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.
Peter J. George – Head of Advisory Services
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.
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.
Jeveta McDonald – Finance and Legal Officer
Jeveta has more than 10 years’ experience working on poverty reducing projects with a particular focus on HIV, Aids and education. She has a BA (hons) in Political Studies and has completed both the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course. 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, supporting the finance team and working on GVEP programmes.
Nathalie Rami - Business Development Manager
Nathalie is our Business Development Manager and has an MSc in Finance from the University of Strathclyde. Prior to joining GVEP she worked as a Project Development and Grant Manager for a NGO in Haiti on project related to water and sanitation, health and energy and was involved in supporting the fund raising capacity. She also worked as a finance consultant for an NGO in Ethiopia. Prior to that Nathalie has worked for three years as an Analyst for Morgan Stanley in the UK and then for a hedge fund in Paris. Native French, she is fluent in English and has a good knowledge of Spanish and Arabic.
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
Laure Ego – Communications Manager
With a communication and marketing background, and 6 years of experience in the private sector in Export/Marketing/Communication dpt, Laure joined GVEP in 2004 in the UK as communication officer. Back to France in 2007, she kept on working remotely for the organization coordinating the francophone communications and supporting the francophone programmes. More recently, she’s sharing the Communications Manager 's position with Alessandra. She is in charge of coordinating the GVEP communications programmes and works on improving the internal communication of the organisation.
Annabel Homer - Communications Officer
Anabel is our Communications Officer and supports GVEP’s Francophone media relations in West Africa. She has a BA (hons) degree in French with Sociology from the University of Warwick and has worked as a Communications and Social Media Officer for a global development advocacy group in the UK. In 2011 Annabel spent three months working for a human rights charity in Mauritius as a Communications and Research Intern. She speaks fluent French and has a good knowledge of Spanish.
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.
Stephen Munyao - Regional Business Mentor
Stephen Munyao joined GVEP International in 2012 as a regional business mentor under DEEP program. He is an accomplished, experienced and qualified professional banker with experience in the banking industry and specialization in Micro-finance as well retail loans having worked for 5 years in various capacities. Prior to joining GVEP, he was the Business Development Officer in K-rep Bank Ltd. Previously he had worked as a Unit Manager in Madison Insurance Co. and earlier on, he was a Credit officer in charge of credit in Equity Bank Ltd.
Stephen is a holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (B.ED) in Business Studies from Egerton University and currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).
Godfrey Sanga, Programme Manager CARE2
Godfrey Sanga has extensive experience in technical design, technology transfer, market studies and promotion, business development, financing, monitoring, evaluation and management of calls for proposal processes in the Southern and East Africa regions. Prior to joining GVEP, Godfrey worked with the Energy and Environment Partnership Programme in Johannesburg, South Africa, and TATEDO in Tanzania. He graduated with an MSc in Energy Systems Planning from the State University of Campinas in Brazil in 2005 and BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1999. His recent interest in renewable energy is on the development of small and micro enterprises as means to increase access to modern energy services.
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.
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
Laura Clough – Technical Specialist, East Africa Office
Laura joined GVEP in 2010 to provide technical support to the Developing Energy Enterprises Programme (DEEP). More recently, Laura has been leading the technical support GVEP offers to biomass related businesses including those making improved cookstove and biomass briquettes. Her work includes product testing, developing training materials, designing technical interventions and conducting market assessments and research. Laura graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Masters degree in Mathematical Engineering and has over 5 years’ experience working in technology related fields. She has previously worked as an engineer in the transmission and distribution of electricity for Alstom Grid and for technology company QinetiQ.
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.
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.
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.
Sammy Kitula - Business Development Services Coordinator
Sammy Kitula works with GVEP as a Business Development Services Coordinator. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management Studies from Moi University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Credit Management. Sammy has over 12 years of experience covering micro-lending, business development services and enterprise development for micro and small enterprises. Over this period, he has received training and gained proficiency in areas including rights based approaches, microfinance operations and participatory rural appraisal through cumulative hands-on experience in enterprise and community development. Sammy is also proficient in the implementation of informal financial models like the Grameen, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA)/ Savings for Internal Lending Communities (SILC), Rotational Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) and Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (SACCO). Before joining GVEP, he was working with the Aga Khan Foundation’s Coastal Rural Support Programme - Kenya.
Harrison Masiga - Renewable Energy Specialist for ESME
Harrison Masiga, a civil engineer with experience in development of dams and hydropower has previously worked at Runji & Partners Consultants, a Kenyan water infrastructure consultant as a Dam and Hydropower Engineer. Prior to that, Harrison worked with Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation, an Australian Engineering Consulting Firm as a Dam Engineer. At GVEP, Harrison works on providing technical support to energy SMEs within the East African region in the fields of solar, wind and small hydropower development.
Richard Kiggundu - Uganda Country Manager
Richard is a clean energy professional with vast experience and knowledge of the sustainable energy sub-sector. After graduating with a Masters degree in Energy and Environment Technology and Economics from City University, London he has worked extensively in the energy development sector in which period he has participated in and led the formulation of policies to promote the clean energy industry. Richard’s background is in the manufacturing industry where he has worked for 16 years in production and operations management. He has also been actively involved in promotion, marketing, business development and financial management of small and medium enterprises. Prior to joining GVEP Richard worked as an independent clean energy consultant.
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.
Julian Ongodia – Administrative Assistant
Julian’s role is to provide support to the Uganda team in the areas of technical support to entrepreneurs with respect to training and reporting, concept paper writing; activity planning, monitoring and evaluation, report analysis, HR matters and all documentation related to activity implementation. Prior to joining GVEP she worked as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with I-Network Uganda an IICD (The International Institute for Communication and Development) funded NGO that provides knowledge sharing and experience in application of ICT for development where she assisted to develop content for ICT for development projects in the areas of livelihood, governance and education. Julian holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics (Hons) from Makerere University-Kampala.
Catherine Nassonko - Outreach Officer
Catherine Nassonko is an Outreach Officer with GVEP International, promoting the use of Improved Cook Stoves (IICS) in schools by; Carrying out trainings on the usage of IICS, Linking the recruited schools to stove makers and to financial institutions plus Monitoring and Evaluation. Prior to joining GVEP, she worked with BRAC Uganda Microfinance Ltd and Partnership in Development as a Credit Officer reaching out to a number of people selling the Loan Product through Sensitization, Mobilization, Training, Loan disbursement and Monitoring loan repayment. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Education from Makerere University majoring in Economics.
Daniel A. Bwino - Technology Mentor
Daniel is a graduate from Makerere University with a Bsc. in Agricultural Engineering and has got experiences in Bioenergy Technology. He is in charge with Cookstove and Briquette entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their products and capacity. Before joining GVEP International, he worked with Uganda Stoves Manufacturers Limited (UGASTOVE), as a Product Development Engineer and also at the Center for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC)-Makerere University, a Regional Stove Testing Center as a Bioenergy Technician in charge of assessing cookstoves design technologies, stove performance testing, researching and training on the use of efficient renewable energy technologies.
Barbra Nafula - Outreach Officer
Barbra holds a Bsc. Degree in Accounting and Finance from Kyambogo University. She is currently promoting the use of improved cookstoves in schools by connecting them with stove producers and financial institutions, and responsible, in carrying out trainings on the usage and the economic benefits of using improved biomass technologies. Prior to joining GVEP International,she worked with IBM Uganda as a Team Leader supporting the Customer Service Department of Airtel Uganda. She also worked with Standard Chartered Bank Uganda as a Branch Catchment Optimization Officer responsible for bringing in new and existing clients to the bank, selling and loan disbursement to clients interested in the credit facility.
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.
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.
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.
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