Gérardine Mukeshimana

Gérardine Mukeshimana
Born	(1970-12-10) 10 December 1970 (age 54) Rwanda
Nationality	Rwandan
Citizenship	Rwandan
Alma mater	National University of Rwanda (Bachelor of Science in Agricultural engineering) Michigan State University (Master of Science in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology) (Doctor of Philosophy in plant breeding, genetics, and biotechnology)[1]
Occupation(s)	Agriculturist, Researcher, Plant geneticist
Years active	2000–present
Known for	Agricultural research
Title	Vice-President of IFAD

Gérardine Mukeshimana is a Rwandan scientist and politician who served as Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources from July 2014[1] until March 2, 2023.[2] She was appointed Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in August 2023.[3]

Early life and education

Mukeshimana was born on 10 December 1970 in present-day Huye District.[1] She has an agricultural engineering degree from the National University of Rwanda and a master's degree (2001) and a PhD (2013) in biotechnology from Michigan State University.[4][5] Her doctoral thesis was entitled "Dissecting the Genetic Complexity of Drought Tolerance Mechanisms in Common Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.)"[6] In 2012, she was awarded the 2012 Board for International Food and Agriculture Development (BIFAD) Student Award for Scientific Excellence for her contributions to Rwanda's bean breeding program.[6]

Career

Mukeshimana was a lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Rwanda and coordinator for the World Bank's Rural Sector Support Project.[6]

In 2013, Mukeshimana was part of the research team at BecA Hub, a biosciences facility at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi.[6]

Mukeshimana was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources in the cabinet of Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi in July 2014.[7][8] She retained her position in a May 2016 cabinet reshuffle by President Paul Kagame.[9]

In June 2016, Mukeshimana hosted the 7th African Agriculture Science Week and General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Kigali, which produced a six-point call to action to achieve the "Africa Feed Africa" initiative.[10] In the cabinet reshuffle of 31 August 2017, Mukeshimana retained her cabinet post and her portfolio.[11]

Mukeshimana was appointed Vice-President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in August 2023.[12]

Publications

• Mukeshimana, Gerardine; Lasley, Amy L. (May 2014). "Identification of Shoot Traits Related to Drought Tolerance in Common Bean Seedlings". Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 139 (3). American Society for Horticultural Science: 299–309. doi:10.21273/JASHS.139.3.299.
• Mukeshimana, Gerardine; Butare, Louis; Cregan, Perry B.; Kelly, James D. (May 2014). "Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Drought Tolerance in Common Bean". Crop Science. 54 (3): 923–938. doi:10.2135/cropsci2013.06.0427.

References

1. Umutesi, Doreen (31 July 2014). "Meet the new female faces in cabinet". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
2. Daniel, Sabiiti (3 March 2023). "Kagame Drops Agriculture Minister alongside the Shortest-serving Agriculture Board Director". KTpress.rw.
3. "African leader Gerardine Mukeshimana joins UN rural development agency IFAD as Vice-President". IFAD (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 September 2023.
4. Rwanda Today (26 December 2014). "Rwandans who will be the centre of focus in 2015". The East African. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
5. "MINAGRI gets new ministers". Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
6. "Gerardine Mukeshimana". Norman E. Bourlag Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program.
7. "Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria returns as Sports Minister to Kigali". ATQ News. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
8. "Habineza back at old portfolio and to host Kagame Cup in matter of days". Voice of Sport. 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
9. Munyaneza, James (10 May 2016). "Rwanda: Kagame Shakes Up Cabinet, Names Three New Governors". The New Times. AfricaTime.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
10. "Agricultural Scientists Adopt Six-Point Call To Action To Feed Africa". The Herald. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
11. Kimenyi, Felly (31 August 2017). "Rwanda gets new Cabinet, who is in?". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
12. "African leader Gerardine Mukeshimana joins UN rural development agency IFAD as Vice-President". IFAD (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 September 2023.