Biography
Dr. Irene Banda (PhD) is a scholar, entrepreneur, strategist and financial services expert passionate about transformative solutions. With a corporate background in banking and microfinance, Irene has served as Global Executive Director of ECLOF International, as Africa Regional Director for Opportunity International, and as General Manager with Financial Sector Deepening Zambia, all helping to provide microfinance or stimulate financial markets to benefit the poor. Irene has founded TUCUZA Associates Limited, an export-oriented commercial agriculture business in Zambia that involves farmers in an out-grower scheme; and its subsidiary, FINCUZA Institute Limited, a research, training and consultancy entity for financial inclusion. Irene lectures in Marketplace Ministry at SATS and a variety of courses at Rhema Bible Training Centre in Zambia. She holds a PhD following research among urban and rural women in Zambia and Zimbabwe to determine how responding to their voices can inform useful and lasting livelihood solutions.