Olivier RUKUNDO

M. Olivier Rukundo is a lawyer by training and currently serves as the Head of the Peoples and Biodiversity Unit at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity where he oversees all matters related to Article 8( j) and related provisions as well as the gender and biodiversity portfolio. 

Prior to his appointment at the Secretariat of the CBD, Mr. Rukundo worked as a senior legal and technical advisor for the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Mr. Rukundo also previously worked at the Secretariat of the CBD in the ABS unit where he was in charge of coordinating activities to support the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing 

 He has also served in numerous other agencies including WIPO, UNDP, GIZ and IDLO