Jean Damascene SIJYENIBO
Nyamata,Rwanda
Summary
Accomplished executive leader with a proven track record in strategic planning and execution, financial management, and business development. Expert in driving growth strategies and managing change within corporate governance frameworks. Demonstrates exceptional skills in risk management, compliance, and team building, fostering talent development to achieve organisational goals. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and MS Teams for effective collaboration. Committed to leveraging expertise to enhance business performance and drive sustainable success.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Director of Agriculture and natural Resources
Bugesera District
Bugesera District
2017.12 - 2023.02
- Coordinate the planning, resources mobilization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting of Unit and Sectors on matter related to agriculture and natural resources and instill the practice of knowledge development ;
- Coordinate the development and oversee the implementation of actionable strategies or plans meant to localize national policies and the District Council’s decisions pertaining to agriculture, livestock and natural resources management ;
- Coordinate the campaigns meant to raise local population awareness on the use and importance of modern techniques of agriculture, livestock and natural resources management ;
- Coordinate the supervision of activities of animal and plant control diseases organized at Sector level and facilitate access to of local farmers products to the market ;
- Serve as a member of District Technical Coordination Committee and advise the institution on matters pertaining to agriculture,livestock and natural resources.
- Coordinating with Ministry of agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board in Rurambi and Gashora marshland rehabilitation in Bugesera District which costed above 2 billions.
- Coordinating companies working in agriculture mechanization, supply of irrigation equipments, local NGO working with RGB in adaptation and mitigation to Climate change including local NGO which worked on energy ( improved cooking stoves, promotion of solar powered irrigation, rain water harvesting tanks etc), Faith based organization like compassion International in livelihood support projects like one cow per poor household etc
- Leading and building the capacity of a team of around 100 serving in agriculture, forestry and animal resources Sectors in Bugesera District including Agriculture, Cash crop, environmental management, Forest and natural Resources, animal resources and forest extension officers
- One of my responsibilities was agriculture and Natural Resources department budget manager where I managed big budget for one year and multi year projects in Agriculture Projects and environment projects. I may give an example of CDAT (Commercialization and De-risking Agriculture Transformation in Rwanda) project, Combio ( Enabel project which focused on landscape restoration in Eastern Province of Rwanda
- See the service testimonial via the link : Jean Damascene_siyjenibo Service Testimonial_Bugesera District.pdf
Implementation component Lead
2024.09 - 2026.03
- Pilot Planning and Implementation
- Develop and finalize the pilot implementation plan, including objectives, timelines, and expected outputs.
- Coordinate the roll-out of pilot activities such as waste segregation, collection systems, recycling initiatives, or circular economy business models.
- Ensure pilot activities align with national waste management policies and circular economy strategies.
- Identify target pilot areas or communities and support local implementation
- Stakeholder Coordination
- Coordinate with local government authorities, private waste collectors, recyclers, and community organizations.
- Facilitate partnerships with recycling companies, composting facilities, and circular economy startups.
- Organize stakeholder meetings, consultations, and technical workshops.
- Maintain regular communication with project partners and implementing entities.
- Technical Oversight
- Provide technical guidance on waste management practices, including:
- Waste segregation at source
- Recycling and composting systems
- Material recovery processes
- Circular economy value chains
- Supervise technical teams implementing pilot activities.
- Ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Develop monitoring indicators to track pilot performance (e.g., waste diverted from landfill, etc).
- Collect and analyze data on waste volumes, operational efficiency, and economic viability.
- Document lessons learned, challenges, and best practices during the pilot phase.
- Prepare progress reports and technical briefs for project management
- Community Engagement and Awareness
- Lead community outreach campaigns on waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
- Support training programs for households, waste collectors, and local businesses.
- Promote behavior change initiatives to encourage source separation and circular practices
Waste and Circular Economy Technical advisor
GIZ Rwanda
2023.02 - 2024.08
- Strategizing, designing and operationalizing the implementation work on district level (Satellite Cities) for improving and sustainably enhancing the waste management structures and bringing Circular Economy thinking and innovations.
- Outnomously setting up the cooperation and implementation structures including the financing agreements with the two partner satellite cities of Muhanga and Bugesera, monitoring implementation of agreement between GIZ and partners . Building the work relationship with satellite cities
- Planning and participating in policy dialogue with partners to support Government of Rwanda in improving and integrating smart waste management approaches.
- Contributing to procurement like Prepare tender documents: Tender planning ToRs development, Specifications, Expression of interest,etc . Managing the contract after bring the contractor on Board.
- Independently planning and organising meetings with the representatives from different levels (village level, etc.) to inform the society about the advantageous of waste separation and the pilot and to get their buy in
- Planning, structuring and implementing the development of action plans in the three satellite cities.
- Coordinating and technical coordination of activities in output3 and ensuring the quality of implementation work by processing technical aspects and providing knowledge support specifically on areas of solid waste management and circular economy.
- Guiding and coaching junior advisors and interns to acquire the necessary skills in their career development
Project agronomist
Karongi Integrated Green Village project Funded by FONERWA
Karongi District
2015.01 - 2017.01
- Monitoring and Evaluation all project activities aiming at raising awareness of farmers on the adoption of good agriculture practices and environment protection;
- Conduct training of farmers to make compost to improve their land productivity ;
- Coaching farmers in agro cooperative making and management ;
- Prepare and plan activities aiming at increasing agroforestry and forest cover in Murambi Sector of Karongi District, Rwanda ;
- Plan , supervise, monitor and evaluate erosion control activities in the project intervention area( Terraces construction , Forest and agroforestry tree planting
Education
Master of Science - Environment and development studies, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management
UNIVERSITY OF LAY ADVENTISTY OF KIGALI (UNILAK)
2016.01 - 2017.01
Bachelor’s of Science - Crop Sciences/Agriculture
National University of Rwanda
2009.01 - 2012.01
Skills
- Executive leadership and vision
- Strategic planning and execution
- Financial management and budgeting
- Business development and growth strategy
- Change management
- Corporate governance
- Risk management and compliance
- Team building and talent development
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Excel proficiency
- PowerPoint presentation skills
- Outlook expertise
- MS Teams collaboration
Certification
- Eco-system based adaptation ;see certificate Certificate_EbA.pdf
- Climate change and Human Rights See the certificate ; Certificate Climate Change and Human right.pdf
- Climate Smart agriculture see the certificate ;Certificate_Climate SmartAgriculture.pdf
- Sustainable Finance : See the certificate Certificate_SustainableFinance.pdf
- Circular economy Seee the certificate _ Certificate_Circular economy.pdf
- Climate change :See the certificate Certificate_of_Climate Change .pdf
- Gender equality and HR in Climate Change ; See the certificate : Certificate_of_Gender equality&HR in CC.pdf
- National adaptation plans ; See the certificate : Certificate_National adaptation plan.pdf
PERSONAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES
MOTHER TONGUE : Kinyarwanda
OTHER LANGUAGES
Skills English French
Writing skills Excellent Good basic Excellent Good basic
Reading skills
Verbal skills
REFEREES
- Muhire, Emmanuel, Former Karongi District Executive Secretary, emutaj2@gmail.com, 0788493959
- NIYONGABO, Jacques, Bugesera District Corporate Services Division Manager, jackniyo1980@gmail.com, 0788301284
- Bernhard, Hartleitner, bernhard.hartleitner@giz.de, +2507916765223, +4915112978509, GIZ, Line manager at GIZ/ Waste and circular economy project
Disclaimer
I, Jean Damascene SIJYENIBO swear that information given above is true.
SOCIAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCES
- Good team work and working under pressure
- Good Living and working with other people, in multicultural environments.
Timeline
Implementation component Lead
2024.09 - 2026.03
Waste and Circular Economy Technical advisor
GIZ Rwanda
2023.02 - 2024.08
Director of Agriculture and natural Resources
Bugesera District
2017.12 - 2023.02
Master of Science - Environment and development studies, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management
UNIVERSITY OF LAY ADVENTISTY OF KIGALI (UNILAK)
2016.01 - 2017.01
Project agronomist
Karongi Integrated Green Village project Funded by FONERWA
2015.01 - 2017.01
Bachelor’s of Science - Crop Sciences/Agriculture
National University of Rwanda
2009.01 - 2012.01