FRED OTIENO WAMBIA
Nairobi
Summary
Results-driven project management leader with over 15 years of expertise in steering humanitarian and development programs across diverse, multicultural settings. Proven ability to design, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate international development initiatives in the face of complex challenges, including climate change, security issues, and socio-economic fragility. Skilled in cultivating stakeholder relationships and enhancing organizational effectiveness through the establishment of clear systems, structures, and strategies that foster a productive work environment. Committed to active community engagement and board governance, contributing to the success of various organizations.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
6
6
Certifications
Work History
Deputy Head of County Office
Catholic Relief Services Kenya
02.2024 - 04.2025
- Facilitated achievement of project objectives by coordinating activities, reporting progress, and advising sector leads and partners.
- Team Leadership: Leading and supervising a team of 21 direct reports. This includes recruitment, staff well-being, coaching, team development and performance management.
- Operational Efficiency: Development of annual and quarterly project plans to enhance coordination
- Logistical Planning: Ensuring that project resources (staff, vehicles and other shared supplies) are prudently planned and utilized well to produce excellent outcomes.
- Stakeholder Management: Coordinating local project stakeholders and serve as the project liaison between Nawiri technical teams, county officials, local actors at sub-county and ward level.
- Programme Coordination: Organizing teams and resources for effective implementation of all assigned project activities.
- Capacity Building: Supporting Local Implementing Partners on staff development, budget tracking & implementation through regular budget reviews and follow-ups, ensuring all program activities stay within budget and comply with financial requirements.
- Quality programmatic field level implementation through the county and subcounty teams’ sequence, layer and integrate (SLI) project activity implementations and coordinating periodic programmatic focused biweekly, monthly review, and planning and review sessions.
- Project reporting and documentation: Ensure quality reporting is undertaken as per agency and donor requirements.
- Security & Safety: Responsible for ensuring staff & organizational assets are safe and secure by working with various security agencies and adhering to organizational safety and security protocols.
Emergency Response Project Manager
World Vision Kenya
12.2020 - 07.2023
- Managed successful implementation of the USD 9.8M USAID/BHA-funded Integrated Emergency Response Project, that provided WASH, nutrition, livelihood, and economic recovery interventions to drought-affected children and families in Kajiado, Wajir and Mandera Counties.
- Team leadership: Led the project design, ensuring compliance with organizational and donor guidelines, and oversaw timely, effective implementation of interventions to achieve proposed outcomes and impact.
- Cash & Voucher programming: Conducted various assessments to inform various major activities like onset of drought, multipurpose cash transfer, and drought response plan.
- Implemented cash assistance to over 15,000 project participants spread across the three counties.
- Local Capacity Strengthening: Strengthened the capacity of local partners and government departments. Coached and mentored 7 project staff to enhance their performance.
- Financial Planning & Analysis: Conducted prudent financial planning through annual budgets, financial analysis, value for money assessments, review of financial risks and controls, and implementation of audit recommendations.
- Collaboration & Advocacy: Ensured adequate collaboration and representation with the donor, the Government of Kenya officials (National and County), private sector, Civil Society and Faith-Based Groups, for effective programme implementation.
- Resource Mobilization: Mapped out resource mobilization opportunities at local level and developed concepts and proposals in collaboration with Regional and National office teams.
- Appointed to lead part of the team involved in the prequalification process of service providers.
Area Programmes Manager, Baringo Cluster
World Vision Kenya
02.2018 - 09.2020
- Led and supported four area programs worth USD 2.3M through planning, stakeholder relationship building, and ensuring staff accountability and effectiveness. The programs addressed community priorities in youth livelihoods, ending violence against children (FGM, child labor, quality learning), food security, livelihood and resilience, integrated WASH, nutrition-sensitive programming, and humanitarian emergency response.
- Leadership & Strategic Management: Successfully provided team leadership to a team of 38 highly motivated and competent staff who delivered on organizational and projects objectives.
- Stakeholder Management: Strengthened key partnerships in Baringo County, leading to over 7,148 out-of-school children being enrolled in school, 3,450 birth registrations, and over 11,200 individuals gaining access to clean water in Baringo North and East Pokot.
- Programme Design, Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation: Ensured delivery of high-quality Programme designs, implementation plans and integration of the faith and development project models resulting in verifiable and evidence-based outcomes.
- Networking & Engagement: Actively engaged in establishing and sustaining a highly effective network of civil society organizations operating within the county to leverage on resources, influence policy and enhance organizational goodwill for realization of child well-being aspirations.
- National & County Government Partnerships: Built effective working relationships with the legislative and executive arms of the County & National Governments for lobbying on legal, budget, and other policy frameworks that supported children’s interests.
- Capacity Building: Built the capacity of local institutions and staff on effective utilization of various programming processes.
- Led effective implementation of all the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation information technology components like LEAP, Horizon, STEP and GIS.
- Appointed to be part of the World Vision Global Leadership Team tasked with developing the Urban Programming Model for adoption in scaling up urban and city programming which has now been approved and adopted.
Project Officer – Economic Empowerment Project
World Vision Kenya
06.2009 - 01.2018
- Responsible for providing technical support in economic empowerment initiatives and Capacity building of Civil Society Organizations
- Identified and nurtured over 1,500 small and medium business entrepreneurs, 75% being youth and women, providing training, coaching, and mentorship for SME start-up and expansion.
- Supported innovative value chain approaches to increase capital among youth and women, collaborating with 50 youth groups in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Baringo to promote agricultural and livestock value chains worth USD 4.5M.
- Promoted multidisciplinary networks to foster economic development and entrepreneurship, facilitating the formation of two local economic empowerment committees to stimulate startups, diversify businesses, and lead advocacy efforts for a business-friendly environment.
- Served as the Area Development Programme point person for Faith & Development issues.
- Mobilized and managed resources, including writing a proposal to KOICA for funding a USD 0.6M youth grant.
Senior Development Finance Officer
Faulu Microfinance Bank
03.2006 - 05.2009
- Planned and coordinated the branch activities in Kisumu. This involved directly supervising up to 10 Assistant Development Finance Officers within the branch and satellite offices.
- Business & Financial portfolio Growth: Started the Kisumu branch from scratch and built a healthy portfolio of over 13,000 clients and a financial portfolio of USD 1.5M
- Team leadership: Led and coached team of 10 staff that I directly supervised
- Client training: Effectively trained over 8,000 clients on entrepreneurship, finance management and emerging business opportunities and trends.
- Credit and Risk Management: Consistently maintained a healthy portfolio with less than 2% risk by adhering to prudent lending procedures and timely credit risk analysis.
- Reports & Documentation: Wrote and submitted timely weekly reports and documented clients’ transformational stories because of our products and services.
Management Trainee
Ecolab E. A. (K) Limited
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Managed 12 business accounts and ensured client expectations were met and new business opportunities exploited.
- Acquired five new business accounts
- Managed credit and collections for my accounts
- Conducted two sales blitz and marketing campaigns to acquire new accounts and enhance visibility of the organization within the industry.
Education
Masters - International Cooperation & Humanitarian Aid
Kalu Institute
Diploma - Theology
Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College
Master of Business Management - undefined
Moi University
01.2023
Certified Strategic Management & Leadership practitioner - undefined
Kenya Institute of Management
06.2021
Certificate - Theology
Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College
01.2015
BSc. - Biochemistry
Kenyatta University
01.2002
Skills
Country-specific strategic plan formulation
Certification
Kenya Institute of Management Senior Management Course, May2024 -To date
References
Margaret, Kahiga, Chief of Party, Margaret.kahiga@crs.org, +254723750769, USAID NAWIRI, Catholic Relief Services, Nairobi, P.O. Box
Affiliations
- Board Member, Canopy Life International
- Board Chairman, Kenyatta University Christian Union Alumni Fellowship
- Board Chair, Kiswahili Tekelezi
- Global Chair, Net Ministries Trust
- Member, Board of Elders and Church Treasurer, Kayole B PEFA Church
Timeline
Deputy Head of County Office
Catholic Relief Services Kenya
02.2024 - 04.2025
Emergency Response Project Manager
World Vision Kenya
12.2020 - 07.2023
Area Programmes Manager, Baringo Cluster
World Vision Kenya
02.2018 - 09.2020
Project Officer – Economic Empowerment Project
World Vision Kenya
06.2009 - 01.2018
Senior Development Finance Officer
Faulu Microfinance Bank
03.2006 - 05.2009
Management Trainee
Ecolab E. A. (K) Limited
01.2003 - 01.2005
Diploma - Theology
Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College
Master of Business Management - undefined
Moi University
Certified Strategic Management & Leadership practitioner - undefined
Kenya Institute of Management
Certificate - Theology
Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College
BSc. - Biochemistry
Kenyatta University
Masters - International Cooperation & Humanitarian Aid
Kalu Institute
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