The African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Precious Wilson Nkandu as Chief Operating Officer, bringing nearly two decades of cross-continental leadership experience in strategy, operations, resource mobilisation, and impact investment.
Nkandu joins AVPA at a pivotal time as the organisation continues to advance its mission of mobilising capital for social impact across Africa. She brings a wealth of expertise garnered from executive roles across Africa, Europe, and the United States, making her uniquely positioned to drive operational excellence and strategic growth at AVPA.
Previously, Nkandu served as CEO of Baobab Circle Limited, where she successfully transformed the organisation’s business and revenue model and pivoted from 74% grant reliance to 69% commercial revenue. Under her stewardship, Baobab Circle secured pre-Series A funding and expanded its operations into Rwanda.
She was also the founding CEO of the Africa Infrastructure Development Association (AfIDA), where she institutionalised the organisation, developed a sustainable membership model, and engaged key government ministries on regulatory matters. Additionally, in previous roles, Nkandu facilitated investment exchanges corralling Institutional investors, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds with over $1 trillion in assets under management, resulting in more than $300 million invested across Africa.
Dr. Frank Aswani, CEO of AVPA, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Nkandu to the AVPA leadership team. Her extensive experience and impressive track record across multiple impact sectors make her an exceptional addition to our organisation. I am confident that her leadership will significantly strengthen our operations as we continue to scale our impact across Africa.”
Nkandu’s impact extends beyond finance. Her leadership has consistently delivered increased efficiency, high performance teams, revenue growth, and strategic partnerships across sectors, including infrastructure, mining, healthtech, venture capital, private equity, and capital markets.
Commenting on her appointment, Nkandu said: “I am excited to join AVPA at a time when impact-driven investment is more critical than ever. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen AVPA’s role in mobilising capital and fostering strategic partnerships for social impact across Africa.”
Nkandu holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool Management School and professional certifications in investor relations and financial management. She has served on several boards and advisory committees, lending her expertise to organisations focused on sustainable, impact-driven development.