Meet Our New Executive Director!
Esther N. Mukundane
“I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this amazing organization. I am aware that tremendous work has gone into making Gardens for Health International's work impactful, and I look forward to working closely with our partners and supporters to sustain and accelerate gains and efforts for improved Maternal and Child Nutrition ”
Esther is a Rwandan development expert who has worked in the East African region's agricultural, rural, and economic development sectors, particularly in Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. Her areas of expertise are Food and Nutrition Security, Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Public Health, Early Childhood Development, Gender, Livelihoods, and Youth and Women's Economic Empowerment.
Before joining GHI, Esther served as the Country Director for Aspire Rwanda and Sustainable Harvest Rwanda, providing strategic leadership and successfully advancing their agriculture, nutrition, and market-oriented goals. She also led impactful projects at various organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme in Kenya, Oxfam Great Britain, Women for Women International Rwanda, and Uganda Cooperative Alliance.
Esther is an alumna of The Fulbright/ Hubert. H. Humphrey Fellowship Program of Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. She is an alumna and an advisory board member of the African Food Fellowship / Wageningen University and Research in Sustainable Land Use. She is also an alumna fellow and a certified Food System Leader of the Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture / Alliance for the Green Revolution of Agriculture. She is a member of the Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition.
Esther holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Hons) and a Master of Development Evaluation and Management, and she is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Public Health.
With gratitude & veggies,
The GHI Team
P.S. Want to know more about what we have been up to and our plans?
Please check out our 2023 Annual Report and our 5-year strategy here.