CAROLINE KAUA – DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND TRADE

Dr. Caroline Kaua is an accomplished professional with over fifteen years of experience in agribusiness, manufacturing, quality management, MSME development, export development, and sustainability. A Certified Food Safety Auditor, she has implemented international food safety standards that opened global markets for Kenyan products. She is widely recognized for driving value addition, strengthening manufacturing processes, building institutional capacity, and advancing enterprise competitiveness through innovation, market linkages, and sustainable development.

She has worked across the private sector, public service, and cooperative movements, consistently delivering transformative results in enterprise and agribusiness development. Currently, she serves as the Director of Business Development, Marketing, and Trade at the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA). In this role, she leads enterprise innovation and incubation, policy development, market linkages, and the promotion of decent workplaces. She also spearheads capacity building and development programs, advances MSME cluster development, drives business development initiatives, and supports enterprise formalization, while steering MSEA’s strategic programs nationwide.

Academically, Dr. Kaua earned her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Entrepreneurship from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (2021). She also holds a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship from the same institution (2015) and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Nairobi (2005).

Her professional journey reflects a wide range of leadership roles. From 2016 to 2024, she served as Operations Manager at Sasini Fruits and Nuts EPZ Ltd. Before that, she was a Business Development Officer in the County Government of Murang’a (2014–2016). From 2008 to 2014, she worked with the Ministry of Agriculture as District Monitoring & Evaluation Officer and Agribusiness Officer. Earlier, she served as Regional Coordinator for the Mt. Kenya Region at the Kenya National Federation of Farmers (2006–2008).

Dr. Kaua has significantly contributed to policy and community service by implementing value chain programs, supporting SMEs through market access, and promoting sustainability in agriculture. She has advanced women and youth empowerment through cooperative development, mentorship, and inclusive employment initiatives. As a Fellow of the African Research and Impact Network, she supports evidence-based policy and research for sustainable development.

She summarizes her professional ethos: “I believe in enterprise as a catalyst for inclusive growth where innovation, sustainability, quality management, and customer focus create lasting impact.”