GIF expands operations in Nairobi.

The Global Innovation Fund has significantly grown its presence in Kenya in 2024, making four key hires over the six months.

Kenya’s vibrant and active innovation ecosystem and supportive policy environment makes it a great place to find and support promising ideas that could help people across the region and beyond.

Juliet Odindo joined us back in May as an Associate in our Analytics team. She plays a crucial role in identifying investment opportunities and measuring the impact of our existing portfolio. An economist by training, Juliet previously worked on impact evaluations at Oxford Policy Management (OPM), and for the World Bank.

Dianah Irungu joined as an Investment Associate in September. She previously served as Chief of Staff at a leading fintech company, where she spearheaded strategic initiatives, fundraising efforts, and data analytics.

Amos Tabalia joined GIF as an Analytics Director in August. He brings more than 13 years of experience leading technical and analytics teams in agriculture, climate risk, and inclusive finance sectors, having previously served as Chief Impact Officer at ACRE Africa.

“I was attracted to how GIF uses evidence and research to guide social impact investing in developing countries” he says. “The opportunity to use my analytical expertise to identify and scale high-impact innovations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world where the potential for transformative change is so significant, was incredibly appealing.”

More recently, Serah Nderitu has joined as a Managing Director in our Grants team, She has previously worked on entrepreneurship and innovation programmes across Africa, including at the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), where she managed a $7M programme supporting innovators developing climate adaptation and resilience solutions.  

As well as GIF’s new hires, Investment Director Lily Steele will be relocating to Nairobi from GIF’s London office at the end of December. Lily has worked in Kenya previously providing advisory and business development services to early-stage social ventures, as well as capital raising support.

The new members of GIF’s team in Kenya will be working alongside Investment Associates Teresa Bosibori and Eugene Gikonyo who have been delivering GIF’s mission for over two years and three years respectively. Teresa is in the grants team where she supports innovations including Bandebereho, Buildher and Amani Girls Organisation.

“I also source new innovations and build partnerships in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on gender equality investments,” she explains.

GIF’s expansion in Kenya reflects our commitment to localisation, giving us deeper insights, and better understanding of the local context and challenges people face in sub-Saharan Africa, from climate change to healthcare and education. It also helps us source and support local innovators more effectively, and ensures that we really understand what communities need.