Irene Karimi

Ms. Irene Karimi is an international development professional with more than 30 years' experience in project management, organizational development and training, access to finance, investment, grants management, and quality assurance. Ms. Karimi has managed complex, multifaceted programs in Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan and has provided technical expertise in Liberia, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. She has a proven track record of successfully implementing projects in challenging environments. Motivated Team Leader with over 30 years of progressive experience. Energetic self-starter and team builder. Navigates high-stress situations and achieves goals on time and under budget. A veteran Chief of Party of USAID programming with over 30 years of experience advancing locally led development, Ms. Karimi has led complex, crosssectoral USAID-funded programs in Kenya/East Africa, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan. She has supported USAID and other donor-funded programs with budgets up to $52M and managed and mentored county-level to multi-national teams of up to 71 in challenging and often volatile locations. She produces high quality results and client satisfaction, including client ratings of "Exceptional" from USAID/KEA during her tenure as Dexis' COP on MODS, with comments directly praising her management as "exceptional" and "commendable". Ms. Karimi has successfully spearheaded crosssectoral multi-stakeholder programs focused on building local capacity and inclusion in Kenya and across the East African Community, including in her role as Team Leader of the $36M (£29 Million) UK-funded Research and Innovation Systems Fund where she guided strategy development and implementation of research and innovation capacity building across East, South, and West Africa. Ms. Karimi has used her Mission insights and deep local context knowledge to deliver both external and Mission-facing support. Ms. Karimi is a renowned cross-functional leader, exceptional communicator, and natural convener