MESPT BoT
The founders of the Trust (GoK & Royal Danish Embassy) identified and appointed a very able BoT of 5 members which has been overseeing the organization while working closely with the Chief Executive Officer.
The founders of the Trust (GoK & Royal Danish Embassy) identified and appointed a very able BoT of 5 members which has been overseeing the organization while working closely with the Chief Executive Officer.
Ms. Asuna is a seasoned economist with 22 years’ experience specifically under the Ministry of Finance, which is now the National Treasury. She is the Director of Planning and the Head of UN Agencies Division and Development Effectiveness Secretariat, in the Resource Mobilization Department, Directorate of Public Debt Management Office at the National Treasury and Planning.
Previously, she worked in the areas of discouraging Restrictive Trade Practices, Review of Mergers and Acquisitions applications (1998 -2007); Resource mobilization, policy formulation, policy analysis, Strategic Planning, Medium Term Planning, budgeting, performance reviews and donor relations (2007 to date). She has been the Head of Development Effectiveness Secretariat since its establishment in 2010. Monica coordinated the development of the Kenya External Resources Policy that was approved by Cabinet in 2014 and coordinated the hosting of the Second-High Level meeting of the Global partnership for Effective Development Cooperation in 2016 by the Government of Kenya.
Currently, Ms. Asuna is also leading the Investor Relations Unit and representing the National Treasury and Planning in various local organizations’ boards. Monica also sits in various International Task Teams representing the Government of Kenya.
She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Economics from Chancellor College, University of Malawi and Bachelor of Arts from Moi University Kenya.
Mr. Mogens is a seasoned diplomat with expertise in business development. He has over 30 years of experience as a Counsellor, Chief Adviser, and Head of section at the Embassy of Denmark in various countries.
His most recent assignments include Counsellor Embassy of Denmark in Nairobi, form October 2019; Chief Advisor Finance office, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2016 and Chief Advisor Department for humanitarian assistance, civil society and technical assistance, 2015.
He holds a Master of Science Degree in Agriculture from the Royal Veterinarian and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thomas has a strong business and strategic management orientation nurtured over the last 26 years in various capacities, and engagements in both Kenya and Eastern and Southern Africa region. Having worked for international development partners including Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN in Kenya and SNV – Netherlands Development Organization in Kenya and Zambia, Thomas has over 20 years’ wealth of experience in successfully leading and managing diverse development programmes in areas of private sector led agriculture, agribusiness, food security, value chains and market systems resilience and economic growth development in the region funded by USAID, ECHO, EKN, DGIS, IFAD, FAO, AfDB, GIZ and Mastercard Foundation amongst others.
He has previously served on various boards steering enterprise development including the World bank funded Jitihada programme under the Ministry of Industrialization in partnership with Kenya Institute of management and as an External Advisory Board member on the Green to Grow Project, implemented by Etimos Foundation with funding from EU-financed SWITCH Africa Green Programme. Mr. Thomas Were is a Co-founder and Director of Agile Consulting that so far pans African recognition in development consulting and works with institutions to bridge the proficiency gap, and to propel them to new heights of growth and stability. Mr. Were holds a BSc in Agriculture Economics from Egerton University and an MBA in Strategic Management from University of Nairobi.
Ms. Irene Gathinji is a capacity development specialist with over 23 years of practical experience in capacity development of civil society organizations (CSOs) and systems strengthening to enable the operating environment for effective service delivery. She has worked in sectors / thematic areas of HIV&AIDS, environment and conservation, democracy and governance, and economic empowerment/livelihoods with cross-cutting issues of gender and youth. She is a seasoned project manager, trained in PMD Pro and having implemented several large 5-year programs from start to finish addressing areas of capacity development, program design, development, implementation, monitoring, oversight, and evaluation. She has worked with over 400 CSOs ranging from national and provincial government departments and government agencies, international and national NGOs, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations.
Irene is currently the Project Director of Yetu Initiative at the Aga Khan Foundation East Africa, from May 2020 and most recently worked with Pact Inc. serving in various position capacity development positions including Capacity Development Director in Accelerating Support to Advanced Local Partners (ASAP), May-Dec 2019, Human Capacity Development Advisor, Pretoria, South Africa, Oct 2013 - June 2018, Organizational Development Advisor, Pretoria, South Africa, Nov 2007 - Sept 2013.
Ms. Gathinji holds an MPhil in Workplace Ethics from University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2012, MA Science and Technology Policy from Murdoch University, Western Australia, 1995, Graduate Diploma in Women Studies from Murdoch University, Western Australia, 1992 and a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University, Kenya, 1990.
Rebecca Amukhoye is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT). She is an agriculturalist and a business development practitioner with vast experience in the development sector. She has over 20 years work experience successfully directing impact oriented programmes that have empowered smallholder farmers on areas of food security, agriculture and enterprise development in Kenya and other East African countries.
Her background is in Agriculture, Rural Development and Strategic Management. In her career, she has been instrumental in providing leadership, planning, implementing projects and ensuring that the operations of the organization are aligned to its vision and strategic direction.
Prior to joining MESPT, Ms. Rebecca served as a Country director and Regional director in a renowned INGO in Kenya and the Eastern Africa, respectively.
Ms. Rebecca holds an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi, MSc. Agriculture & Rural development from Kenya Methodist University and BSc. Agriculture and Home Economics from Egerton University.