Catherine Kiama
Catherine Kiama is the Director of Programs & Impact at She’s the First, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that girls everywhere are educated, respected, and heard. In her leadership role, Catherine oversees program strategy, implementation, and impact measurement across diverse countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Nepal, and Guatemala. Her work focuses on creating sustainable, community-based solutions that challenge systemic barriers to girls’ education and leadership.
With a background in gender development and social justice, Catherine has spent over a decade advocating for girls’ rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment. She is passionate about transforming traditional aid models into inclusive, girl-centered partnerships that prioritize local leadership and co-creation. Under her guidance, She’s the First has deepened its community engagement, improved the scalability of its programs, and developed tools that help girls build their confidence, access mentorship, and make informed life decisions.
Catherine is also a strong believer in intersectional feminism, amplifying voices of girls from marginalized backgrounds and ensuring their needs shape the solutions built for them. Her impact is seen not only in numbers but in the lived realities of girls who now have access to education, agency, and opportunity.
Catherine Kiama continues to lead with empathy, strategy, and unwavering belief in the power of girls.