Nairobi County, Kenya
I am a senior international NGO executive with over 30 years of leadership experience, including 11+ years at regional executive level, leading multi-country humanitarian and development operations across Africa in complex and high-risk environments. I have provided strategic and operational oversight of regional portfolios exceeding USD 944 million, spanning nine countries and more than 6,000 staff. I have led two full regional strategy cycles (2016–2020 and 2021–2025) and multiple country strategies aligned to global mandates and national development agendas. My leadership has contributed to measurable scale and impact, reaching more than 28 million people in 2024 alone. My expertise spans country and regional leadership; strategic representation; programme oversight, MEAL and results delivery; policy dialogue and advocacy; resource mobilisation and partnerships; UN inter-agency coordination; people leadership and organisational effectiveness; governance, safeguarding, PSEA, risk and accountability; climate action and conservation; gender equality and social inclusion; and crisis response and emergency leadership. I am recognised for building high-performing leadership teams, strengthening accountability in federated organizations, and restoring donor confidence in volatile contexts. I have demonstrated success in designing and implementing Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems for over 20 years that drive evidence-based decision-making, strengthen program effectiveness, and enhance accountability. Proven ability to develop robust frameworks, lead data-driven learning agendas, and translate insights into adaptive strategies that improve impact at scale. I have led significant revenue growth, increasing regional income from USD 593M to USD 944M (2015 to 2024), and diversified funding across bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic, and private donors. I have represented organizations at UN General Assembly side events, COP processes, African Union platforms, and global humanitarian forums, positioning them as trusted partners and thought leaders. I am grounded in values-driven and servant leadership, I bring credibility with governments, donors, boards, and communities, and a strong commitment to ethical leadership and impact at scale. I hold an Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA), a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Public Administration, and a Postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Humanitarian and Multilateral Diplomacy as well as strong International Development certifications.
Responsible for providing strategic, operational, and representational leadership of the Kenya Country Office, ensuring effective delivery of social protection, humanitarian initiatives, sustainable development, and poverty alleviation programmes aligned with GiveDirectly’s global strategy and national development priorities. Leads the country leadership team of 10 functional leaders, and represents the organisation with government, donors, UN agencies, International Finance Institutions (IFIs), and INGO coordination platforms, positioning GiveDirectly as a trusted partner and thought leader. Directs strategic leadership for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) across both ASAL and development contexts, ensuring systems are context-sensitive, integrated, and responsive to diverse program needs. Oversees the design and implementation of adaptive MEL frameworks that combine real-time monitoring in fragile ASAL areas with long-term outcome tracking in development programs. Strengthens accountability to communities through inclusive feedback mechanisms, and leverage data, geospatial insights, and digital platforms to inform resource allocation, resilience-building, and impact at scale.Guides the design of strong logframes, theories of change, and measurement frameworks that demonstrate impact and value for money. Focus areas include Country strategy and results delivery; programme oversight and evidence-based decision-making; resource mobilisation and donor engagement; government and UN partnerships; advocacy and policy influence; financial management; board governance; safeguarding and PSEA; GESI; fiduciary, risk and compliance; people leadership; people and culture, and organisational effectiveness.
Responsible for regional operational excellence and strategic oversight of multi-country humanitarian and development operations across East Africa, supporting nine country offices to deliver impact in line with global strategy, regional priorities, and organisational standards. Led regional operations and 12 functional directors, to ensure the effective and efficient operational health of all country offices, strengthening governance, accountability, and performance within a federated organisational model. Focus areas include regional strategy execution; country officer oversight and performance; programme quality and results delivery; financial oversight; resource mobilisation; risk management and compliance: safeguarding and PSEA, governance and board engagement; people and culture; organisational development; advocacy and policy influence; communications and public engagement; donor and multilateral engagement; staff care and security; regional and global representation. Championed Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) initiatives across 9 country Offices that leveraged digital tools, real-time data, and community-centered feedback mechanisms to drive adaptive, and evidence-based programming. Led the integration of advanced analytics, mobile data collection, and interactive dashboards to enhance decision-making, transparency, and cross-sector learning. Fostered a culture of continuous improvement by embedding rapid learning loops. Executive highlights • Oversaw a USD 944M regional portfolio across 9 countries. • Led two regional strategy cycles, reaching 28M people in 2024. • Supervised 12 regional functional directors across programmes, finance, HR, supply chain, operations and other functions. • Grew regional income from USD 593M to USD 944M through donor diversification. • Represented the organisation at UNGA, COP, African Union, and global forums. • Ensured strong governance, safeguarding, audit follow-up, and risk management.
Responsible for executive leadership of humanitarian operations in a complex, conflict-affected context, ensuring continuity of life-saving programmes, staff safety, and operational resilience. Speared headed the implementation of the Response Plan that was aligned to OCHA Humanitarian Plan. Led the country office during an active emergency response, coordinating with government authorities, UN agencies, donors, and humanitarian partners, while acting as the organisation’s senior representative and spokesperson. Spearheaded strategic leadership for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) in a complex humanitarian and fragile context. Ensured the design and implementation of agile, context-appropriate MEAL systems that support real-time monitoring, strengthen accountability to affected populations, and inform rapid, evidence-based decision-making. Oversaw data quality and risk-sensitive approaches, and drove a strong fragile context learning agenda Focus areas include Crisis leadership and emergency response; humanitarian coordination and access; supply chain management; strategy and program quality; donor engagement and funding stabilization; people and culture; information technology financial oversight and risk management; safeguarding, duty of care, and staff security. Executive highlights • Led a USD 50M humanitarian portfolio during active conflict. • Oversaw emergency response reaching over 4.5M crisis-affected people. • Increased donor funding by 27% (BHA, FCDO, GAC, SIDA and other donors) • Acted as principal representative and spokesperson with government, UN, donors, and media. • Strengthened financial controls, risk management, and safeguarding in a high-risk environment. • Spearheaded engagement with the UN coordination mechanisms and inter-agency clusters.
Appointed Acting Senior Vice President (SVP) for East Africa during an extended professional leave of absence by the substantive holder, assuming the highest regional leadership authority with full accountability to the WVI Chief Program Officer for a region with 9 country offices and a US$540M (cash) and US$400M (food and in-kind) portfolio. Sat on the Governing Boards of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania. • Directly managed nine Country Directors across East Africa setting clear performance expectations, accountability standards, and development objectives aligned with regional strategic priorities. • Assumed full SVP-level strategic and governance accountability across the region, demonstrating the leadership depth and institutional credibility to perform at the most senior level immediately. • Represented World Vision at the highest levels engaging Heads of State, UN principals, IGAD heads, and African Union representatives and maintaining organisational credibility across the region. • Made high-stakes governance, financial, and HR decisions including funding authorisations and senior leadership appointments ensuring no governance gap emerged during the leadership absence. • Managed simultaneous regional crises across Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan deploying appropriate resources, leadership attention, and donor engagement without destabilising the broader portfolio. • Maintained full continuity of regional governance obligations including board reporting, global leadership council participation, and structured HQ escalation protecting delivery and organisational credibility. • Sustained senior donor engagement across the region during multiple active humanitarian emergencies ensuring funding relationships remained intact and no concerns escalated into reputational risk. • Ensured seamless application of all HQ-defined operational, safeguarding, and performance frameworks across the region, protecting programme integrity and staff wellbeing.
Responsible for providing executive leadership of the Kenya Country Office during a leadership transition, ensuring operational stability, programme continuity, and effective external engagement. Maintained strong relationships with government, donors, UN agencies, and partners, while supporting the senior management team and reinforcing governance and accountability systems. Provided strategic leadership in the design and implementation of robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems that drove evidence-based decision-making, strengthening program effectiveness, and enhance accountability. Focus areas include country leadership and representation; programme oversight; governance and compliance; people management and staff well-being; risk management and operational continuity. Executive Highlights • Provided interim executive leadership for a USD 90M national programme across 37 counties. • Served as senior country representative with government, donors, UN agencies, and partners. • Stabilised leadership oversight for over 880 staff, ensuring performance, and staff well-being. • Maintained programme delivery, donor compliance, and results reporting during transition.