Birikunzira Shabani Jean Baptiste is a Pharmaceutical Regulatory Professional and Pharmaceutical Production and Supply Chain Strategy Specialist at Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), with over 13 years of experience spanning medicines regulation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, supply chain management, quality systems, and regulatory strategy.

He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and a Master of Science in Health Supply Chain Management from the University of Rwanda and is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Rwanda. His doctoral research focuses on assessing the Pharmaceutical Traceability Framework for Safeguarding Medicine Quality in the Rwandan Market.

At Rwanda FDA, Jean Baptiste has held progressively responsible roles in GMP inspections and establishment inspections, and pharmaceutical production and supply chain strategy. In his current role, he contributes to national initiatives aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical production, supply-chain integrity, digital transformation, technology transfer, and regulatory systems. He has actively advanced pharmaceutical traceability and the use of GS1 Global Standards, including aligning the National Product Catalogue with Rwanda’s national vision and strategy for pharmaceutical traceability.

Jean Baptiste combines regulatory expertise with practical experience in pharmaceutical supply-chain management, having previously served as a hospital pharmacist and Deputy Director at a regional medical store. He is a certified ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor. He has undertaken professional training in GMP, GSDP, vaccine manufacturing, intellectual property management, technology transfer, health supply chains, and regulatory leadership.

He is passionate about strengthening African pharmaceutical regulatory systems, advancing local production, and leveraging digital technologies and regulatory innovation to improve access to safe, quality-assured medicines across Africa.