Jane MwangI
SVAI Kenya – Kenya
Jane Mwangi is the CEO and MD of AJW AFRICA (Apprentice Job Work Africa). AJW AFRICA designs and executes Social Impact Programs on behalf of Local, International and Regional Banks, Corporates, Donor Partners and other institutions.
The focus is to create sustainable, decent and meaningful employment for the African Youth through MSMEs while also creating long term profitability for the MSMEs. AJW Africa’s Clients and Partners include Family Bank, The Family Group Foundation, Artificial Intelligence Centre for Excellence, Miramar Group of Companies, Casameza Burundi, Ada Lab, Utility Partners, and Kipeto Energy.
Jane has worked in the field of International Development for 35 years, having begun her career at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1985 where she worked in various capacities ranging from Project Accountant, Contract Specialist, Global Development Alliance Specialist and Program Development Specialist.
While at USAID, Jane led the process of co-creating programs such as: Equity Bank Group’s Wings to Fly, EquiAfia, YETU Initiative with The Aga Khan Foundation, USAID/Deloitte YALI (Young African Leadership Initiative) among others. At USAID, she served in both the Kenya and the Regional Offices.
In 2015, Jane joined KCB Group as the Managing Director of the Bank’s development arm; KCB Foundation. She also served as a board member of the Foundation and as an Executive Committee Member (ExCo) of the Bank. At the Foundation, Jane executed multiple award winning programs, including her brainchild 2jiajiri; a job and wealth creation program seeking to skill Africa’s youth for self-employment across five East African Nations where the Bank had a presence. The Program focused on six economic sectors namely; Agriculture, Construction, Automotive, Beauty and Personal Care, Hospitality, Information Technology and Creative Arts.
Under Jane’s leadership, the program invested over KES 2.6 billion for the skilling and up-skilling of 36,706 beneficiaries across the country. 11,564 individuals accessed Business Development Support, 4,391 new businesses were established and loans worth KES 145 million were disbursed to beneficiaries.
Jane also has extensive expertise in the area of Global Fundraising. In 2019, she successfully led the Foundation in raising USD 125 million for the 2jiajiri/Young Africa Works Program.