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FOUNDER'S PROFILE

Jean Marie Vianney Nizeyimana is a highly experienced economist, researcher, and development practitioner with over 20 years of professional experience in program management, finance, research, and community development working from organizations and programs funded or managed by world-level organizations like UNAIDS, USAID, Government of Sweden, Government of Rwanda, Global Fund to name a few. As the founder and current Director General of the Integrated Institute of Research and Development (IIRD), he brings a wealth of expertise in designing and managing programs that link scientific research with real-world solutions in agriculture, environment, and socio-economic inclusion.

Education & Academic Background

With a combined professional experience of over 20 years, Mr. Nizeyimana holds a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Money and Banking with Economics from the National University of Rwanda.

He is multilingual, with high-end fluency in English, French, and Kinyarwanda, which enables him to effectively collaborate with local communities, government institutions, and international partners.

His strong academic foundation in economics and applied research has shaped his ability to design evidence-based programs that respond directly to community needs.

Professional Experience

Mr. Nizeyimana has held leadership roles in several national and regional organizations, where he gained extensive expertise in:

  • Prior to dedicating fulltime efforts to IIRD, he was serving as Director of Administration and Finance at the National Association for Supporting People living with HIV/AIDS and Orphans (ANSP+) in Rwanda.
  • He occupied the position of Administrative Assistant in the Unit of Arts and Humanities of the Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (IRST) of Rwanda, before becoming its Director of Administration and Finance (DAF) of IRST.
  • He managed and supervised multiple development projects funded by international donors such as the Global Fund, USAID, UNAIDS, One UN_UNDP, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), HIV/Sweden, and MyRight, Pharmacists Without Borders (FUG)/Sweden.
  • Represented Rwandan Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the Plateforme Afrique Centrale et de l’Est (PACE), contributing to regional advocacy and capacity building.
  • Former Economics teacher and departmental leader at Nyamata High School, contributing to Rwanda’s next generation of development professionals.

Key Competencies & Expertise

  • Project design, management, and results-based monitoring & evaluation
  • Financial management and organizational governance
  • Agricultural and socio-economic research
  • Climate change and environmental program development
  • Strategic planning and cooperative strengthening
  • Community mobilization and inclusiveness (women, youth, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ, and rural farmers)

International Engagements & Training

Jean Marie Vianney has participated in numerous international workshops and trainings in countries such as Sweden, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, and Burundi, focusing on:

  • Human rights and inclusive development
  • Community-based research methods
  • Monitoring & evaluation of development projects
  • Leadership and corporate governance
  • Climate change, agriculture, and public health

These experiences have enabled him to build a strong international network of partners and collaborators, positioning IIRD for meaningful partnerships.

Publications & Research

He has co-authored several research reports and baseline studies on economic and nutritional status of vulnerable people, HIV/AIDS-affected households, and rural cooperatives. These publications have provided valuable evidence to guide development programs in Rwanda.

Why He Founded IIRD

Mr. Nizeyimana established IIRD in 2013 out of a conviction that Rwanda’s development must be driven by scientific research and inclusiveness. His vision is to create a platform where vulnerable communities are not left behind, but instead empowered with data-driven solutions in agriculture, environment, and socio-economic transformation.

Personal Life

Beyond his professional commitments, Jean Marie Vianney is a devoted husband and father of four children, balancing family life with a lifelong dedication to service and community development.

Through his leadership, vision, and professional expertise, Mr. Nizeyimana provides IIRD with the credibility, governance, and capacity needed to partner with donors, government institutions, and development organizations.

Chairperson's Message
Founder's Message

“When I founded the Integrated Institute of Research and Development (IIRD), I was guided by one principle that lasting development must be evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable. For too long, vulnerable communities in Rwanda; women, youth, people with disabilities, minority groups, and rural farmers; have been at the margins of development efforts, not because of a lack of potential, but because their challenges were not properly documented or addressed.

My over two decades of professional journey in research, economics, and programs management taught me that scientific research is the bridge between policy and practice. Without accurate data and context-specific evidence, well-intended programs often fail to deliver real change. At IIRD, we aim to close this gap by turning research findings into practical solutions that improve agriculture, protect the environment, and build pathways out of poverty.

Our vision is ambitious: to see a Rwanda where no one goes hungry, where agriculture is resilient to climate change, and where populations are empowered to thrive as equal contributors to national development. Additionally, this milestone leads us to purely modern technology for smart or digital agriculture to optimize farming practices, enhance productivity and promote sustainability.

IIRD cannot achieve this alone. We need partners; funders, government institutions, research organizations, and individuals; who share our belief that progress must be inclusive and sustainable. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities, ensuring that people; particularly vulnerable communities are not left behind in the journey toward sustainable development.

I warmly invite you to join us, to support our programs, and to walk with us as we turn this vision into reality.”

Jean Marie Vianney Nizeyimana
Founder & Director General, IIRD