Dr. Kofi Essien is a seasoned Ghanaian development professional with over two decades of experience in NGO leadership, strategic partnerships, sustainable community development, and resource mobilization. A trailblazer in financial inclusion and rural transformation, Dr. Essien has successfully mobilized millions in funding through multi-country campaigns, donor engagement, and cross-sectoral collaborations. He served as the Director of Partnership Building & Resource Mobilization at The Hunger Project-Ghana, where he led groundbreaking fundraising strategies that increased donor contributions by over 40% and secured partnerships with global institutions such as IFAD, USAID, BMZ, Microsoft, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Essien has a strong academic foundation, holding a PhD in NGO Studies and Sustainable Community Development, an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship, and a BSc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Cape Coast. He also holds professional certifications in grant writing, climate change, financial management, and credit risk. His work has directly empowered over 10,000 women entrepreneurs and supported MSMEs through training, lending products, and inclusive development models.

Passionate about creating resilient communities, Dr. Essien has designed and implemented multi-sectoral programs integrating agribusiness, climate adaptation, and grassroots capacity building. He has also held leadership positions in rural banks and financial institutions, where he led credit portfolios, developed agricultural finance products, and managed large-scale economic empowerment projects

Dr. Essien is affiliated with the Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists, the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Climate Coaching Africa, and the Philanthropy Forum-Ghana. His lifelong commitment is to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for underserved communities across Africa and beyond.