Shamsi Kazimbaya is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Action pour les Droits Solidaires (ADS), a Congolese civil society organisation dedicated to advancing gender justice, human rights, peaceful coexistence, social inclusion and locally led development.
She is a gender equality and development expert with over 20 years of professional experience in women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), prevention of gender-based violence, gender-transformative approaches and conflict management. Her professional career spans national, regional and international engagements, particularly across Africa.
Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Shamsi moved to Rwanda to pursue her university education, where she obtained a master’s degree in Gender and Development. She subsequently developed an extensive professional career in Rwanda, complemented by regional and international assignments. Her experience combines a strong understanding of the Congolese context with extensive knowledge of the Great Lakes region and broader African development challenges.
Throughout her career, Shamsi has held technical and leadership roles with organisations working at the intersection of gender equality, public health, social justice and social transformation. These include the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa (SWAA), the Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), Jhpiego, and Promundo, now known as Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice.
Her areas of expertise include engaging men and boys in advancing gender equality, promoting positive masculinities, preventing intimate partner violence and other forms of gender-based violence, strengthening maternal and reproductive health, promoting equitable caregiving responsibilities and addressing harmful gender norms.
Shamsi has contributed to the design, implementation and evaluation of gender-transformative programmes in collaboration with civil society organisations, government institutions, researchers and international development partners. Her professional work also extends to research and knowledge generation on gender relations, violence prevention, fatherhood, caregiving, and sexual and reproductive health.
As Chairperson of the ADS Board of Directors, Shamsi provides strategic leadership and institutional oversight, supporting the organisation’s governance, accountability and long-term development. Her professional background brings valuable perspectives to ADS’s work on women’s rights, gender justice, SRHR, prevention of gender-based violence, peaceful and inclusive communities, and locally led development.
Her leadership reflects ADS’s commitment to combining locally grounded action with regional and international collaboration, strengthening its contribution to gender equality, human rights and sustainable social transformation in eastern DRC and beyond.