Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Affiliations
Timeline
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Richard Midikira

Nairobi

Summary

Multi-disciplinary executive with 15+ years’ experience in SME finance, agri-business development, inclusive economic growth programs and risk advisory across Africa. Strong strategic thinker and decision-maker with experience in scaling market-based solutions for smallholder farmers, managing multi-country programs, and forging high-impact partnerships. Proven leader in stakeholder engagement, innovation management, and program execution for donor-funded, public, and private sector actors. Adept at navigating complex challenges, fostering collaboration and leading high-performing teams. Passion lies at the nexus of SME growth, access to capital and inclusive development in Africa.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

SENIOR MANAGER, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS

ACELI AFRICA
01.2020 - Current
  • Designed and scaled Aceli’s TA program, reaching over 700 agri-SMEs and facilitating over $5M in financing.
  • Spearheaded development of innovation pilots: climate SME facility, lender segmentation strategy, and capital markets linkages.
  • Built high-level partnerships with DFIs, fintechs, BDS providers, and state actors to align SME support with financing outcomes.
  • Defined impact metrics, conducted MEL activities, and advised on SME investment readiness and creditworthiness.

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT – AGRI SECTOR LEAD

ITC (SITA PROGRAM)
11.2017 - 09.2019
  • Led agri-trade and investment efforts for $23M DFID-funded South-South trade program across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia.
  • Facilitated export market access and investor connections for pulse, leather, and horticulture value chains.
  • Delivered Ethiopia’s national pulses strategy and brokered GPC-ITC partnership for global value chain access.
  • Brokered partnerships with AGRA and FAO to scale ITCs work in pulses and oilseeds. Conducted market assessments in Eastern & Southern Africa

MANAGER, RISK ADVISORY

ERNST & YOUNG
03.2016 - 01.2018
  • Directed financial sector GRC consulting projects across East Africa.
  • Led development of internal risk frameworks and compliance reviews for banks and MFIs.

SENIOR CONSULTANT & BUSINESS ANALYST, ADVISORY

DELOITTE
10.2009 - 02.2016
  • Delivered risk and governance consulting for development and commercial sector clients across Africa (East, Central & Southern Africa).
  • Supported proposal development, internal training, and field delivery for regional projects.

Education

Master's - International Business

IE Business School
Madrid
01.2012

BSc - Actuarial Science

University of Nairobi
Nairobi
01.2009

Skills

  • Agri-SME Finance & Market Systems Development
  • Strategy Development & Execution
  • Product Design & Innovation
  • Cross-functional Team & Stakeholder Management
  • Performance Monitoring, MEL, and KPIs
  • Financial Oversight, Risk Management

Affiliations

  • Fellow – Africa Food Fellowship
  • Chair – Investment Committee, Neycha Fund
  • Advisory Board Member – iABC (Biovision Foundation)

Timeline

SENIOR MANAGER, INNOVATION & PARTNERSHIPS

ACELI AFRICA
01.2020 - Current

INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT – AGRI SECTOR LEAD

ITC (SITA PROGRAM)
11.2017 - 09.2019

MANAGER, RISK ADVISORY

ERNST & YOUNG
03.2016 - 01.2018

SENIOR CONSULTANT & BUSINESS ANALYST, ADVISORY

DELOITTE
10.2009 - 02.2016

Master's - International Business

IE Business School

BSc - Actuarial Science

University of Nairobi

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