Robert Karanja

My educational qualifications include an MBA in Strategic Management from Moi University, Kenya and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Entrepreneurship) from the University of Northern British Columbia in Canada. I have a passion for trade facilitation in Africa and beyond. I have over 12 years experience working in various organizations in East, Central, Southern and West Africa. I know the African continent very well. I have recently completed an assignment with Chemonics/USAID COMPETE as AGOA Business Linkages Advisor where I developed exports from East Africa into the US market. Prior to joining Chemonics, I was the Regional Director of Aid to Artisans South Africa Trust based in Johannesburg, South Africa where I managed regional handicrafts/artisan development programs in South Africa, Lesotho and Mozambique. The programs I managed were funded by the Kellogg Foundation (www.wkkf.org) with a total budget of $5 million. This role involved various multi-tasking assignments including but not limited to program/proposal development, donor management/reporting, human resource management, finance and administration, capacity building/training, project management and also acting as secretary to the board of trustees. I am fluent in Swahili and English and can also converse in other African languages including Kikuyu and Zulu. I am an experienced project manager and have extensive experience with USAID and the Kellogg Foundation. I bring the following world class skills; financial management, budget projections and planning, monitoring and evaluation, team leader, reporting, workplan scheduling, project implementation and a deep understanding of the power of microfinance. I run and manage East Africa's first and only bicycle manufacturing and assembly company. Our brand is called Nyati and is built tough to withstand the conditions in Africa. We currently serve a growing market of large scale NGO's, flower farms, security companies, Government and conservancies among otherrs Specialties: Trade facilitation, Programme Management, Export Market Development, Negotiation Skills.