Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 12 years of experience in international development, the expert is a seasoned Business Development Specialist with a focus on INGO and USAID programming. Key qualifications include grants management, project management, and financial analysis. The expert has successfully led projects across East Africa, collaborating with organizations such as AGRA and USAID. Career highlights include designing a cereal value chain project worth €1,110,132. Previously held roles include Business Development Advisor at the Cereal Growers Association, where responsibilities encompassed managing multi-million dollar projects and spearheading policy advocacy efforts.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated extensively with international donors including USAID, UN Agencies, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), and United States Africa Development Foundation (USADF). The involvement spans project implementation, technical assistance, and capacity building in sectors such as agriculture and rural development. Projects are regional and national in scope, covering countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and Malawi. This exposure has equipped the expert with a deep understanding of donor expectations and regional development challenges.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in rural development, social development, agriculture, and program and resource management, the expert has led initiatives in grants management, project implementation, and technical design. The work spans regional and country-specific projects in East Africa, integrating interdisciplinary approaches such as digitalization in agriculture and infrastructure development. This cross-sector experience supports sustainable development and capacity building across diverse communities. The expert's geographic experience includes deep familiarity with local governance and regional development issues, particularly in agriculture, contributing to long-term assignments and projects addressing the economic and social needs of these regions.

Languages and education

Fluent in English and Swahili, with ongoing studies in French, the expert's language skills have been utilized in international development contexts, working with multilingual teams across East Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and Malawi. These linguistic abilities facilitate effective communication in diverse cultural settings and enhance collaboration on regional projects. The expert holds a Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Additionally, the expert is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K), with a strong foundation in finance and project management acquired through rigorous academic training at a leading Kenyan university.