Celestin Hagenimana

Celestin is an intern at Climate Adaptation Research & Consulting (CARC), a PlanAdapt affiliate based in Kigali, Rwanda, under the Work-Integrated Learning Programme implemented in collaboration with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Rwanda. 

He has an interdisciplinary academic background combining atmospheric and climate science, physics, and data science. He holds a Master of Science in Mathematical Sciences, with a specialisation in Data Science, from AIMS Rwanda, as well as a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Option: Atmospheric and Climate Science, from the University of Rwanda. This combination has provided him with a strong foundation in climate systems, statistical modelling, machine learning, numerical modelling, and data-informed decision-making. 

Celestin gained practical experience as a Climate Science Intern at the Rwanda Space Agency, where he supported the analysis and interpretation of climate and atmospheric data for environmental monitoring and research. Through this experience, he strengthened his ability to work with real-world environmental datasets, examine climate-related patterns and trends, and generate evidence to support informed decisions. His earlier academic research also involved nonlinear modelling and numerical simulations in Python, further developing his ability to investigate complex physical and environmental systems. 

His master’s thesis, “Evaluating Alternative Index Insurance Designs for Crop Production Risk,” focused on applying statistical and data-driven methods to agricultural risk management. The research assessed alternative approaches to designing index insurance and examined their relevance for managing production losses in climate-sensitive agricultural systems. This work strengthened his interest in climate-risk financing, agricultural resilience and the development of practical tools that can support climate-vulnerable farmers and communities. 

At CARC, Celestin is developing his professional experience in climate adaptation, climate-risk management, action-oriented research, advisory services and climate adaptation knowledge brokering. He is particularly interested in contributing to climate-risk and vulnerability assessments, strengthening the use and interpretation of climate information, and supporting locally grounded adaptation planning. He also aims to contribute to capacity development and learning processes that help institutions and other stakeholders integrate climate-risk considerations into policies, programmes and projects across climate-sensitive sectors. 

Drawing on his background in climate science and data science, Celestin brings experience in data analysis and the interpretation of climate and environmental information. He is motivated by interdisciplinary collaboration and by transforming research and evidence into practical insights that can support institutions and climate-vulnerable communities in Rwanda.