Danilo Desiderio is a senior trade and integration adviser and scholar specializing in African economic integration, customs modernization, and trade facilitation. He is a Senior Associate at the HESPI’s Kenya regional office.

Danilo holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Salerno (1999) and completed post-graduate studies in international trade, finance, and industrialization policies. He is proficient in English and French, enabling him to navigate complex African and international contexts.

With over 20 years of experience, Danilo has advised and trained government and regional institution officials, trade practitioners and academic audiences on trade policy, customs modernization reform, rules of origin frameworks, and coordinated border management practices, helping to advance trade facilitation, regulatory alignment, and regional integration. His work spans more than 30 countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia, through assignments commissioned by major multilateral institutions including the World Bank, African Development Bank, EU Commission and United Nations as well as other international cooperation agencies.

As a seasoned customs and trade attorney, Danilo was admitted to the Italian bar in 2003 and has held prominent advisory roles, including as a member of the Italian National Committee for Trade Facilitation, Acquis Communautaire expert at the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers (Department for EU Policies), and customs and trade advisor to the National Council of Customs Brokers, the professional regulatory body for providers of customs clearance services in Italy. He is also the founder and CEO of Desiderio Consultants Ltd., a Nairobi-based consultancy and think tank providing strategic and technical assistance to governments and regional organizations across Africa on customs modernization, trade facilitation, and economic integration initiatives.

Danilo is the author of seven books and numerous articles and papers on trade, customs regulation, and economic integration. His work bridges theory and practice, focusing on implementing complex reforms through practical, enforceable policies that deliver measurable impact, while drawing on rigorous academic research to guide strategy and execution. Recent engagements include the Horn of Africa Initiative and assessments of national customs legislation for compliance with international standards, WTO rules, and regional frameworks including the AfCFTA, demonstrating his ability to combine technical expertise with strategic regional insight.