Prudence is the Chief Technical Advisor on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) and Head of the AfCFTA Unit, Department of Trade and Industry, African Union Commission, since August 2016. He provides technical and Strategic advice to the negotiators as well as to the Commissioner for Trade and Industry, on the AfCFTA Negotiations. He’s the overall coordinator of AfCFTA negotiations and coordinates a team of senior experts and advisors on various issues under negotiations. Prior to his appointment to this position, he led a team of experts who provided technical assistance and strategic guidance to strengthen the capacity of the African Union Commission (AUC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to more effectively drive the AfCFTA preparatory process since 2015

He worked for 2 years with Civil Society Organizations and worked for more than 10 years in the areas of International Trade and Regional Integration with the Government of Rwanda. He was at the center of Rwanda’s accession to the East African Community (EAC) and Rwanda’s Chief Negotiator to the negotiations of the EAC Common Market Protocol. He advised government of Rwanda on Regional Integration while working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation respectively. In March 2010, he 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. Prudence SEBAHIZI holds a Master’s Degree in International Development Policy from Seoul National University, South Korea.

Prudence has published various articles related to Regional Integration, International Trade and Global Development. He is the founder and CEO of the Centre for Trade and Development (CTD – Rwanda).