Irene Karimi

Chief of Party, Generating Economic Development through Microfinance in Southern Sudan Program

Irene Karimi is a seasoned microfinance expert with more than 20 years’ experience in microfinance development in Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, and a proven track record of successfully implementing projects in challenging environments. She currently serves as chief of party on the USAID-funded Generating Economic Development through Microfinance in Southern Sudan (GEMSS) project, which seeks to develop Southern Sudan’s microfinance industry by building the capacity of retail and meso-level institutions. Ms. Karimi has long-term, practical expertise in microfinance institutional development, strategic planning, portfolio management, training, and monitoring and evaluation developed through hands-on experience as a loan coordinator, project manager, grants manager and acting general manager. Ms. Karimi is skilled in project analysis, project cycle management, promotion of financial service associations and sustainable credit programs. She has extensive experience working on USAID- and European Union-funded projects. She began and expanded one MFI in Southern Sudan and two MFIs in northeast and northwest Somalia with a team of international and local staff members. Karimi received her B.A. in business administration from the University of East Africa in Baraton, Kenya, and her M.B.A. from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She speaks Kiswahili and English fluently.