Donald Onyoni is a seasoned finance and operations leader with more than two decades of experience managing complex, multi-million-dollar development programs across Africa and Asia. A devoted family man and self-described “citizen of the world,” Donald’s career sits at the intersection of financial governance, institutional strengthening, and social impact. Across his work, he has focused on ensuring that resources are mobilized, managed, and deployed in ways that create sustainable outcomes for local communities and a wide range of stakeholders.

​

Donald currently serves as Senior Manager, Finance at African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), a leading pan-African organization advancing gender equity and leadership in agricultural research and development. In this role, he provides strategic oversight of finance, procurement, contracts, and operational systems, supporting the delivery of multi-year, donor-funded programs. Since AWARD’s inception in 2008, Donald has played a central role in strengthening fiduciary controls, improving operational efficiency, and enabling program teams to focus on impact at scale. A key focus of his leadership has been building and empowering a high-performing operations team, allowing him to increasingly dedicate his time to strategic resource mobilization in a resource-constrained post-COVID funding environment.

​

Throughout his career, Donald has contributed to the conceptualization, resource mobilization, and management of large, complex, multi-sectoral projects. His experience spans international wildlife conservation initiatives, including the IUCN CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme across Africa and Asia; public health programs addressing HIV and tuberculosis with Columbia University’s International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) in Kenya; and investments in gender equality, agricultural research, climate change mitigation, and food systems across Africa through AWARD. These experiences have given him a rare cross-sector perspective on how strong financial and operational systems underpin effective, scalable, and accountable development work.

Donald’s professional philosophy is grounded in the belief that sound financial stewardship can be a powerful catalyst for social transformation. He is deeply motivated by initiatives that advance leadership development, gender equality, poverty eradication, food security, climate action, and the sustainable management of natural resources. Across these areas, he is known for his rigor, integrity, and collaborative leadership style.

​

Donald holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Eastern Africa, is ACCA-certified, and earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Project Management from the University of Wales. He has also completed executive and professional programs including Strategic Decision and Risk Management at Stanford University, Leading Organizations and Change at MIT Sloan EMERITUS, and the Certified Process and Performance Professional program at the African Process & Performance Institute.

​

Beyond his professional roles, Donald is a committed volunteer board member and advisor to several mission-driven organizations. He serves on the board of the Creative Action Institute and provides strategic guidance to grassroots African organizations, including Yazua Afrika, which focuses on creating supportive environments for African boys.

​

Through his work and service, Donald continues to contribute to building resilient institutions and ensuring that development resources deliver lasting and meaningful impact.