FSD KENYA - Key Persons
Amrik spearheads FSD's research agenda which operates across its programme to drive and deepen financial inclusion. Increasingly, research is becoming a central part of FSD's offer to the market, where innovative research technologies and methods are being leveraged to expand outreach and increase the value proposition for low-income consumers.
Amrik is responsible for driving a research agenda that effectively supports FSD's partnerships with industry and policy makers. For example, through demonstrating the power of digital technology to leverage big data, while deepening insights on behaviour and needs through innovative methodologies such as financial diaries and linguistic/ethnographic techniques. Amrik oversees FSD's collaboration with the Central Bank of Kenya in developing and delivering the FinAccess surveys to track supply and demand across different segments.
Lastly, she is responsible for FSD's impact research where producing evidence to ‘prove' effectiveness is balanced ‘improving' strategy, delivery and design. In collaboration with FSD's communications officer, Amrik plans and manages the dissemination of research findings in relevant formats for target audiences. In a bid to develop new directions and activities for FSD's research theme, Amrik is charged with the identification of new areas for work which will add value to FSD's programme.
Job Titles:
- First Secretary International Finance at the British High Commission
Andy represents UK Aid Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on the PIC and took over Chairperson role effective July 2022.
Andy is the First Secretary International Finance at the British High Commission in Nairobi. He leads the UK's work on the macro-economy and financial sector in Kenya, with a specific focus on promoting green finance. Andy previously led work on debt and debt relief at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), engaging with the IMF, World Bank, G20 and Paris Club to promote measures designed to maintain or restore debt sustainability in countries across Africa and beyond. He has also spent time leading the UK's engagement with the Asian and Caribbean Development Bank as well as working with CDC, now British International Investment.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Officer at the Bill
Anna Wallace joined the PIC in July 2022 representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Anna is the Senior Program Officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her role is to leverage technology to enable financial regulators in managing the risks posed by emerging financial services models without impeding the innovation required to drive financial inclusion.
Anna sits on advisory boards to Dvara Research and Alliance for Innovative Regulation. Anna has 20 years of experience in public policy with expertise in financial regulation, digital financial services and consumer protection. In her most recent senior leadership role, Anna built the innovation department at the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. This included developing the world's first ‘Regulatory Sandbox', creating an international network of financial regulators to promote pro-innovation regulation (the Global Financial Innovation Network) and developing policy on issues like cloud computing, machine learning and crypto assets.
Anna was the accountable executive for FCDO-funded technical assistance programmes to Nigeria and was a member of the UK Financial Services Investment Board and Fintech Delivery Board. This role builds on a broad career across a range of public sector organizations, including the UK Government, European Commission and the Scottish Parliament.
Job Titles:
- PIC As an Independent Member
Anne Mutahi joined the PIC as an independent member effective 1st November 2022.
Anne Mutahi is a past Chairperson of the Women Enterprise Fund Kenya and the outgoing current Chairperson to the Board of the Standard Chartered Bank Kenya. She has been on the board since 2008 and Chair since her confirmation in May 2013.
She has also held other governance roles including board membership in UAP Old Mutual Life AssuranceCompany Limited. She also served as a past Governor and Board Member of the Kenya Private Sector Association (KEPSA) and was on the board of the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). Anne was recently appointed in June 2017 to serve on an NSE listed company, the Trans Century Ltd.
In March 2018, Anne was appointed as a Senior Advisor to the President of Kenya on SME Development.
Job Titles:
- Senior Economist
- Development Economist
Anzetse Were is a development economist with over ten years of experience in economic research, analysis, advising and strategy development focused on inclusive economic development and transformation in Africa. Her areas of expertise include the financial sector and finance systems in Africa; country and regional economic diagnostics in Africa; private sector development; the digital economy; climate finance; and the political economy of finance and development in Africa. She has a Master's in Economics from the University of Sydney (Australia) and a Bachelor's degree from Brown University (USA).
Boniface is a procurement professional with years of experience working with both development and humanitarian INGOs that have a regional presence in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan and Somalia. I have a wide expertise in direct and indirect procurement's managing the procurement cycle from business case development to close out. Vast experience in procurement and tendering procedures, administration of contracts, inventory management and maintenance, demand and supply planning, risk and compliance. My goal is to offer exemplary leadership and expertise in supply chain management.
Brian is an IT professional with years of experience working as an information systems developer, implementer, and administrator in ISPs, fintech and NGO. At FSD Kenya, he oversees ICT delivery and support, cyber security management, IT infrastructure administration and compliance. He worked with Cybercill Africa as Systems Engineer developing ERP systems, deploying Cloud computing solution and providing IT support. Prior to joining Cybercill Africa, he worked at Tangazoletu as a Microsoft Technical consultant within the Enterprise Department, developing core banking systems for saccos and MFIs. In his early days, he worked as a Network Engineer at Jamii telecommunication. Brian has a bachelor's degree in Information technology and is currently pursuing MSc in Information systems and technology from the United States International University Africa. He is member of Computer society of Kenya. He is also a certified as Cisco Network associate, Azure Cloud administrator and an ITIL practitioner.
Clifford serves as a Trustee to FSD Kenya Trust.
He is currently the Managing partner of BDO in Kenya. He has worked as assurance partner in Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, and Kenya in various sectors of the economy including public sector. Clifford also has experience in business advisory, financial dispute resolution and transaction support.
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
- Communications Lead
Collins is a communications specialist with eleven years of experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating communications efforts in support of development programmes. He is a storyteller, a writer, an editor, a social media manager, a graphic designer, an events organiser, and a media relations manager. Collins has worked in (and led) national, regional, and international teams at Transparency International Kenya and Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) in pursuit of development efforts, especially those linked with the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 1 - No poverty; goal 3 - Good health and well-being; goal 5 - Gender equality; and Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth). He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Communication and Media Technology) with IT from Maseno University.
Duncan Oyaro is FSD Kenya's agriculture and processing finance project manager. He holds a wealth of experience in development finance having worked with FSD Kenya for over 10 years on enterprise finance, credit market system development, finance innovation for real economy sectors and currently agriculture finance. Duncan's strengths include project design, planning and management, action research, and applying a market systems approach to the development of value adding finance solutions for Kenya. Duncan is deeply committed to promoting home-grown solutions to ensure sustainable growth and eradication of poverty in Africa. He holds a master's degree in financial planning from the King John Charles University in Madrid, Spain and a bachelor's degree in international business administration from the United States International University - USIU Africa.
Esther Muriithi is a finance professional with over 10 years of experience working in international consultancy and development organisations. At FSD Kenya, she is responsible for ensuring good financial and grant planning, analysis and management. She previously worked with Gatsby Africa, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and Microsave Consulting Limited. She has in-depth knowledge and experience in budgeting and budget control, donor reporting , payroll management, treasury management, risk management, financial and management reporting. She holds a MSc in Finance and Investment from KCA University, Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Daystar University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant(CPA-K) and a member of ICPAK.
Esther is responsible for providing support for activities relating to communications, advocacy, digital communications and media engagement. Esther is a communication professional focusing her career path on strategic and digital communications. She has experience in developing and implementing communication strategies particularly in digital communications, media campaigns, advocacy and event management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics, media and communications from Moi university.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Risk Controller
Fausto is a skilled finance and risk professional with extensive experience in developing and implementing successful finance and risk management policies. Fausto has a proven track record of business turnaround regarding financial management and accounting, payroll management, risk management, simplification of processes in account payables and receivables, budget monitoring and grant management. He is also proficient at evaluating risk for significant transactions, analyzing business processes to determine business' "risk appetite', and developing reports documenting transactional risk. At FSD Kenya, he is involved in the implementation of the ERM framework which entails end to end support of risk management and compliance related activities, alongside providing support in financial/management reporting, budgeting, grant management, payroll management and donor reporting. Fausto has a Master's in Finance from Nairobi University, a Bachelor of Arts (Economics Major) from The University of Nairobi, Certification in grant management from Strathmore Business School. He is a Certified Public Accountant from Institute of Chartered Accountants of Kenya and a member of ICPAK. He is currently undertaking a financial risk manager course with Global Association of Risk Professionals
Job Titles:
- Senior Financial Sector Policy Specialist
- Senior Policy Specialist
Francis works as a senior financial sector policy specialist at FSD Kenya. His work revolved around working with financial sector policymakers and regulators to build and strengthen the policy and regulatory framework in Kenya. This transcends initiatives on credit markets, digital economy, payments systems, long-term policy and women economic empowerment. Through his work, he has had the exorbitant privilege to contribute to some of the major policy initiatives in Kenya's financial sector over the last 9 years. His work is underpinned by research and generating the evidence base to support policy actions. His main interests are in consumer protection and competition policy, law and enforcement.
Lukania supports FSD Kenya to incorporate data and research insights in planning and executing projects, interventions, and tasks to ensure evidence-based delivery of the objectives, outputs and outcomes as directed by projects, contributing to overall effectiveness of programme delivery.
Hilda is a project manager at FSD Kenya she supports project leads in execution of interventions. She is responsible for project budget monitoring, procurement, contracting and payments, identifying and managing risks, careful resource management, and clear communication across multiple teams and stakeholders. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations from Moi University.
James has worked for over 20 years in the financial sector in both the developing and developed world with a growing focus on expanding access, inclusion, and usage of finance in Africa by making financial markets work for the less fortunate in society.
He has extensive knowledge of conditions in developing markets, particularly in East and Southern Africa. James has developed a comprehensive background in project appraisal, design, and development as well as implementation and monitoring. He began his work with the Financial Sector Deepening Trust of Kenya (FSD Kenya) in 2006 as the Head of SME finance.
Over the years his role in the organisation has grown and from 2010, he served as the Head of Inclusive growth until his appointment in 2019 to his current role as Chief Programme Officer. Among other notable achievements at FSD Kenya, James has been instrumental in the development of credit market infrastructure and has overseen projects to catalyse both credit information sharing and the secured transaction regime.
In his current role, James is responsible for the delivery of FSD Kenya's results through projects in financial sector policy and infrastructure, finance for agriculture and processing, climate smart results, health and affordable housing, as well as trade. During the Covid-19 pandemic, James's advice was solicited by various government departments on mitigation policy for MSMEs. Mr. Kashangaki has an MBA in Finance from the William E. Simon business school at the University of Rochester, and an MPA in International economic policy from SIPA at Columbia University, NYC. He is also a certified executive coach.
Job Titles:
- Senior Agriculture Specialist
Jared Ochieng is FSD Kenya's agriculture and processing finance Project lead. He is responsible for providing technical input on agriculture and processing across other projects. He previously worked as the senior trade specialist at FSD Kenya. Jared holds a BSc and MSc in Agriculture from Egerton University. He also has a post graduate certificate in food chains in Agriculture from Weihenstephan Triesdorf university, Germany and is a certified expert in agricultural finance - Frankfurt Business School. His fields of interest and professional expertise are value chain development, enterprise development, agricultural and rural development, trade finance, agricultural finance and research.
Job Titles:
- Financial Market Infrastructure Specialist
- Senior Digital Financial Infrastructure Specialist
Juliet is a financial market infrastructure specialist with extensive experience in digital payments. She has over 15 years of experience managing various programmes, spanning both private and public sectors. Juliet's working career spans both Kenya and international markets, with broad experience in the financial sector. Her work entails leading the financial market infrastructure work to support FSD's partnerships with industry, regulators, and policy makers. This is delivered through providing technical advice to drive implementation, convening stakeholders, identifying new areas of collaboration, promoting the use of evidence to develop use cases and show impact, and working with partners to develop capacity. The financial market infrastructure work aims at developing open, affordable and efficient market infrastructure that delivers services and supporting functions that are critical to the effective functioning of the financial sector. Juliet is an internationally certified project manager with an MBA from the University of Dallas (Texas) and a bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
Lucy is responsible for planning and managing projects within the affordable housing docket to successfully complete its listed objectives and deliverables. She is responsible for identifying and managing risks, careful resource management, smart budgeting, and clear communication across multiple teams and stakeholders. She is a seasoned banker with over 10 years' experience. Her areas of expertise include affordable housing in the co-operatives sector, capacity building, credit deal structuring, environmental, social and corporate governance, project management, agri-based value chain financing and micro lending. Prior to joining FSD Kenya, Lucy worked with Co-operative Bank for 12 years in various positions including micro-lending, credit analyst, project implementation team member relationship manager, housing and investment segment head. She has a master's in business administration from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a Bachelor's degree in business management (finance and banking) from Moi university.
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant / Housekeeper
Lydiah is responsible for managing and overseeing the organisation's overall procurement, administrative and human resource functions. She previously worked with development organisations and joined FSD Kenya at its inception after working with the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the FCDO Business Partnerships Project, the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and Kenya Shell.
Nancy is a project manager at FSD Kenya where she supports project leads in execution of interventions by leading procurement, risk and budget tracking and results management. She is a key member of the Financial Innovation for the Real Economy (FIRE) and Livelihoods project teams where in addition to her project management role, she is actively engaged in design and implementation of health finance, education and livelihoods interventions. She is a gender enthusiast and keenly involved in FSD Kenya's gender work.
Job Titles:
- Senior Affordable Housing Specialist
Seeta brings over 20 years of international real estate experience focusing on affordable housing investment, policy and research. Her practical experience in the field allows her to facilitate engagement between government, private sector, DFIs, NGOs and the wider public, to improve the enabling environment for affordable housing.
Seeta has an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA from the University of Cambridge, and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Institution of Surveyors of Kenya. She serves voluntarily on the Board of Friends of City Park.
Sylvia is a procurement and local subcontracts professional with practical experience with globally recognised institutions with all round experience of over 7 years in both non-governmental organisations and private sector. These years span into practical experience of procurement operations, contracts management, stakeholder engagement, donor compliance, sourcing, fleet management and tendering.
Tamara Cook was appointed the CEO of FSD Kenya in July 2019. She has been with FSD Kenya since 2014 as the Head of Digital Innovations with a focus on using finance to create value for low-income households, women and enterprises. With more than two decades of experience in inclusive finance, Tamara has also worked with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank's Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), and Equity Bank in Kenya. She has an MBA from INSEAD, a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University and is an Executive Coach. Tamara currently serves as the Chair of the FSD Network Council.
Job Titles:
- Senior Measurement and Results Specialist
Valerie is responsible for developing results measurement frameworks and supporting programme, projects and interventions teams to design, monitor and report results.
Job Titles:
- Senior Economic Inclusion Advisor
Wanza leads FSD Kenya's economic inclusion work. Her motivation is ensuring that all Kenyans, especially women, have the agency and access to the resources that they need to effectively contribute to and optimally benefit from economic development. She has spent the last two decades facilitating financial inclusion for the lower segment of the market, which is either financially excluded or under-served, through various innovations. She is also the Gender lead at FSD Kenya, supporting the team in integrating gender into all programme activity.