Norbert Rakiro
CHIEF OF PARTY FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES, GLOBAL FUND GRANT, SOMALIA
Dr Norbert Rakiro assumed the role of Chief of Party for Infectious Diseases (Global Fund Grant) on 1 August 2024 and is based in Mogadishu, Somalia. A Kenyan national, Dr Rakiro began his career in 2000 with the Ministry of Health in Kenya, where he served in various capacities including physician, hospital superintendent, District Medical Officer of Health (DMoH) for Kwale, Kilifi, and Busia districts, and Provincial AIDS/STI Coordinator (PASÇO) for the Coast Province.
In 2006, he joined AMREF as the National Anti-Retroviral Therapy Adherence Project Manager, followed by a role at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) East Africa Zone Office as a Health Officer. He went on to serve as Child Health Technical Advisor with JSI, supporting the Ministry of Health’s Child Health Division, and later held the position of Assistant Director for Human Resources for Health (HRH) and Community Health Systems at IntraHealth International under the Capacity Kenya Project.
Dr Rakiro was subsequently appointed Technical Director and Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID-funded HRH project, Funzo Kenya. In 2015, he joined PwC’s health management consulting team, providing assurance services to Global Fund and Gavi investments across Eritrea, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, and Zambia.
He has also served as Chief of Party for the USAID CMLAP project with Palladium, close-out Chief of Party for the USAID ESPS project with IBTCI, and was the founding Principal for the Public Health Practice in Africa at IQVIA. In 2019, Dr Rakiro joined Gavi as Senior Country Manager for Malawi, Lesotho, and Zambia, and later oversaw the Eastern Europe and Central Asia portfolio. Most recently, he served as a Senior Public Health Expert with PwC.
Dr Rakiro is a qualified physician and public health specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Nairobi, a Master of Public Health (MPH), and postgraduate training in Emergency Preparedness and Response from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.