She has over 10 years’ experience working with United Nations, National Unity and Reconciliation and International Rescue Committee , in the field of gender, human rights, HIV and AIDS, women economic security, governance, political participation as well as Violence against women and children.
Me Kamashazi contribution in gender programming ranges from the design and the establishment of the gender desks both within the Rwanda defence Forces ( RDF) and the police (RNP), advocacy on the GBV Law of 2008, the design and the implementation of the Agaseke project which targeted over 2000 women hawkers in the City of Kigali and many others.
At policy level Ms. KAMASHAZI has chaired the first ever gender oversight group which provided hands on technical expertise on gender mainstreaming in the Economic and poverty Reduction Strategy for (EDPRS I ). Ms. Kamashazi has also been instrument in designing, and implementing a gender responsive budget project which eventually influenced the Cabinet approval of the gender budget statements for all sectors to increase accountability on gender in the budgeting processes.
At regional level, Ms. Kamashazi has meaningfully participated in different high level policy dialogues aimed at mainstreaming gender in conflict resolution and peace building like the international; conference on great lakes region. Due to this effort in collaboration with other gender advocates, a Kigali declaration on women peace and security in great lakes region of 2004 was adopted. All aspects of the Kigali declaration on women peace and security were mainstreamed in the Pact on Security, Stability and Development for the Great lakes region which was signed by all the 11 member states of the great lakes region.
At UN level, Ms. KAMASHAZI is a member of the security sector reform community of practice for the United Nations which contributes to the global discussions on security sector reforms where her expertise in gender analysis and human rights are highly solicited.
Me KAMASHAZI chaired the programme advisory team (PAT) which provided policy advice to the UNCT in the One UN program development when the One UN pilot was introduced in Rwanda in 2007.
Me KAMASHAZI has broad skills in program development, gender mainstreaming, result based management, Human rights concepts and approaches, resource mobilization, partnership building and M&E.
Me Donnah KAMASHAZI GASANA holds a masters in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and a Masters in Gender Culture and Development from the University of Rwanda.
Me Donnah Kamashazi is a member of the Rwanda Bar Association and a trained Family Counsellor .
