OLBIOS REGIONAL DIRECTOR WEST AFRICA

Desiree Zwanck is a Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist. She has fourteen years of experience combatting gender-based violence, empowering under-served populations and building resilient livelihoods.

Having worked with the IFC, the World Food Programme, IFAD, GIZ and others, she holds senior-level expertise in context analysis, policy and strategy development, project management and multi-stakeholder coordination.

Throughout her work, she has integrated  participatory methodologies, climate-smart agricultural technologies and digital solutions that foster financial and value chain inclusion especially for women and girls. She is specifically keen on harnessing the power of private sector engagement for transformative and sustainable change.

Desiree is currently based in Dakar, Senegal where she works as an independent consultant, volunteers for community projects and raises her three sons. She is fluent in German, English and French and has intermediary skills in Kiswahili and Spanish.