Gasabo, Kigali City, Rwanda
Roger HATEGEKIMANA is co-founder and runs a tourism company Inzozi Africa Group Ltd with 4 years of experience. He is a seasoned Community Conservation expert with 20 years of experience in National Park Management, Community Development, Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, and Conservation Education for various audiences. Currently, Hategekimana is a Community Conservation Warden working with Rwanda Development Board-Tourism and Conservation Department/Nyungwe National Park. Previously, he occupied different positions in Nyungwe National Park such as Community Conservation Assistant Warden, Ranger team leader, Tourist Guide, and as a Park Ranger. These enriched him with necessary skills to work in partnership with various local leaders; local, regional and international conservation organizations and research institutions. He is highly regarded as a community conservation professional, known for his expertise in working with local communities adjacent to the Nyungwe National Park. He remarkably contributed to linking the Park and the communities, optimizing collaborations, participated in conservation efforts and also contributed to the improvement of community well-being. He managed to change poachers into conservationists and organized them into ten ex-poachers’ cooperatives which have significantly benefited from tourism revenue sharing scheme. Hategekimana facilitates the establishment of community conservation volunteer (ANICO) at each cell to help park managers to mobilize communities living around Nyungwe National Park. He participates in various baseline and social economic surveys around Nyungwe National Park. The surveys help them make evidence based decisions on activities that are directly solving conservation issues while improving the welfare of the local communities; hence creating a link between conservation partners and local government. He also assists communities in developing income generating projects funded through Tourism Revenue Sharing Scheme as an alternative way of making a living for community around the Park. Hategekimana implements environmental education strategy in schools, through the creation of environmental clubs and competitions organized among and within schools around Nyungwe National Park. He also implements conservation awareness and outreach program for local community around the Park. He contributed to the development of compensation law aiming to manage the human wildlife conflicts. He was part of the team who verified and confirmed the delimitation of Nyungwe Natural Reserve to become a National Park.
Coordinate all company activities to insure operational efficiency and actively support initiatives that promote tourism growth.
Lead community conservation department at Nyungwe National Park.