Ben Good – CEO
Ben Good is an engineer with 20 years’ experience in the renewable energy and utility sectors. He has undertaken a range of senior operational, commercial, financial, and corporate finance roles with various businesses and projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Ben joined GVEP from D1 Oils plc, the UK-listed renewable energy business with interests in India and southern Africa, where he was CEO. He has a degree in Engineering, Economics and Management from Oxford University.
Simon Collings – Chief Operations Officer
Simon Collings has worked in the development sector for more than 20 years. He was at Oxfam for sixteen years then moved in 2003 to become CEO of Resource Alliance a non-profit working to strengthen the fundraising capacity of civil society organisations globally. Simon joined GVEP from Resource Alliance in March 2009. He has a particular interest in business based solutions and social investment models. Simon has travelled widely and has worked with non-profit, public and private sector organisations in a variety of international contexts.
Kavita Rai – Programme Manager
Kavita Rai has over 15 years of experience working in the field of energy and has a Phd in Development Studies. She has been involved for many years in promoting grass roots projects to ensure long-lasting access to clean energy. She also holds a close interest in linking poverty to energy policy development. Prior to joining GVEP, she performed various international consultancies in renewable energy and social development. Kavita is responsible for running GVEP’s regional programmes and works closely with project implementers, private sector companies and partners.
Nimrod Nyakanyanga – Finance and Procurement Manager
Nimrod Nyakanyanga is a qualified accountant with over 20 years’ experience in both the private and the not-for profit sectors, with six of these years spent in International Development in different capacities. He has worked with people from different backgrounds in the developing world, setting up monitoring and reporting systems for new offices and major grants. Nimrod is a member of the Association Chartered Certified Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators and he is responsible for GVEP’s financial management, reporting and procurement.
Alessandra Moscadelli – Communications Manager
Alessandra Moscadelli is a communications professional with over 10 years experience in delivering effective strategies and campaigns. Prior to joining GVEP she worked for a range of human rights, development and grassroots organisations. She also directed independent participatory multimedia projects in Latin America, India and the UK. Alessandra is responsible for delivering and managing the GVEP communications programme. She is particularly interested in shaping online strategies to engage with audiences and in building awareness and engagement of energy stakeholders through digital media and online networks.
Jeveta McDonald – Finance and Legal Officer
Jeveta McDonald has a BA (hons) Politics and the Graduate Diploma in Law. Since 1999 Jeveta has been involved in various poverty reducing projects which have mainly focused on HIV and Aids and education. Jeveta has spent a considerable amount of time working abroad, particularly within the Caribbean region. Most recently Jeveta has worked as a European Affairs Trainee for the civil service in Spain and also for a Private Equity firm based in central London. Jeveta is responsible for contracts, undertaking legal research and supporting the finance team as well as working on GVEP programmes.
Peter J. George – Manager, Energy Finance and Business Development
Prior to joining GVEP in 2010, Peter George was an associate at ArcLight Capital Partners, a $6.7 Billion energy-focused private equity firm based in Boston. He was involved in transactions with companies throughout the energy sector including upstream and midstream oil and gas, as well as conventional and renewable power generation. Prior to ArcLight, he was a senior investment banking analyst in the Global Energy & Power Group at Merrill Lynch. He was on the Dean’s List and received his Bachelors of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Mayda Bakri – Francophone Communications Officer
Mayda Bakri is a communications professional with a sound multimedia background. She supports GVEP’s francophone communications activities including the maintenance and development of the francophone website, the implementation of the social media and email marketing strategies. She works closely with West African networks and in close collaboration with the francophone Network, RIAED (International Network for Access to Sustainable Energies).
Bamba Fall – ESME (Energy SMEs) West Africa Manager
Prior to joining GVEP Bamba Fall has worked for Peace Corps, an American development agency, as Small Enterprise Specialist and for Root Capital an American NGO as the West Africa Investment Officer. He holds a Master in Economics and an International MBA. He is certified International Master Trainer in business training by the International Labor Organization. As the Energy SME Manager he is responsible for the implementation of the programme in West Africa.
Jasmien Bronckaers – SME (Energy SMEs) Development Specialist – West Africa
Prior to joining GVEP, Jasmien Bronckaers has worked as country coordinator in Senegal for the Rural Energy Foundation, focusing on rural electrification by working with local solar retailers. She has an MA in Commercial Engineering and an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development. As the Energy SME Development Specialist, she provides general business support and preparation for investment to SMEs in West Africa.
James Wakaba – Regional Manager for Africa
James Wakaba is an engineer by profession with 20 years industry and management experience. He spent 10 years working with organisations such as Unilever and Magadi Soda. James areas of interest are energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate change, and project finance. He has worked on energy projects ranging from community biomass substitution to power generation throughout Africa. Prior to joining GVEP, he was working on developing standards for energy efficiency in household appliances in Uganda.
R Mugo wa Karanja – Finance and Procurement Manager, East Africa and Manager of the Supporting Energy SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa Programme
R. Mugo wa Karanja is a senior financial management advisor, highly experienced at providing financial systems design and monitoring services throughout Kenya and other African countries. He has headed both KPMG’s Information Technology and Accounting Services Departments and is considered an expert in accounting for multi-donor projects, as well as implementing computerised accounting systems. He has extensive expertise and experience in development within the East Africa region, and has worked with a wide range of partners including USAID, SIDA, World Bank, UNDP and Slovak Aid. Robert Mugo works as Finance and Procurement Manager in GVEP's Nairobi Office.
Daniel Macharia – DEEP Programme Manager, East Africa Region
Daniel Macharia has over 8 years of experience in renewable energy for development. He has worked for Energy for Sustainable Development Africa (ESDA) and IT Power Eastern Africa, both leading international energy consulting firms. In the latter he was managing multiple energy projects at national and international level. His practice focuses on rural energy access, capacity building and enterprise development. He is also experienced in resource assessment, climate change and primarily on small scale CDM projects, development of energy training modules, undertaking feasibility studies, energy policy analysis and impact monitoring and evaluation. He joined GVEP in the capacity of Regional Project Manager in GVEP's Nairobi office.
Phyllis Kariuki – Financial Institution Support & Liaison Specialist
Phyllis Kariuki has over 10 years of experience in Microfinance both as a Technical expert, Consultant and Microfinance Practitioner. Prior to joining GVEP, she was working with the World Council of Credit Unions as Credit/Microfinance Specialist. She holds a Masters Degree in International Political Economy and a bachelor’s degree in Education. She is responsible for capacity building of financial institutions, strengthening the financial management capacity of energy SMEs, development of appropriate loan products and facilitating specific lending agreements.
Patrick Thaddayos Balla – Programme Manager, Energy SME Programme
As a Programme Manager, Patrick is responsible for overseeing the Energy SME programme under the World Bank administered Russian Trust Fund. He was previously with ADRA where he headed the Energy Programme in Somalia for almost six years. Prior to that, Patrick worked with Practical Action and IT Power and his experience in the energy sector spans more than 12 years that includes the design and implementation of small and micro hydropower programmes, energy efficiency and audits, modern biomass systems and climate change programmes especially in adaptation and mitigation. He has a Master’s of Science degree in International Environmental Science (Lund, Sweden) and Post Graduate training in Renewable Energy and Energy economics (Oldenburg, Germany).
Vincent Otieno – Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
Vincent has over 8 years’ experience in the NGO sector within the Eastern Africa region. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Mathematics-Statistics and Chemistry from Kenyatta University and a Master of Science in Demography from the University of Nairobi – Kenya. Prior to joining GVEP he worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Manager with the African Wildlife foundation (AWF) Eastern Africa Regional Office tackling household socioeconomics, poverty and alternative Livelihoods, climate change and community conservation. He has also worked in a range of Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV-AIDS related projects with a number of organizations funded by USAID-PEPFAR. His interests are in modelling population programmes in general for causality-effect relationships, including spatial analysis of program outcomes and household inequality determinants.
Rehema Kahurananga – Communications and Business Development Officer
Rehema brings over five years of Kenyan media experience, having most recently held the post of Deputy Editor for one of East Africa’s top-selling women’s magazines. Rehema has a BA in Communication and History Minor from Randolph College in the US. Before returning to East Africa in 2005, she interned in New York with the UN World Food Programme assisting the team in a fundraising capacity. She is particularly passionate about creating and maintaining effective internal and external communication within organisations.
James Maillu – Programme Operations Manager
James has 15 years of practical work experience in Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) development particularly with international development organisations in East and West Africa. He has specialised experience in business development services, designing, reviewing and implementing micro finance programmes as well as organisation capacity assessment and organisation development. Before joining GVEP, James was working with TechnoServe as a Senior Business Advisor. James has a BA in Economics from University of Nairobi and an MSc in Entrepreneurship from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He is in the process of completing a PhD in Entrepreneurship studies at JKUAT.
Richard Omondi - Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant
Richard has worked with various organisations across East Africa region including Text Book Centre (Kenya & Uganda), Wananchi Online (Kenya), Consultant for Effective Training (CET-Rwanda & Burundi), Seven Seas Technologies and Computer Pride. At GVEP, Richard is helping develop the database system for various programmes. He has also offered training to various clients, including the Government of Rwanda, Banque Populaire du Rwanda, Ericsson Kenya limited, Standard Group Kenya, the East African Community and UNHCR.
Aliya Anjarwalla - SME Development Specialist for East Africa
Aliya is an energy specialist with four years of experience in the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors. She joined GVEP from the global management consulting firm Accenture, where she worked as a consultant in their Energy Strategy division in London, advising companies across the energy industry on their business strategy. As the SME Development Specialist for East Africa, she provides business advice and support to Energy SMEs in the region. Aliya holds an MA in Geography from Oxford University.
David Disch – Sustainable Markets Advisor
David currently acts as the focal-point for GVEP's activities in Rwanda where he works with local hydro developers and solar companies under the Energy SME programme. More generally, he advises GVEP on climate change and carbon finance related work. Before starting with GVEP he acquired work experience in the German Ministry for the Environment and completed assignments for NGOs in Ghana and The Gambia. He's got a broad background in energy and environmental issues and holds an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London with a focus on international climate policy and carbon markets.
Hamish Ferguson – Intern, East Africa Office
Hamish is working with GVEP in Nairobi as part of a collaborative agreement with Engineers Without Borders UK. Hamish is an Engineering graduate from the University of Bristol, where his studies included renewable energy technologies. Prior to graduating he worked for 3 months in southern India under the auspices of IAESTE, carrying out research into improved agricultural technology and has previous experience working for the international development charity, Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad.
Ruth Wamugi – Finance Officer, East Africa Office
Ruth is GVEP Finance Officer for the East Africa office.She provides support to project partners and the Finance Manager, fulfilling donor financial reporting requirements as well as maintaining accurate and up to date financial records. Ruth previously worked at World Vision Kenya as a grant assistant and brings to the team experience in Finance and Administration, donor reporting, budget management and control, and a good understanding of donor regulations.
Laura Clough – Technical Liaison Officer, East Africa Office
Laura graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Masters degree in Mathematical Engineering and has previously worked as an engineer in the transmission and distribution of electricity. Laura is providing technical support to GVEP's Developing Energy Enterprises Programme (DEEP) and working to advance the energy technologies being supported by the programme.
Martina Mutunga – Programme Administrative Assistant, East Africa Office
Martina joined GVEP in October 2008 as the Programme Administrative Assistant.She provides support to the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator in data management and case study reviews. She previously worked as a Programme Administrator for a DFID funded project called Mwezi Kali, which was implementing capacity building and business development programmes for service providers in various parts of rural Kenya.
Musa Wamala – Country Business Development Expert
Musa Wamala is a Business Development Specialist with over 8 years of experience in business development services, particularly in SME BDS provision, competitive intelligence, data mining, business processes development, Business counselling, Sector diagnostic studies, Sales funnel analysis, Designing marketing concept, Sales proposals and preparation of strategic plans. In addition, he is experienced in baselines and document internal processes management, Business metrics analysis and its application to Mergers & Acquisition (M&A). Prior to joining GVEP, he worked as National Expert SME Advisory-Uganda under United Nation Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and also as a Small Business Advisor for EARC centres in 8 districts of Kenya under Kenya Ministry of Education-Strengthening of EARC program funded by DFID/VSO. He joined GVEP as the Country Business Development expert based in Uganda.
Wilson Mungwena – Renewable Energy Specialist
As a Renewable Energy Specialist, Wilson is responsible for analysing and advising on technical viability of projects being supported under the Energy Small and Medium Enterprises (ESME) programme. Wilson has more than 20 years of experience as a senior lecturer in Renewable Energy Engineering and Energy Management. He previously worked for the Ministry of Transport and Energy and the Zimbabwe Electricity Utility Company as an Engineer. Wilson has research interests in hydropower and wind resource assessment, cleaner production and wood based co-generation, solar Photovoltaic and energy efficiency.
Herbert Emmanuel Mwambu – Country Business Development Coordinator - Uganda
An accountant by profession, Herbert Mwambu’s experience includes the areas of microfinance and business development. He joined GVEP with a wealth of expertise, spanning 16 years working on MSMEs, project initiation, proposal writing and management, financial and credit management, microfinance best practices and strategic planning and research. Prior to joining GVEP, Herbert worked as Credit Manager & Finance & Administration Manager with Women’s Finance House Botswana. He has also worked with the UNDP and Government of Uganda funded Centre for Private Sector Development Ltd and Medecins du Monde, Uganda among others. Herbert holds Bachelor’s Degree of Commerce-Accounting (Hons) from Makerere University and is also a finalist student member of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).
Juliet Gibbs - Financial Institutions Support Officer
Her key role is in supporting the financial linkages team to implement and grow the Loan Guarantee Fund. She engages directly with financial institutions in developing energy related funding portfolio, linking them to energy entrepreneurs for working capital to grow their operations and fund their investment needs. Before joining GVEP, Juliet had been engaged in assignments in the field of Microfinance and SME development. In her career Juliet has progressed from Community conservation trainer, loans officer, trainer of trainers, advisor, consultant and University lecturer. She has supported the establishment of several community managed microfinance programs. Juliet brings to GVEP a wide range of development finance experience from India, Bangladesh, East and West Africa. She holds a Masters in Microfinance from the University of Bergamo – Italy; a Certificate in Sustainable Microenterprise Development from the Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire in the United States and a PGD in Universalising Socio-economic Security for the Poor from the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands.
Prior to join GVEP, Faustine was working with TaTEDO (Centre for sustainable modern energy initiatives) as Business Development Officer (BDO) where he supports rural energy entrepreneurs in getting better Business Development Services (BDS). Also he work with German development organization (ded) as a SME expert where he was coordinating the NGO TABIC (Tanga Business Information Center) in supporting SME’s to get better Business services. He has more than 3 years professional experience in business management and entrepreneurship development capacities especially in energy sector. He joined GVEP as a SME expert based in Tanzania in the field of business development services.
Helmut Nyoni – SME Expert for Lake Zone Tanzania
Prior to joining GVEP, Helmut was working with TaTEDO, Centre for Sustainable Modern Energy Initiatives as Business Development Officer, Team Leader in Northern Zone. He has experience in developing training program and materials and he has implemented training to energy entrepreneurs. He has supported entrepreneurs in preparation of business plans, facilitated net working sessions and business linkages to Financial Institutions and market access. A graduate in Business Administration, specializing in marketing management, he spent his first ten years in a leading media house in East Africa, Nation Media Group as Business Representative in Arusha Tanzania where he successfully built from the scratch the circulation and advertising market for the EastAfrican newspaper. Helmut Nyoni joined GVEP in July 2010 as a SME Expert for Lake Zone Tanzania based in Mwanza.
Henry Garcia – Regional Programme Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean
Henry Garcia worked for nine years at the Energy Planning Office of the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines. He worked as a Coordinator of Bioenergy and Food Security Program for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as well as a consultant in Renewable Energies for the European Union. Henry has a degree in Chemical Engineering with a major in solar energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and planning. Henry is responsible for the management of the GVEP Latina America and Caribbean Office and the development of new programs in the region.
Diana De La Vega – Colombia Country Manager
Diana de la Vega is a Colombian lawyer from Los Andes, with a Masters in American Literature and Language from Harvard University. She has experience working in the public sector of Colombia, having spent some time at the Ministries of International Affairs, the Environment and the Welfare Institute. She has also worked as a journalist for ELLE magazine, and as Spanish teacher at the prestigious Saint Albans School, while living in Washington D.C. Diana is GVEP's Colombia Country Manager and is also responsible for supporting the Regional Office in Peru.
Leighton Waterman – Caribbean Project Manager
Leighton has been working in the energy sector for 18 years in various capacities and is currently GVEP’s Caribbean Project Manager. Before joining GVEP, he worked as a Project Manager for the Sustainable Energy Framework for Barbados (SEFB) on behalf of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Previously, he was the Senior Project Officer at the CARICOM Secretariat, where he worked on the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (a UNDP funded project to reduce the barriers to renewable energy development across twelve CARICOM Member States and Cuba). Leighton is a graduate of the U.W.I. St. Augustine Campus in Chemical Engineering. He also attained a Post-graduate Diploma in Resource Management & Environmental Studies from U.W.I. Cave Hill. In 1996, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Urban Affairs & Public Policy with a concentration in Energy & Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware which he attended on a Fulbright Scholarship. In addition to this, he has a Master of Business Administration from Manchester Business School in the U.K.
English
Español
Français