At Mthente, she is currently the Programme Manager and one of Mthente’s senior researchers, responsible for overseeing the wide range of projects undertaken by Mthente and ensuring that the client’s needs and objectives are met. Before moving into this role, she was an Associate of Mthente and conducted a socio-economic analysis of the Eastern Cape for the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC). Her experience and previous research were invaluable on this project as the focus of her PhD thesis was on the investment climate of African economies.

Previously, Birungi worked for eight years with Shell in various capacities before starting a consulting company in 2005. She has since designed a number of SMME development programmes in South Africa. She is passionate about enhancing individual potential through her work in order to create social change. Her consulting company worked with provincial governments, non-profit organisations and development finance institutions in South Africa. Some of her clients included Swisscontact South Africa and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape. She has also been a part-time lecturer for Finance at the University of the Western Cape.