Senior Associate, HESPI Kenya

Danilo Desiderio is a Senior Associate at HESPI’s Kenyan office, bringing extensive expertise in international Trade, Finance, and Law. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Salerno (1999) and has pursued post-graduate studies in international trade and finance at the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade and MIDIFORM Business School. Proficient in English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, and basic Amharic, Danilo is adept at navigating complex international environments.

With over 20 years of experience, Danilo specializes in trade facilitation, customs modernization, and regional integration. His primary focus is on promoting and influencing trade policies across African nations, providing strategic insights, and capacity building to support trade reforms and regional integration efforts.Danilo’s career includes significant roles with major multilateral organizations and donors such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, EU Commission, and GIZ. He has consulted on trade policy and customs reforms in countries including Egypt, Ghana, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His major projects have centered on developing systems for rules of origin, implementing trade policy reforms, and modernizing customs procedures, often collaborating with both government institutions and private stakeholders.

As a customs attorney specializing in customs and international trade law, Danilo has been admitted to the bar since 2003 and previously served on the Italian National Committee for Trade Facilitation. As CEO of Desiderio Consultants Ltd., he leads a network of independent consultants based in Nairobi, Kenya, providing technical assistance to governments and Regional Economic Communities in Africa. His work spans trade and transport facilitation, customs reforms, rules of origin, and One Stop Border Posts legislation.

Danilo's extensive experience includes roles as a trade and transport facilitation expert, customs policy expert, and team leader for international projects. He has implemented trade facilitation measures, aligned national customs legislation with international standards, and delivered training across Europe, Asia, and Africa. His scholarly contributions include six books and over 100 articles on international trade and customs regulation, published globally.Danilo’s expertise is internationally recognized, demonstrated by his advisory role with the Transport Evolution Forum and his recent work with SAFEGE Belgium and Economic Integration Forum Inc. His recent projects include the Horn of Africa Initiative and assessing customs laws in Bangladesh.