The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced the appointment of Wambui Gichuri as its Acting Vice President (VP) of Agriculture, Human and Social Development.
AgroNigeria reported in June that the Bank’s former vice-president, Jennifer Blanke, who joined the Bank in 2017, was scheduled to exit her position July 4, 2020.
Gichuri’s appointment, therefore, took effect from Sunday, July 5, 2020.
The acting VP joined the African lender in 2018 as Director of the Water Development and Sanitation department after a twenty-year career at the World Bank.
President of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, has expressed confidence in her appointment.
“I am very pleased that Wambui agreed to step into this role as Acting Vice President. The Vice Presidency Complex for Agriculture, Human and Social Development has some of our largest programs and flagship initiatives.
“With her extensive experience, leadership, people management skills, and strong execution capacity, I am confident that she will help strengthen the team and accelerate execution on critical programs and initiatives,” Adesina said.
Gichuri in her previous position supervised two divisions: the Water Development, Coordination and Partnerships, and the Water Security and Sanitation.
She also managed the African Water Facility division, a project preparation facility.
The former director also led the development and coordination of technical programmes, managed her department’s human resources and budget, and also oversaw the development of the Bank’s extensive partnership activities.
At the World Bank, Gichuri headed the international lender’s water sector program of over $4.5 billion covering 44 countries, among other multinational projects.
She also served in various capacities at the World Bank, including 17 years in water resources management, supply, sanitation, irrigation and drainage.
She, therefore, has vast experience in executing projects across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, AfDB said.
Gichuri holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi, Kenya (1988), and a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Economics (1986).
She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Sociology (1983) from the same university.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA
