Biography
H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa is the Deputy Chairperson (DCP) for the African Union (AU) Commission. She is in charge of Administration and Finance and assists the Chairperson in the execution of his functions to ensure the smooth running of the Commission, and acts as the Chairperson in his absence.
Dr. Nsanzabaganwa holds a Ph.D. in Economics, and a Honorary Doctorate of Commerce, from the University of Stellenbosch. She has over twenty years’ experience developing and leading programs that drive financial inclusion and economic prosperity for all, with a particular passion for women’s economic empowerment.
Dr. Monique leads the implementation of institutional reform of the African Union aimed to achieve a lean, efficient, effective and sustainably financed organization. She also spearheads a number of AU Programs, Policies and Initiatives including Implementation of Agenda 2063, Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI 2030), AU-UN High-Level Strategic Dialogue on Sustainable Development, Digital Transformation, and Diaspora engagements among others.
Prior to her election as Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, she held senior positions in the Government of the Republic of Rwanda including Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning, Minister of Trade and Industry and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank.
Dr. Nsanzabaganwa has supported and continues to support various Gender Empowerment initiatives through her memberships in the Alliance for Financial Inclusion Gender Committee, Women's World Banking African Advisory Council, the Graça Machel Trust Expert Group on women's financial inclusion and the digital economy in Africa, New Faces New Voices Rwanda
chapter, Unity Club (Rwanda), and Rwanda Women Leaders Network/AWLN among others.
Together with a friend, she co-founded Friend Indeed Organisation (FIO), a not-for-profit organization with a mission to fight violence against women and children focusing on single and/or early mothers and their children.
Dr. Nsanzabaganwa was elected by the 34th African Union Assembly for a four-year term renewable once. She is the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Chairperson of the African
Union Commission.
Dr. Nsanzabaganwa is blessed with a husband, two sons and a daughter.
