Anne Gachoka

Anne Gachoka

Consulting Associate

Anne is a User Experience Professional with over 15 years of experience leading and managing complex qualitative and quantitative research projects across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. She specializes in user-centered research that drives inclusive, gender-responsive innovation, ensuring that products, services, and programs are grounded in the real needs and lived experiences of the people they are designed to serve.

With a strong foundation in Human Centered Design (HCD), Anne designs and executes comprehensive research studies, from generative discovery to evaluative testing, across diverse sectors including financial inclusion, social impact, women’s economic empowerment, enterprise development, and fragile communities. She is particularly skilled in uncovering deep user insights, synthesizing them into clear and actionable strategies, and translating them into compelling narratives that inform design and influence decision-making.

Anne’s approach to research is rooted in empathy and storytelling, building rich, evidence-based user stories that help clients and partners think strategically and connect meaningfully with the communities they serve.

She holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from Makerere University and completed the Strategic Management Executive Program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Publications by this author

Strengthening livelihoods: The Milk-to-Market program

Strengthening livelihoods: The Milk-to-Market program

In Samburu County, Kenya, an innovative partnership is transforming both wildlife conservation and women’s livelihoods through an unexpected connection:...

By Maha Khan
Transaction product mystery shopping in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa: What are the unexpected barriers and experiences customers might face?
Digital Financial Services |

Transaction product mystery shopping in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa: What are the unexpected barriers and experiences customers might face?

This is the third case study in our report, ‘Inclusion and Your Bottom Line’, which outlines a new mixed-method...

By Shirley Mburu
Imagining Post-COVID recovery
Livelihoods and Microenterprise |

Imagining Post-COVID recovery

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, July 10, 2020  How Financial Diaries families imagine reconstructing their income streams...

By Julie Zollmann
Assessing the impact of tech-enabled urban mobility
PAYGo and Essential Services |

Assessing the impact of tech-enabled urban mobility

Affordable and safe mobility is an essential service, enabling people to access goods and services, education and employment opportunities,...

By Jacob Winiecki
Corona Case Studies: Running out of options
Livelihoods and Microenterprise |

Corona Case Studies: Running out of options

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, June 12, 2020  After three months of Covid-19 restrictions, Jennifer’s economic options...

By Julie Zollmann
Corona Case Studies: ‘Waiting for nothing’
Livelihoods and Microenterprise |

Corona Case Studies: ‘Waiting for nothing’

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, June 12, 2020  Agnes, 45, lives in rural Makueni with her children...

By Julie Zollmann
Back to an empty market
Livelihoods and Microenterprise |

Back to an empty market

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, June 10, 2020  Desperate for income, many Diaries respondents have gone back...

By Julie Zollmann
The buck stops with women
Gender Finance |

The buck stops with women

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, April 30, 2020  How Kenyan mothers are keeping food on the table through...

By Anne Gachoka
If the coronavirus doesn’t kill you…
Livelihoods and Microenterprise |

If the coronavirus doesn’t kill you…

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, April 21, 2020  Kenyans’ reflections on security in the time of Covid-19...

By Julie Zollmann
“Our love has grown more”
Livelihoods and Microenterprise |

“Our love has grown more”

Originally posted on the FSD Kenya Website, April 21, 2020  Coronavirus disruptions are giving some Kenyan women a reprieve...

By Julie Zollmann