BOARD MEMBER
Priscilla Thairu Gathiga holds an Executive MBA, BA, Hon (Sociology) University of Nairobi and alumni of Harvard University Executive Leadership Program. She is an accomplished professional with over 25 YEARS of experience garnered from five (5) countries in East and Southern African. Currently serving as the NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the Kenya Girl Guides Association, the largest and oldest girl’s only organisation in Kenya supporting girls and young women social & economic empowerment. She previously served as the CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the Micro-Enterprise Support Program Trust (MESPT); a premier development institution that focuses on value chain development, enterprise development, Financing and Green Growth with special interest in Youth and Women. She is touted for having developed MESPT’s award-winning business model that has transformed the lives of thousands of small holder farmers across Kenya while creating jobs to spur economic growth in the country. Ms. Gathiga spearheaded acquisition of US$ 10+ million from DANIDA and GIZ/SNV Netherlands. These are multi-year grants that necessitated high levels of program conceptualization. She initiated and managed multi partner relationships locally and internationally and in both private & public sector.
Prior to this, Ms. Gathiga was the Regional Manager for Eastern and Coast at MESPT in which capacity she initiated various interventions including the renowned National Green Growth Conference that brings together diverse stakeholders to advance the country’s green agenda, pioneered the Green Enterprise Challenge that identifies and promotes innovative green solutions by youth and women. Ms. Gathiga has also held other senior local and international assignments like Operations Manager for Small and Micro-enterprise Programme (SMEP-Microfinance Bank), Management and Business Development Advisor for Skill share International in Lesotho and Botswana; Women’s Program Co-Ordinator for International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Volunteer (UNV), among others.
Aspects of Ms. Gathiga’s wealth of expertise and rich experience include strategy formulation and execution, project management, capacity building, Microfinance operations, agribusiness development, Organization development, resource mobilisation, networking and negotiation.
