Sakina MandandaDirector of Financial Products, Agriculture Finance

Sakina Mandanda serves as the Director of Financial Products for Opportunity International's Agriculture Finance program, leading the identification and hiring of financial institutions committed to building agricultural lending portfolios to significantly increase the value of capital released in key agricultural value chains across Africa. Sakina and her team provide technical assistance services and innovative financial instruments to financial service providers promoting access to capital to smallholder farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth.

A seasoned banker, Sakina started her career with First Capital Bank Malawi in 1998 before joining Opportunity International Bank Malawi in 2003. At Opportunity, Sakina served in all critical areas of the bank and rose through the ranks to the highest levels of leadership as Chief Agricultural Officer and Chief Banking Operations. She transitioned from Opportunity Bank Malawi to a regional role, initially as a Regional Risk Advisor and currently as the Director of Financial Products, Agriculture Finance.

A fellow banker with the Institute of Bankers in South Africa, Sakina has 19 years of financial services experience. She holds a Master's in Business Administration from ESAMI (East & Southern Africa Management Institute), a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from ShareWORLD Open University, and a Certified Expert in Agriculture Finance from the Frankfurt School of Business Management. She also holds a PRINCE2 Practitioner and Foundations Certification in Project Management.