Episodes
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InfraCo Africa is one of the few financiers that provides equity investments in large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa. Typically investing in projects in the early stages of their development, all the way through construction and operational stages.
So far, Infraco has invested over $300 million into projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting 39 projects and businesses and mobilizing over $1.5 billion. In this episode, Gilles -the group's former CEO, will talk to us about their investment mandate, the theory behind the operating model, and the notable projects that InfraCo Africa has been involved in; including the CLEAR fund which achieved its first close of $200 million and aims to close the fund at $400 million raised to invest in sustainable infrastructure projects in Africa.
Guest BioBefore being appointed as the Private Infrastructure Developement Group's CIPDO (Chief Investment and Project Development Officer), Gilles served as CEO of InfraCo Africa for nearly 5 years, joining InfraCo Africa from Engie. With over 20 years of experience working in the private sector in the manufacturing and energy industries, Gilles’ expertise ranges from engineering, operations, and project development to strategy, business development, and investments. Gilles is passionate about socioeconomic development models that improve living standards while not compromising environmental sustainability. He has a diploma in Civil Engineering from the Catholic University of Louvain and an MBA from George Washington Business School.
Learn more about PIDG | InfraCo Africa
Connect with Gilles
For feedback and inquiries please reach out to the podcast team: [email protected]
The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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Recorded live during the Energy Access Investment Forum in May, this 2 part mini-series covers the African Mini-Grid Program (AMP). The AMP is a USD 50 million country-led technical assistance program designed to stimulate the solar-battery mini-grids market to boost electricity access in 21 countries, its mission is to enhance economic development and improve livelihoods through increased financial investment and innovative business models.
For feedback and inquiries please reach out to the podcast team: [email protected]
The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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Missing episodes?
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Nico joins us this week to share from his two decades of experience deploying Decentralized Renewable Energy projects, consulting governments on off-grid electrification policy, and what the emerging trends mean for financiers looking into Sub-Saharan Africa.
This episode has already been published on "The Mini-Grid Business" podcast hosted by Nico. You can listen to an exclusive part 2 linked here.
Guest Bio:
Nico is the CEO, and co-founder of Inensus - a consultancy with over 15 years of experience supporting Decentralized Renewable Energy projects and policy in Africa and Asia. He holds a degree in Power Systems Engineering from Clausthal University of Technology, Germany.
Nico has more than 16 years of professional experience in the mini-grid sector, advising development banks, governments, and investors on setting up rural electrification programs. He co-developed the award-winning MicroPowerEconomy business and risk management model for solar mini-grid electrification and the rural industrialization concept The KeyMaker Model. Nico is a juror for the German Innovation Award for Climate and Environment and a lead juror for the European Business Awards for the Environment. He is based in Goslar and speaks German and English.
Learn more about Inensus
Connect with Nico
For feedback and inquiries please reach out to the podcast team: [email protected]
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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Arnergy is a renewable energy company providing solar solutions to residential and commercial customers. Combined, Arnergy has raised $12M in a Series A and bridge round and is now gearing up for a big Series B fundraiser. In this episode, we speak with the company's CFO, James Fabola Jr., about operating in a difficult market and exciting growth opportunities.
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How These 2 RE Companies Raised $10.5M : Femi Adeyemo & Chuks UmezuloraArnergy, which provides solar power systems to homes and businesses in Nigeria, raises $3MNigerian energy startup, Arnergy, raises $9m in Series A financingGuest Bio:
James Fabola Jr. is the Chief Financial Officer at Arnergy. He is an investment and corporate finance professional with ten (10) years of experience in fundraising, due diligence, transaction structuring, portfolio monitoring, and transaction advisory.
Before Arnergy, James worked in several investment roles with Persistent Energy, Norfund (Norway’s DFI)., Synergy Capital Managers, and Development Partners International (DPI). In these roles, he led transactions across various sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, e-commerce, power, consumer goods & services etc.
James has an MBA from Insead, France, and an M.Sc in Finance and Management from Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom. He also has a Bachelor of Technology degree in Information Technology from the Bells University of Technology.
Learn more about Arnergy
Connect with James
For feedback and inquiries please reach out to the podcast team: [email protected]
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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SolarAid is an international development charity working alongside communities in the most rural and hard-to-reach areas of sub-Saharan Africa to tackle poverty and the climate crisis through access to clean, safe solar lights. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 7, which advocates for universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, SolarAid is dedicated to combating global poverty and climate change by providing rural communities with access to solar lighting. As the parent organization, SolarAid wholly owns SunnyMoney, the largest distributor of solar lights across Africa. Established by Solarcentury, a UK-based solar energy company, SolarAid endeavors to illuminate every household, educational institution, and medical facility in Africa with safe and clean solar energy by 2030. Operating primarily through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, SolarAid serves communities in Zambia and Malawi, while also collaborating with partners in Uganda and Senegal in West Africa.
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Every light has a Story: Stories of impact and empowerment at SolarAidCan Energy-as-a-Service be a solution to sub-Sahara’s energy-related health crises?Off-grid solar repair in Africa: from burden to opportunityGuest Bio:
In 2000, John Keane relocated to rural Tanzania as a volunteer, experiencing firsthand the hardships of living without electricity and relying on hazardous candles and kerosene lanterns for illumination. This encounter ignited his dedication to transforming this dire situation, prompting him to embark on a professional journey dedicated to effecting change across Africa. Through establishing solar projects, enterprises, and fostering innovation, John has been instrumental in addressing this pressing issue. With various roles at SolarAid and SunnyMoney, he has played a pivotal role in positively impacting the lives of over 12 million individuals.
Learn more about Solar Aid
Connect with John Keane
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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GridCrux is a technology and power infrastrucure company that develops, engineers, finances and deploys alternative energy solutions to the unserved and underserved segments of the African continent. The company's solutions leverage existing technology, primarily multiple energy management systems, as a means of delivering optimized energy solutions and carbon reduction imperatives with a fine blend of innovative financing solutions as a catalyst for rapid acceleration of energy access across Africa.
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GCWATT.COMGC Watt simplifies energy management for homes, businessesGrid Crux Unveils Seamless Credit Schemes to Reduce Energy BillsGrid Crux Energy Launches Low-Cost Energy SolutionsGuest Bio:
Mojola Ola is a proven energy professional with over a decade of leading energy infrastructure projects across West Africa. Mojola’s expertise cuts across energy management, energy efficiency, alternative energy systems, grid optimization, and automation solutions while having developed a credible track record in sales and business development to deliver organizational growth.
Previous roles include ABB, Foster Wheeler Energy, and most recently Director of Marketing, Business Development and Access to Energy at Schneider Electric covering Anglophone West Africa. Mojola has a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from Loughborough University and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Learn more about GridCrux
Connect with Mojola Ola
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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Odyssey's mission is to accelerate the clean energy transition in emerging markets. The Odyssey platform connects financiers, solar companies and equipment suppliers in one place to facilitate transactions, streamline processes and scale investment into distributed renewable energy. Financiers use Odyssey to source and manage deals, solar companies can access financing, equipment procurement and monitoring tools, and equipment suppliers use Odyssey to find new customers and streamline their sales process.
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NEoT and Odyssey partner to drive more capital to renewable energy assets in Sub Saharan AfricanResults-based financing at scale: How Odyssey's remote verification feature speeds up payments for renewable energy companiesFive things you should know about Nigerian exchange rate unificationGuest Bio:
Justin Tinsey is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the renewable energy sector, specializing in solar and storage solutions across various markets. Currently serving as Head of Procurement at Odyssey Energy Solutions, Justin has also held key roles such as Partner at Greentech Power Solutions and CEO of Solarquick, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership and business development skills. With a background in interdisciplinary studies from Michigan State University and a Master's degree in Global Development Policy from Boston University, Justin combines academic excellence with practical expertise. Justin is also certified in energy storage and photovoltaics, reflecting his commitment to staying at the forefront of industry advancements, especially within the most underserved geographies.
Learn more about Odyssey Energy Solutions
Connect with Justin Tinsey
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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Founded in 2010, Persistent Energy is Africa’s Climate Venture Builder and a leading investor. The company provides essential support including finance, strategic guidance, governance, technical and legal expertise to early-stage companies committed to creating sustainable impact. They have developed and deployed an interesting venture building model that fills in critical resource gaps for early-stage companies innovating across sustainable energy, mobility, agriculture, and circular economy.
This episode is presented by Okra Solar, to learn more about Okra visit okrasolar.com
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Lessons Learned: From Lending $600m to Off-Grid Energy CompaniesImpact Assessment at Persistent: A Report on our Metrics, Challenges and Vision Bridging the Gap to Commercial Success for Energy Access BusinessesGuest Bios:
Tobias Ruckstuhl is the Managing Partner of Persistent. Tobias brings extensive experience in investing and building companies in frontier markets, with over 10 years background of living and working in Sub-Saharan Africa, having spent large parts of his early youth in rural Africa and later worked in finance and logistics, and as an entrepreneur in Central Africa. He continued his career in Europe in management consulting at Accenture in Switzerland, a global consulting company, specializing in digital and technology consulting, and subsequently joined Persistent in early 2018. Tobias holds a Masters in International Affairs from the University of St. Gallen as well as a bachelor's in business & economics. He is also a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) charter holder.
Wairimu Karanja is Partner and Chief Legal Officer at Persistent Energy Capital LLC. She is dedicated to advancing Africa's sustainable development in renewable energy, climate impact, and gender inclusion. With over 12 years of legal experience, she specializes in energy and natural resources, infrastructure development, and private equity. Prior to her current role, Wairimu founded W&Co|Law & Policy and holds a Post-Graduate Master of Law (LLM Distinction) in Energy Law and Policy. She is actively involved in industry initiatives, including co-organizing the East Africa International Arbitration Conference, and is a member of various professional associations. Engaging in pro-bono advisory work, Wairimu contributes to sustainable development and mentors young professionals.
Learn more about Persistent
Connect with Tobias and Wairimu
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the eighth and final episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Henok Assefa - Founder and Managing Partner at PRECISE, and Dr. Paul Yillia - COO and Technical Advisor, TENN to find out how policy design and finance go hand-hand in ensuring that farmers in rural communities can afford their energy needs for their agricultural production.
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct) and produced in collaboration with Global SDG7 Hubs.
Guest Bios:
Henok Assefa is the Chief Executive Officer of Precise Consult International in Ethiopia and is also the founder and principal.
Paul T. Yillia (Dr. techn.) is a development consultant with expertise on cross-cutting issues and technical implementation of development programs at the water and energy nexus with climate, development, and social infrastructure (healthcare, livelihoods, education, agri-value, WASH, etc.). He is Senior Technical Advisor to the Chairman, of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (C-REF), Sierra Leone. Previously, he was the Programme Manager and Lead Policy Specialist on cross-cutting issues at Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the seventh episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Anshul Ojha - Founder and Principal anchor for the Desert Resource Center, and Ralph Roothaert - Principal Investigator of – Veggies 4 Planet & People (V4P&P) Project and Country Director – of Kenya Eastern and Southern Africa.
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct) and produced in collaboration with Global SDG7 Hubs
Guest Bios:
Anshul Ojha is the Founder and Principal anchor for the Desert Resource Center, Leading efforts for desert partnerships, technologies, knowledge & resources for a thriving desert ecosystem.
Ralph Roothaert is the Principal Investigator of – Veggies 4 Planet & People (V4P&P) Project and Country Director – of Kenya Eastern and Southern Africa and aims to understand how vegetable production can result in diverse and healthy diets to combat malnutrition for vulnerable groups. Ralph has worked in Africa for 21 years and in Southeast Asia for 3 years. He started as a development worker with the Voluntary Service Overseas in Nigeria, then worked as an agricultural scientist with the CGIAR for 13 years (ICRAF in Kenya, CIAT in the Philippines, and ILRI in Ethiopia). After that, he became the Fund Manager of the Maendeleo Agricultural Technology Fund of Farm Africa in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, where he managed many different consortia of partner organizations, each of them focusing on the development of a particular agricultural value chain. He then joined Oxfam GB in Tanzania, where he coordinated the Economic Justice Programme, facilitating partnerships in the agricultural sector using gender market mapping approaches. Before joining World Vegetable Center he was the Associate Country Director for Oxfam GB in Tanzania.
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
Connect on LinkedIn: Marilyn | The Energy Talk | Global SDG7 Hubs | EnAct
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In this episode, we discuss the intricacies of the landmark $10M partnership between Crossboundary Access (CBA) and Mobile Power–a partnership that promises to unlock energy access for over 300,000 people within Nigeria.
CrossBoundary is an investment firm focused on unlocking capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. Identifying Africa as one of the critically underserved markets a decade ago, CrossBoundary began its operations on the continent as an investment advisory for businesses and projects. A few years later, the firm identified an energy access gap on the continent and sought out opportunities to finance and own renewable energy businesses to deliver cleaner and cheaper power to African businesses.
Mobile Power designs, builds, and operates energy distribution systems for the off-grid energy and e-mobility market. Mobile Power unleashes the power of market-led product development to solve energy distribution in communities across Africa. This unique approach enables the company to offer energy products with zero barriers to entry, whilst also delivering best-in-class financial metrics.
This episode is presented by Okra Solar, to learn more about Okra visit okrasolar.com
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CrossBoundary Access and Mobile Power announce $10 million partnership to scale battery swapping services across NigeriaCrossBoundary EA Open Source: FINANCING APPROACH FOR MINI-GRIDSGuest Bios:
Before joining CrossBoundary, Lynne Wesonga worked as a Private Debt Associate at Gulf Capital based out of Dubai where she facilitated the deployment of capital and focused on portfolio management of companies in the Middle East and Africa. She also worked as an investment banking analyst at Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai office with a focus on mergers & acquisitions and leveraged buyout transactions. Her key responsibilities included financial modeling, company valuation, management presentations, legal documentation review, and stakeholder management.
Luke Burras is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Mobile Power. Before co-founding and leading operations at Mobile Power, he worked as an Engineer for Syngenta UK Ltd.
Learn more about CrossBoundary
Learn more about Mobile Power
Connect with Lynne and Luke
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the sixth episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Nirmita Chandrashekar a licensed architect and Senior Program Manager with SELCO Foundation in India, and Bijal Brahmbatt from the Mahila Housing Trust or MHT, a non-profit that was selected as a Women Changemakers India Fellow by Womanity Foundation. In this episode, we will focus on delivering cost-effective renewable energy-based solutions for cooling in India's most underserved communities.
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct) and produced in collaboration with Global SDG7 Hubs
Guest Bios:
Nirmita Chandrashekar is an architect and development practitioner. In the 5 years at SELCO Foundation, she has led the Built environment portfolio and anchors core programmes in urban, disaster and cooling contexts.
Bijal Brahmbatt has extensive experience in, and broad knowledge of intersectional challenges that are mediated through housing and habitat, governance (lack there-of), informality, and gender for low-income urban communities and migrants in cities. Bijal is a Fellow (2015) of the Womanity Foundation, Switzerland; a finalist of Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the year, India. She was awarded the Surya Mitra National Award for creating sustainable energy assets for equitable access in Urban Areas by the Selco Foundation. She is a member of the InsuResilience Gender Working Group of the InsuResilience Global Partnership which works towards gender-sensitive Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance solutions and she has contributed to the InsuResilience Global Partnership Declaration on Gender.
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
Connect on LinkedIn: Marilyn | The Energy Talk | Global SDG7 Hubs | EnAct
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the fifth episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we continue our conversation from the last episode of the series joined by Shweta Narayan from the India-based NGO "Health Care Without Harm", and Shri Ram Kumar S, IAS - Project Director of the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MEGHSSP).
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct) and produced in collaboration with Global SDG7 Hubs
Guest Bios:
Shweta Narayan is an environmental health researcher with over two decades of campaigning and advocacy experience in environmental justice issues, Swetha is the International Climate and Health Campaigner for the India-based NGO "Health Care Without Harm."
Shri Ram Kumar S, IAS works within the India Administrative Service, Mr. Ramkumar fulfills multiple roles in the state of Meghalaya, in northeast India. Currently, he is the Additional Secretary to the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Mission Director of the National Health Mission. As such, he has assumed the role of Project Director of the Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening Project (MEGHSSP). It was within this state that the government, SELCO Foundation, and other stakeholders piloted the effort to combine distributed renewables and highly efficient technologies to upgrade rural and remote health clinics.
Learn more about Health Care Without Harm | MEGHSSP | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
Connect on LinkedIn: Marilyn | The Energy Talk | Global SDG7 Hubs | EnAct
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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Donor-funded catalytic capital has been an integral part of the growth of the off-grid energy sector in Sub-Saharan Africa by de-risking new technologies and business models. David Arinze joins us in this episode to discuss the ecosystem impact and growth of projects funded by catalytic capital and how it is allowing organizations to scale enough to attract commercial capital.
David is the Program Officer for Off-Grid Energy at Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), a Nigerian not-for-profit organization that complements the role of development agencies, donors, and other funding organizations by providing technical assistance in the design, planning, and implementation of various development initiatives.
This episode is presented by Okra Solar, to learn more about Okra visit okrasolar.com
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Understanding Funder's Perspectives: What Donors Look For in MSMEsGuest Bio:
David Arinze is a multi-competency professional who is passionate about increasing electricity access to deprived climes through relevant energy sources. His Industry experience revolves around Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and Off-Grid Energy.
As the Program Officer for Off-Grid Energy, he works closely with local energy entrepreneurs, regulatory authorities, vendors, and other stakeholders to manage the deployment and sustainability of off-grid energy solutions in both unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria. He does this through the provision of technical assistance, grants management, project monitoring, remediation support, and the facilitation of access to follow-on financing.
David believes that increasing electricity access through clean energy sources is a path worth threading because of its environmental and health benefits and the swift deployment involved in its technology.
Learn more about Diamond Development Initiative
Connect with David on Linkedin| Twitter | Instagram
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the fourth episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Rachita Misra - Associate Director of Knowledge and Advocacy with SELCO Foundation in India, and Heather Adair-Rohani - Acting Head of Air Quality, Energy and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the energy and health nexus. Focusing first on ways to bridge the gap between grassroots solutions and high-level policy.
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct)
Guest Bios:
Rachita Misra is the Associate Director of Knowledge and Advocacy with SELCO Foundation in India.
Heather Adair-Rohani leads the work on energy and health at the World Health Organization Headquarters. She has led the establishment of the Health and Energy Platform of Action and the High-level Coalition on Health and Energy. Ms. Adair-Rohani co-led the coordination and development of the WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion and is currently overseeing the work to support countries in the implementation of these Guidelines through the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit. She also actively participates and represents WHO at various global initiatives focused on health, air pollution, and energy like UN-Energy, Sustainable Energy for All, Inter-Agency Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators, and the Global Strategy for Women, Children, and Adolescent Health.
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | WHO | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the third episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Supriya Gowda - Project Manager of Agriculture for the SELCO Foundation, and Makena Ireri - former Director of Clean Energy Access Research at CLASP to discuss distributed energy for agriculture in the Global South, focusing on small-hold farmers in India. This episode highlights the impact of climate change on their livelihoods and the need for energy access and innovative technologies to improve productivity.
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct)
Guest Bios:
Supriya Gowda is a Project Manager of Agriculture for the SELCO Foundation in India and she is directly involved in technology design and deployment. As a weekend farmer, she knows first-hand the pain points at which clean energy and better equipment can reduce drudgery and boost productivity.
Makena Ireri is the Director of Clean Energy Access Research at CLASP, an NGO that focuses on developing energy-efficient appliances and equipment, including for agriculture. She has since left CLASP and joined The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) as the Director of Demand, Jobs, and Livelihoods
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | CLASP | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
Connect on LinkedIn: Marilyn | The Energy Talk | Global SDG7 Hubs | EnAct
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the second episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Ganesh Neelam-Director of Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) and Huda Jaffer-Director of SELCO Foundation to discuss how improving access to clean affordable energy and energy efficient equipment & services is critical for small and marginal farmers with less than two hectares of land that account over 85% of all farmers in India.
This series is hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct)
Guest Bios:
Ganesh Neelam is Director of Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives, or CInI, a program launched by the Tata Trusts. A geoscientist and hydrologist by training, Ganesh has been active in energy access for agriculture livelihoods for several years.
Huda Jaffer, Director of SELCO Foundation, developed a keen interest in user-centric design for sustainability and development issues while studying integrated design management at M.I.T – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston.
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | CInI | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
Connect on LinkedIn: Marilyn | The Energy Talk | Global SDG7 Hubs | EnAct
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In the first episode of the Distributed Energy For People & The Planet series, we are joined by Harish Hande: founder of SELCO Foundation, and Gauri Singh: Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to discuss the important role that policy and innovation plays in ensuring equitable outcomes in the push towards SDG7 (Sustainable Development Goal 7 is one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. It aims to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.").
New episodes for this series will be published bi-weekly, hosted by Marilyn Smith of the Energy Action Project (EnAct), and co-produced by the Global SDG7 Hubs.
Guest Bios:
Harish Hande is the founder of SELCO Foundation and is based out of India. Harish is globally recognized as a pioneer in designing distributed energy solutions as a means to truly empower communities, by enabling livelihoods and health. His approach of creating ‘enabling ecosystems’ is also being replicated through a network of entrepreneurs and organizations across the Global South.
Gauri Singh is the Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Ms. Singh brings more than 30 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and project implementation within the field of renewable energy and sustainable development from India and the international system.
Learn more about SELCO Foundation | IRENA | EnAct | Global SDG7 Hubs
Connect with: Marilyn on Linkedin | The Energy Talk | Global SDG7 Hubs | EnAct
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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CrossBoundary is an investment firm focused on unlocking capital for sustainable growth and strong returns in underserved markets. Identifying Africa as one of the critically underserved markets a decade ago, CrossBoundary began its operations on the continent as an investment advisory for businesses and projects. A few years later, the firm identified an energy access gap on the continent and sought out opportunities to finance and own renewable energy businesses to deliver cleaner and cheaper power to African businesses.
Pete Joubert--Chief Investment Officer and now President at CrossBoundary Energy--joins us in this episode to discuss the early days of CrossBoundary's energy investments, its path to deploying capital in ways that meet Sub-Saharan Africa's needs, and the challenges and learnings the firm has encountered when dealing with public and private stakeholders in the African energy landscape.
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Pieter Joubert is currently the President and Chief Investment Officer for CrossBoundary Energy and he's responsible for investment due diligence, project management, business development, and investor relations. Pieter has a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Accounting & Finance and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Bond University in Australia, where he studied as a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar. He is originally from South Africa and has also lived in Zimbabwe and Australia.
Prior to joining CrossBoundary, Pieter worked in J.P. Morgan’s Investment Banking Group in Sydney, where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions and capital markets coverage and execution, focusing on the diversified industrials, mining services, and infrastructure sectors and transactions ranging from US$200m to US$1.5bn in value.
Learn more about CrossBoundary
Connect with Pete on Linkedin
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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In 2019, Eric Steinberger acted upon the frustrations he encountered when searching for digestible, entry-point resources on climate change and its solutions. Together with Isabel Key, he founded ClimateScience--a platform that took its first steps on Instagram. A couple of months after launch, the ClimateScience page went from a few hundred followers to over 40,000, and from there, began expanding exponentially; reaching audiences of over 1 million from diverse demographics and moving from a team comprised of a handful of people to one having over 500 staff and volunteers.
In this episode, Eric talks about his two-year journey as CEO of ClimateScience. Eric also shares about his unconventional background, early discovery of online learning, and the dedicated team that has accelerated the platform's mission and vision to provide universally accessible climate education for all.
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All you need to know about ClimateScience and its productsTEDx Talk: Progress on Solving Climate Change | Eric SteinbergerHow to start and scale a non-profit: Interview with ClimateScience co-founder and CEO, Eric SteinbergerEarthday.org and ClimateScience announce partnership for the ClimateScience Olympiad 2022Guest Bio
Eric Steinberger is currently the CEO and co-founder of ClimateScience. Before leading ClimateScience full time, he worked at Facebook AI as a deep reinforcement learning researcher, at MIT as an AI researcher for sustainable development in agriculture, and at Technische Universität Wien as a student researcher in robotics. He has published two academic papers on Artificial intelligence.
Eric attended the University of Cambridge for a year to study Computer Science but stepped away from the degree to focus on ClimateScience and acting on his passions for Artificial Intelligence, start-ups, and sustainable development.
Learn more about ClimateScience
Connect with Eric on LinkedIn and Twitter
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The Energy Talk is a platform dedicated to telling the energy transition story of Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing first on the perspective of Financiers, Policymakers, and Operators devoted to pushing the continent towards a sustainable energy future.
This podcast is hosted by Olubunmi Olajide and produced by Chigozie Ubah.
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