Key skills and expertise

With 18 years of experience, the expert is adept in digital finance, agricultural innovation, and economic empowerment. Managed projects have enhanced financial inclusion and market creation on both local and international scales. Career highlights include increasing digital literacy for 70,000 smallholder farmers and facilitating mobile money access for 15,000 refugees. Previously held strategic roles at organizations like the World Bank Group and UNCDF, focusing on digital financial services, project management, and stakeholder engagement. Expertise in leveraging digital technology for inclusive development has led to significant impacts in multiple countries.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving international donors such as the World Bank Group, United Nations Capital Development Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Responsibilities have included project implementation, technical assistance, capacity building, and evaluations in sectors like digital finance, agriculture, and economic empowerment. These initiatives have been executed on a regional and national scale across countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Jordan, Iraq, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Ghana.

Sectors and geographic focus

Bringing over 18 years of experience, the expert has worked across sectors including humanitarian aid, labor market and employment, youth, SME and private sector, agriculture, decentralization and local development, and marketing. Background includes positions as consultant, project manager, and country director, with a focus on digitalization in agriculture and financial inclusion. Cross-cutting expertise spans digital financial services, project management, and stakeholder engagement, with a geographic scope covering regions like Uganda, Rwanda, and Ghana. Responsibilities have included integrating digital technology to enhance productivity and market access in rural and underserved communities.

The expert has extensive geographic experience across Uganda, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Fiji, Gambia, Rwanda, Ghana, Jordan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and the USA. Worked often involves deep engagement with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues, particularly in Uganda and Rwanda. Contributed to significant projects in these regions, enhancing digital financial inclusion and agricultural productivity.

Languages and education

With a background in multiple languages, the expert is fluent in English and has advanced proficiency in Urdu and Luganda, with basic knowledge of Swahili. These language skills have been utilized in various international and multicultural contexts, including in-country work across diverse regions such as Uganda, Malaysia, and the USA, facilitating communication in multilingual teams and enhancing project implementation.

The expert holds a BA and an MA in Economics from the City University of New York, USA. Additionally, a Certified Islamic Finance Executive (CIFE) certification was obtained from the ETHICA – Institute of Islamic Finance in Dubai. Also completed courses in entrepreneurship, operations, marketing, and finance at the Owen Graduate School of Business, Vanderbilt University in Nashville, USA.