Director of Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
Arise and Shine International Ministries (ASIM) African Reborn Award Awardee Specialists
Mr. Richard Ruhumuriza is a seasoned financial management expert, internal auditor, and development strategist with over 15 years of progressive experience in both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as the Director of Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship at Arise and Shine International Ministries (ASIM), where he spearheads the ministry’s initiatives focused on economic transformation, entrepreneurship development, financial literacy, and sustainable livelihoods for underserved communities.
With a Master of Arts in Finance and Accounting from Mount Kenya University and additional certifications in public financial management, internal auditing, procurement, and debt analysis, Richard brings a unique blend of technical expertise, policy insight, and grassroots passion. His financial acumen and strategic foresight allow him to design and implement high-impact programs that equip individuals, especially youth and women, with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Leadership at ASIM
At ASIM, Richard leads the Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Department, where he directs a wide range of community-based projects, including:
- Youth Start-Up Labs
- Women’s Financial Inclusion Forums
- Small Business Development Workshops
- Financial Literacy Campaigns in Rural Areas
- Entrepreneurship Mentorship and Coaching Programs
- Faith-Based Microenterprise Support
These programs are aligned with ASIM’s mission to foster holistic transformation—spiritually, socially, and economically. Richard believes that economic dignity is a foundation for human dignity, and he works tirelessly to design programs that break cycles of dependency and unlock economic potential at the grassroots level.
He has also been instrumental in helping ASIM build partnerships with government agencies, donor institutions, faith-based organizations, and the private sector. His deep understanding of financial systems and risk management makes him a valuable advisor not only to ASIM leadership but also to other nonprofit networks across the region.
Career Background
Prior to joining ASIM, Richard held several key positions in Rwanda national institutions:
- Financial Management Specialist – Ministry of Health (MoH)
- Internal Auditor – Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN)
- Internal Auditor – Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA)
- Commercial Officer – Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR)
In these roles, he led the development of internal control frameworks, managed large-scale government and donor-funded budgets, coordinated treasury and cash flows, and ensured compliance with national and international financial regulations. He has worked closely with partners such as the CDC, Global Fund, and World Bank, often overseeing financial operations for multimillion-dollar health and infrastructure programs.
His broad knowledge spans risk-based audit planning, donor reporting, budget analysis, asset management, internal controls, cost recovery systems, and procurement auditing. As a result, Richard has earned a strong reputation for financial integrity, accountability, and capacity building, and has consistently delivered clean audits and transparent financial systems.
Professional Training and International Exposure
Richard is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) candidate and has undertaken extensive international training, including:
- World Bank / IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis – Mozambique
- MEFMI Training on Loan and Debt Management – Kigali
- Procurement Audit – ITC/ILO
- Internal Control and Risk Assurance – ICPAR
- Government Financial Management Standards – MINECOFIN/OGCIA
These experiences have expanded his global understanding of finance and empowered him to localize international best practices in Rwandan and ministry contexts.
Commitment to Transformation
Fluent in Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili, Richard is known for his ability to communicate across cultures and institutions. His passion for service, faith, and economic justice drives his work. He believes deeply in the transformative power of entrepreneurship as a tool to fight poverty, promote dignity, and create generational impact.
As a leader within ASIM, Richard is not only advancing financial empowerment programs but also mentoring young entrepreneurs, supporting local innovation, and shaping a new generation of responsible, values-driven economic leaders.
“Faith without works is dead. My calling is to build capacity, inspire resilience, and equip people to prosper.” Richard Ruhumuriza