LOISE MAINA
Loise Maina is a seasoned gender and women’s empowerment leader with over 18 years of global experience advancing gender equality and social inclusion across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and South Asia. She currently serves as Lead Technical Specialist – Gender and Social Inclusion at IFAD, where she provides strategic technical leadership across IFAD’s project portfolio to promote inclusive and sustainable rural development.
Loise has worked extensively with local and international NGOs and UN agencies, leading transformative programmes in women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, inclusive trade, sustainable energy access, and climate-resilient agriculture. Her career includes global leadership roles with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Practical Action, UN Women, and Women for Women International.
She holds a Master of Arts in Gender and Development from the University of Nairobi and a Master of Science in Organizational Development from United States International University, and has received Global GenderPro certification from George Washington University.
Loise joined the RefuSHE Board in April 2021, bringing deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to advancing the rights, education, and leadership of refugee and displaced girls.