Gisele Iradukunda

Gisele Iradukunda is a Senior Program Associate at Acumen, where she supports the Grow Pillar of Green RISE Africa, working with Entrepreneurial Support Organizations to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems and expand opportunities for women and young people across East Africa.
She brings experience in program management, enterprise development, strategic communications, and partnership engagement, with a passion for strengthening organizations that empower entrepreneurs to build resilient livelihoods.

Before joining Acumen, Gisele held several leadership roles at ROSE Women’s Foundation in Kenya, where she contributed to advancing women’s economic empowerment through program innovation, learning, and evidence-informed improvement. She previously worked with Aegis Trust in Kigali, Rwanda, supporting research, policy, and higher education initiatives, and served as President of the Rotaract Club of Kigali City (2018–2019), leading community service projects and regional collaborations across Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Having lived and worked across diverse East African contexts, Gisele is passionate about the region’s entrepreneurs and the potential of locally led leadership and enterprise to create dignified work and lasting social impact. She enjoys building collaborative partnerships, learning from practitioners, and translating insights into stronger programs that respond to the realities of communities across the region. She is committed to helping cultivate the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs shaping Africa’s future.