Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 9 years of experience in financial services and development finance projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, the expert is skilled in public policy research, strategy development, Agile project management, and digital finance. Career highlights include leading international initiatives with organizations such as GIZ, KfW, and the World Bank. Notable achievements include co-creating Policy Action Roadmaps for East Africa and launching Ethiopia's first contactless Platinum MasterCard Prepaid Travel Card. Responsibilities have included directing projects, managing tenders, and founding a Pan-African payments company.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has extensive experience working with international donors like GIZ, KfW, US-PRM, World Bank Group, UNCDF, Hilton Foundation, African Guarantee Fund, and African Development Bank. Their involvement encompasses project implementation, technical assistance, and capacity building in sectors such as development finance, refugee economic inclusion, and digital finance. These projects have been regional and sector-specific, taking place across Sub-Saharan Africa in countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Ghana.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in sectors such as development finance, agriculture, digital finance, and SME development, the expert has held roles like project director, consultant, and founder. Responsibilities have included project implementation, strategic partnerships, and capacity building. Their cross-cutting expertise includes digitalization in agriculture and financial inclusion. The expert's work has had a regional scope, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where they have addressed diverse development challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. Geographic experience spans countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Angola, Zambia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, with a deep familiarity with local governance and regional development issues, especially in East Africa.

Languages and education

Fluent in English and a native speaker of Kiswahili, the expert also holds a B1 level proficiency in French. These language skills have been effectively utilized in diverse professional settings across multiple countries, including working with multilingual teams and engaging in international projects throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. The expert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture with a major in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, completed in 2018. Additionally, they have completed professional courses, including the Certified Expert in Digital Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and the IBM Data Analyst Professional Certificate.