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Katie Carlson-Akuno, Gender Specialist (MIntDev)

Originally from Canada, Katie Carlson-Akuno is an international gender specialist who has been participating in gender study and activism across numerous different contexts for over 23 years. She is distinctly passionate about gender transformative approaches, which have been a hallmark of her work since the early days of her career and are often considered the ‘gold standard’ for achieving sustainable gender equality and violence prevention.

As a specialist in gender and development with over 12 years of hands-on experience in the African context, Katie has played a critical thought leadership role within numerous organizations with an emphasis on gender transformative analysis and mainstreaming for programs, strategies, policies and research, as well as developing and facilitating capacity building and community gender education programs for adults and youth. She has worked with local and international NGOS, private sector, governments, UN agencies, educational institutions and civil society. Her areas of expertise include gender transformative thinking and practice across agriculture, food security, climate, nutrition, economic empowerment, gender-based violence, financial inclusion, youth empowerment, child protection/safeguarding, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and engaging men and boys. She was most recently the Regional Gender Advisor for East Africa for the United Nations World Food Programme, supporting all units in the Regional Bureau Nairobi and 10 country offices (Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea); her previous work further extends across the continent to include Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi and South Africa.

Katie has presented her work at various international conferences and has been academically published for her research regarding the importance of engaging men and boys in dialogues about gender-based violence, looking at Rwanda as a case study and co-authored with Dr. Shirley Randell, an award-winning gender and education expert and the founder of Rwanda’s Centre for Gender and Development Studies. She has also contributed to additional published work on the value and importance of women’s safe spaces for intimate partner violence (IPV) prevention in Rwanda, and is often invited as a guest speaker to various radio and television talk shows, as well as formal events and conferences.

Speaking engagements | Events | Podcasts

‘Breaking Barriers in the Prevention of Teen Pregnancy’, guest expert
The Bridge Rwanda radio show, 94.3 Royal FM, Kigali, Rwanda

NBCA CLUSA’s Cooperative Impact Virtual Conference
Panelist, “Mitigating Impacts: Keeping Members Safe” session
in partnership with the U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council
October 5-9, 2020

‘Domestic Violence under the Covid-19 Lockdown’, guest expert
The Bridge Rwanda radio show, 94.3 Royal FM, Kigali, Rwanda

‘Performance and Perfection Pressure in Rwandan Culture’
Breaking Silences Podcast, hosted by Dominique Alonga and Aline Joyce

Episode 1 - Katie Carlson: Make Your Own Crown
Meaningful Podcast, hosted by Sofya Bourne

Women, Patriarchy and Culture
Moderator, Women’s Safe Space discussion event hosted by
Paper Crown Rwanda and ImagineNation, December 2018
Part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Reading for Change: How to Choose What You Read - Guest panelist
Hosted by Afflatus Africa, September 2018

Setting the Record Straight: Men, Violence and Feminist Leadership - Moderator
Community Dialogue event hosted by Paper Crown Rwanda, July 2018

Girls' Voices, Women's Wisdom: An Evening of Intergenerational Dialogue on Gender Equality in Rwanda - Moderator
Community Dialogue event hosted by Paper Crown Rwanda, September 2017

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Publications & Press Coverage

Publications

Press

Presentations

“Women’s role in achieving a sustainable future: Education, urbanisation, violence and human rights”
31st Triennial Conference of the International Federation of University Women, Istanbul, Turkey
Presentation title: Gender and Development: Working with Men for Gender Equality in Rwanda

 “Women in War and at War”
International Conference, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
Presentation title: Gender Equality, the State and Civil Society: A Comparative Case Study of Rwanda and South Africa

Affiliations / Memberships

Paper Crown Rwanda, Founder
Local non-profit organization that works with youth in Rwanda to transform gender norms, foster leadership and create lasting social change.

Society of Gender Professionals, an international association of gender practitioners, academics, and activists dedicated to promoting feminist action and applied research.

Coalition of Feminists for Social Change, an advocacy collective of thought leaders, activists, practitioners and academics working globally to end violence against women and girls.

Feminist Alliance for Rights, a global alliance working to advance gender equality by strengthening national and regional accountability for women’s human rights.

Community of Practice for Girls Rwanda (COP4G)
Special Technical Advisor for Rwanda’s only nationwide forum for all those working with and for adolescent girls, including efforts engaging men and boys.

Shooting Touch International
Board member for Shooting Touch in Rwanda, an international NGO that uses basketball to engage and educate communities around health issues and foster gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

United Nations 58th Annual Commission on the Status of Women
Representative on panel of delegates from Graduate Women International (INGO with ECOSOC consultative status), formerly the International Federation of University Women