Rutendo Chigora

Rutendo joined the Gates Foundation in 2026 and serves as Investment Officer for the Strategic Market Tools initiative within the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF). She partners with program strategy teams to structure, negotiate, and execute complex transactions with private sector entities, multilaterals, and governments, using guarantees and other structured/innovative finance tools to lower the cost of critical health commodities and expand access in the foundation’s priority geographies.

Prior to joining the foundation, Rutendo worked in Innovative Finance at the United Nations. Earlier, she was a Vice President in Lazard’s Special Opportunities team, reporting directly to the CEO, where she focused on strategic and sovereign advisory and M&A. She began her career at Bridgewater Associates, where she served as an Investment Associate and went on to be a team lead on the firm’s Onshore China and Portfolio Strategy work.

Rutendo holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Master of Public Policy and an MBA from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Rhodes Scholar.

A native of Zimbabwe, Rutendo brings strong personal conviction to her work on health and economic opportunity across the developing world.