Director of Programs, Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA).

Jennifer Nyakinya is the Director of Programs at the Network of Impact Evaluation Researchers in Africa (NIERA), a pan-African non-profit organization dedicated to advancing decision-focused evaluations of development programs across Africa. Jennifer oversees NIERA’s policy engagement, research and evidence programs, and strategic partnerships, bringing over a decade of experience in international development. She is deeply committed to leveraging data and evidence to inform policy reforms and promote sustainable economic growth across the continent. Jennifer also serves as a co-investigator and leads the research and learning agenda for a randomized experiment aimed at improving employment outcomes for Kenyan youth in the creative sector, focusing on documenting and sharing key lessons with stakeholders. Previously, she worked as a Programme Specialist at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Kenya), managing a diverse portfolio of research grants for the FCDO’s A+ East Africa Research Fund. Passionate about mentorship, Jennifer volunteers with the Global Give Back Circle, guiding teenage girls toward leadership.