has experience in Proposal Writing, Project Development, Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection, Processing, Management and Analysis.

Her main research interests are in social economic, sustainable/ green agriculture, sustainable entrepreneurship, individual and team entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial learning for communities, agribusiness, gender, social development, sustainable development. She is author and co-author of publications in the domain mentioned above.

Dr.Bélyse MUPFASONI has good organizational, communication and inter-personal skills. She is hard and multi-tasks worker, individual & team worker. She is Bilingual (French & English) in addition to Kirundi, Swahili. 

Dr.Belyse Mupfasoni worked (and still work) with some organization as a consultant in Africa, Europe and Canada: Africa (Réseau Burundi 2000+, Agri profocus/Agri hub Burundi, PEP, PADRI, EANLAR, ONUFEMMES, DUE representation in Burundi, World bank in Burundi, UNICEF, UNDP, etc …) ; Europe (Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands; University of Kassel -ICDD, Germany; Icra Building Trust, the Netherlands, ICCO TERRAFINA ); Canada ( IDRC).

BWith more than 20 years of experience in working with Non-profit Organizations both National and International, Lin MUVANDIMWE is bringing a wealth of his background to Empowering Response East Africa Community (EREAC). Prior to working with Empowering Response East Africa MUVANDIMWE Lin served as senior Manager in several International Organizations and gained a strong track record in management and leadership. Based on these distinguished knowledge and skills on organizations management, he has tremendously contributed in creating and growing of Empowering Response East Africa Community (EREAC). Passionate about alleviating poverty, he is committed to achieving transformation and mind change of poor people of EAC Countries through holistic and results- oriented approaches.

He holds a Master Degree in Organizational Leadership from International Leadership University based in USA and a Bachelor Degree Law from National University of Burundi.

He currently serves as the Executive Director of Empowering Response East Africa Community (EREAC) while sitting as the Legal Secretary in the Executive and Governance Committee of EREAC Board of Directors.

Lin MUVANDIMWE main target is to be “a resolute advocate for poverty alleviation of many poor women and young in Africa”.

He is committed to inspiring and motivating a new generation of young leaders for combat and advocacy to free poor people from injustice, poverty and ignorance”.

With his varied outstanding experience gained from different professional realms. Mr. Jean Baptiste HAKIZIMANA is currently IFAD Country Office Support. He is mainly responsible for administratively running, overseeing all financial management and procurement-related aspects of all IFAD-supported Projects/Programmes in the country with the aim of facilitating the effective implementation of the Projects/Programs.

His skills have also been shaped while working with Burundi Coffee Company from 1997 to 2007. He was Director of Infrastructures, Investment Funds for Burundi Coffee Sector. His key responsibilities included assisting the General Manager in managing the financial, administrative and contractual issues of the projects in collaboration with project partners, timely preparation and submission of monthly financial accounts, management reports and financial analysis within stipulated deadlines as well as maintaining, reviewing, implementing financial and  accounting policies to ensure compliance with good governance practice and standards.

From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Jean Baptiste HAKIZIMANA worked for IFAD as financial manager in carrying out PTRPC/ IFAD Program (Post Conflict Program for Rural Rehabilitation (FIDA). He was for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management.

From 2007 to 2010, he was Deputy Director of the EDF-NAO support unit (European Development Fund National Authorizing Officer. He was in charge of Finance and Management Control. His functions included strengthening the NAO to efficiently perform its functions in line with the Cotonou Agreement; enhancing aid effectiveness capacity of the NAO functions to enhance ownership, aligning and harmonizing the national aid management system.Prior to his experience in Project Management, he worked for the Belgium branch AGRER for TYPSA Group in 2013.

In addition to working in Burundi, Mr. Jean Baptiste HAKIZIMANA equally served in other countries as an International Consultant. He worked in Haiti, Togo and Ghana where he was in charge of evaluating UNDP and IFAD Projects.

A part from his professional work, Jean Baptiste is the Chair of Empowering Response East Africa Community (EREAC), the organization which is committed to setting free poor people of EAC Country and South KIVU from poverty and ignorance.

As a chair of ERB, his strong term desire is “to contribute in fight against poverty under its forms, by setting up well- thought out strategies geared to giving new hope to the hopeless”.