A catalyst for organizational momentum, Roger Bird sees possibilities for growth and success where others may not. He produces results through innovative strategies, meticulous oversight, visionary leadership, and meaningful mentorship. He has been involved in finance and investments for more than 35 years, since his early career as an agricultural loan officer. His deeply held beliefs about the value and importance of farmers and agricultural communities that have driven his work, both in the US and globally. Roger’s expertise is in Agricultural Credit, Loan & Lease Portfolio Development, Project Management Risk Asset Management, Credit Administration, Value Chain Financing, Small Medium Enterprise (SME) and Private Sector Development, Financial Management, Strategic Planning, Motivational Leadership, Consensus Building, and Public Speaking. He has over 25 years of project leadership, operations, and financial investments in emerging markets. He is a senior manager and executive leader who has designed and delivered successful strategies that have turn ailing programs around, empowered teams for excellence, built consensus among stakeholders and delivers results. He has worked in Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Egypt), Asia (Bangladesh & Mongolia), Eastern Europe (Armenia, Bosnia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan), and Middle East (Jordan). Currently, Roger is the Chief of Party for the Kenya Investment Mechanism, a 5-year, $35 million USAID-funded activity that will mobilize $520 million of private sector investment to SMEs in Kenya and East Africa. The project activity supports infrastructure, energy, agriculture, regional trade, health, water and sanitation (WASH), and the U.S. Prosper Africa initiative. Roger provides overall strategic direction and leads a Kenyan team of 27. He manages all elements of the project including budget and milestone-based contract deliverables within the regulatory guidelines of USAID.Through the mobilization of capital and building partnerships between stakeholders in the financial ecosystem, Kenya Investment Mechanism supports USAID's overall goal of fostering broad-based, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth for Kenya.