Edith Makandi Wanjohi

Edith is the founder and director of Pearl Development Consulting. A seasoned human rights lawyer, International development practitioner, women leadership development facilitator and a Social entrepreneur with over 17 years’ experience. Expertise in innovative interventions of addressing and contributing to poverty reduction through policy, advocacy, empowerment, leadership and economic opportunity for women, youth and girls in Africa. Edith has overseen complex projects in highly political contexts including sensitive conflict
environments, governments, donors, corporates, communities, civil society actors in over 15 African Countries. Skilled in building cross cultural partnerships and facilitating
collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Edith has been instrumental in engaging traditional leaders and Chiefs in advocating for ending early child marriage in Africa. She has been engaging with Chiefs and traditional leaders in Zambia where they are champions in ending the harmful traditional practice. She led the development of Because I am a Girl campaign for Plan international region of Eastern and Sothern Africa between 2010 and 2013 and led the development of the UN joint program campaign 8 goals for Africa during the 2010 world cup held in South Africa. Edith was instrumental in the development of plan International global gender policy, strategy, implementation plan and gender equality training manual. She developed the
Gender program at Plan international, Graca Machel Trust and UNDP gender joint country office South Africa. She has supported the development of UNDAF for UNDP South Africa and Botswana.
Countries of experience: South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Senegal, Mozambique, Ghana and Angola. Edith’s passion for development work led her to setting up Pearl Development Consulting which supports organizations to identify and customize sustainable, implementable, measurable and cost effective practical solutions to make a lasting change and impact in Africa especially for women, youth and adolescent girls. Edith believes in Empowering, Equipping and Encouraging women, youth and adolescentgirls in Africa to achieve their full potential in Africa and beyond. Edith has been awarded several scholarships and fellowships in her area of work and has presented papers in several international, regional and national conferences and workshops. She holds a Master’s degree in law (human rights).