Rene Christian (Chris) Umukunzi

Localisation and Partnership Manager

Trócaire Rwanda

Chris has more than 13 years of experience in designing and delivering strategic programs in international development and humanitarian contexts. He currently leads the implementation of Trócaire’s Partnership and Localisation Strategy (2021-2025) that outlines Trócaire’s theory of change in delivering the organisational shift toward localisation. Chris has occupied senior positions in international NGOs, including the Advocacy, Campaigns & Partnership Officer at Plan International African Union Office in Ethiopia, the Policy Advisor at Norwegian Refugee Council African Union Office in Ethiopia, and the Senior Child Protection & Child Rights Governance Specialist and Quality Director at Save the Children in Rwanda.

Event Schedule

DAY 1

18 July 2023

Start Time	End Time	Session	Description	Action
02:30 pm EEST	04:00 pm EEST	Raising up Women’s and Girls’ Voices in the Movement to Localize Development Concurrent Room MH 2-2	In the last decade, multilateral development agencies have begun recognizing how essential local organizations are to effective humanitarian, development, and Read More In the last decade, multilateral development agencies have begun recognizing how essential local organizations are to effective humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding work. Yet a challenge to localization is the limited engagement of local and national actors in setting the agenda and priorities. Actors based in the Global North continue to set priorities. Women’s rights organizations have also experienced limited engagement. We must examine how these organizations, based in their communities, feature in localization – and what the agenda means for girls, women, and other marginalized populations. The session will present the context and start mapping pathways toward inclusive localization plans. Session format: Learning from failure Organized by Rwanda Women’s Network, Trócaire, WomenStrong International Read Less Speakers Rene Christian (Chris) Umukunzi Localisation and Partnership Manager Trócaire Rwanda Susan M. Blaustein Founder and Executive Director WomenStrong International Mary Balikungeri Executive Director Rwanda Women's Network Diana Mpyisi Founder and Managing Director Blue Oceans Ineza Umuhoza Grace Founder The Green Protector