Looking for a job

Théoneste Iyakaremye

@theoneste-iyakaremye

UNICEF Rwanda strategic communications officer: 148 high-level events, 20+ donors, crisis and risk communication, multimedia storytelling.

Rwanda

Message

What I'm looking for

At UNICEF Rwanda, I lead strategic communication, institutional positioning, and donor and partner visibility. Since 2022, I’ve delivered communications for 148 conferences, launches, and high-level visits, supporting USD 4M+ in resource mobilisation.

I prepare messaging and talking points for the Representative and senior management, including on reputational risk. I also steward the UNICEF brand office-wide and lead communication for the office’s 40th anniversary.

As Communications Officer, I led communication for public health emergencies including Marburg, mpox, cholera, and Ebola preparedness. I documented field missions across Rwanda, and my stories and photography have been published by UNICEF Headquarters, Forbes.com (UNICEF USA), and the Global Partnership for Education.

Earlier, at Education Development Trust, I led a communication strategy that raised digital engagement by 50% in its first year. I’ve also translated legal and policy content as a Kinyarwanda legal linguist for Facebook Inc., and I currently work as a Medical Interpreter for Operation Smile Rwanda.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Strategic Communications and Visibility Officer

Current

UNICEF Rwanda

Aug 2026 - Present (3 months)

Leads strategic communication, institutional positioning, and donor visibility for UNICEF Rwanda, including messaging for senior leadership and brand stewardship. Manages communication for major events and high-level visits, and leads public information in health emergencies.

Communication Strategy Executive Communication Brand Management Media Relations Crisis Communications Canva SharePoint Event Management

Current

Medical Interpreter

Current

Operation Smile Rwanda

Jan 2012 - Present (14 years 10 months)

Provided medical interpretation services for Operation Smile Rwanda.

Medical Interpretation Kinyarwanda English

Communications Officer

UNICEF Rwanda

Aug 2022 - Jul 2026 (3 years 11 months)

Planned briefings, talking points, and visibility for high-level and donor visits, and delivered communication for conferences, launches, and national days. Managed donor visibility and led communication for public health emergencies, documenting field missions and producing multimedia content.

Communication Strategy Media Relations Crisis Communications Storytelling Photography Videography SharePoint Canva Event Management

Senior Communications Consultant

Education Development Trust

Dec 2019 - Dec 2021 (2 years)

Led a three-year communication strategy that raised digital engagement by 50% in its first year. Produced annual reports, campaigns, and materials for MINEDUC, REB, and the University of Rwanda.

Communication Strategy Digital Engagement Annual Reports Campaign Management

Communications

Faraja Cancer Support Trust

Jan 2019 - Dec 2019 (11 months)

Handled communications for a cancer support trust.

Communication Skills

Translator and Interpreter

Facebook Inc.

Jan 2016 - Dec 2019 (3 years 11 months)

Selected as a Kinyarwanda legal linguist for Facebook's pool of legal-approved linguists, translating and editing legal and policy content.

Translation Interpretation Legal Content Kinyarwanda

Digital Media Producer

Kenyatta University TV

Jan 2017 - Dec 2018 (1 year 11 months)

Produced digital media content for university television.

Digital Media Content Production

Multimedia Journalist

Radio10 / TV10

Jan 2016 - Dec 2017 (1 year 11 months)

Worked as a multimedia journalist covering news and producing content for radio and television.

Journalism Multimedia Reporting

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Colorado Boulder

Certificate in Integrated and Strategic Communication Campaigns, Communication

Completed the Integrated and Strategic Communication Campaigns certificate from the University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera in 2026.

LinkedIn Learning

Certificate in Organizational Communication, Organizational Communication

Completed the Organizational Communication certificate from LinkedIn Learning in 2026.

UNICEF

Certificate in Public Health Reporting, Public Health Reporting

Completed the Public Health Reporting certificate from UNICEF in 2024.

Reuters Institute

Certificate in Digital Journalism, Digital Journalism

Completed the Digital Journalism certificate from the Reuters Institute in 2022.

Kenyatta University

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Communication and Media Studies

Grade: Second Class Honours (Upper Division)

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Communication and Media Studies from Kenyatta University, Kenya, completed in 2019 with Second Class Honours (Upper Division).