Prudence Sebahizi
Prudence Sebahizi is the Director for Institutional Matters and Programmes Coordination at the AfCFTA Secretariat. He provides technical and strategic advice to the Secretary General and to the AfCFTA Institutions by supporting all technical directorates. His priority is to develop and strengthen AfCFTA Institutional Capacity required to ensure full implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. He was the Chief Technical Advisor on AfCFTA and Head of the AfCFTA Unit/Interim Secretariat, from August 2016 where he provided technical and Strategic advice to the AfCFTA Negotiating Institutions.
As the overall coordinator of AfCFTA negotiations, he led a team of experts who provided technical assistance and strategic guidance to strengthen the capacity of the African Union Commission (AUC), to more effectively drive the AfCFTA preparatory process since 2015.
Prudence worked with the Government of Rwanda for more than 10 years in the areas of International Trade and Regional Integration and as Rwanda’s Chief Negotiator to the negotiations of the EAC Common Market Protocol since 2006. He was at the center of Rwanda’s accession to the East African Community (EAC) and he advised the government of Rwanda on Regional Integration while working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Office of the President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation respectively.
Prudence was a member of the team of Experts appointed by EAC Summit to advise Heads of State on the way forward for EAC Political Integration. He was also awarded a Certificate of Recognition by EAC Heads of State for contributing to the successful negotiations and conclusion of the East African Community Common Market Protocol. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Development Policy from Seoul National University, South Korea.