Our Team
Our team members bring commitment and expertise to generating impact through agricultural finance.
Aceli team
Ability Kakama
Manager, Tanzania
Ability Kakama
Manager, Tanzania
Ability is the Tanzania Country Manager at Aceli Africa, where he focuses on relationship management and program activities. He brings a strong experience in advising financial institutions, a deep understanding of agribusiness financing, and a keen commitment to expanding access to capital. His career sits at the intersection of finance and development. Before joining Aceli, Ability worked with NMB Bank, where he led Food and Agri Research, providing guidance on opportunities and risks within the food and agriculture sector. Earlier in his career, he worked in financial services advisory, including as a consultant at Ernst & Young (EY) in New York, where he advised clients in Asset Management and Banking. Ability is particularly interested in innovative initiatives that improve economic opportunities for youth.
Andrea Zinn
Senior Manager, Aceli Americas
Andrea Zinn
Senior Manager, Aceli Americas
Andrea is the Senior Manager of Aceli Americas, where she leads advisory partnerships leveraging Aceli Africa’s knowledge to inform incentive design in Latin America as well as other regions and sectors. With over a decade of experience in the agri-finance sector, Andrea brings expertise in SME finance, commodity price risk management, blended finance mechanisms, and the coffee value chain. Prior to joining Aceli, Andrea supported IFAD’s implementation of its private sector engagement strategy and consulted on various agricultural projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, GIZ, Farm Africa, and others. She began her agri-finance career with Oikocredit. In addition to her role with Aceli, Andrea is the Director of the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF), whose original research seeded Aceli.
Anne Mungai
Manager, Incentive Operations
Anne Mungai
Manager, Incentive Operations
Anne is a program and operations professional with over a decade of experience delivering high-impact projects across Africa. At Aceli Africa, she leads the strategic delivery of incentive operations to improve financing outcomes for agri-SMEs. With a background in strategic program delivery, cross-sector partnerships, systems strengthening, and digital innovation, she has worked with organizations like Jhpiego, IntraHealth International, and Ona to enhance service delivery and build resilient systems. Anne is passionate about creating impact where it matters most—especiallyin underserved communities. Anne thrives at the intersection of execution, innovation, and systems thinking, and is driven by a belief that meaningful change happens when people, purpose, and process align.
Belise Mugwaneza
Manager, Rwanda
Belise Mugwaneza
Manager, Rwanda
Belise has been working in agri finance for more than 8 years, and most recently led the agriculture department at Equity Bank Rwanda PLC, one of the leading banks in East Africa with a purpose to financially empower and elevate communities at grassroots level. Belise holds an MSc degree in Agricultural Economics and Management from the Swedish University of Agriculture. She brings expertise in access to finance, agri products development, farmers’ mobilization and clients’ relationships management with results-oriented approach to drive business growth, profitability, impact and strategic partnerships.
Brian Milder
Founder & CEO
Brian Milder
Founder & CEO
Brian Milder is the Founder & CEO of Aceli Africa, a nonprofit market catalyst that mobilizes private finance for high-impact agricultural enterprises. For the past 20 years, he has developed pioneering approaches for expanding access to agricultural finance across Africa and Latin America. Brian is a Co-Founder and member of the Steering Committee for the Council on Smallholder Agricultural Finance (CSAF), an alliance of 19 lenders that promotes responsible lending and impact standards for agricultural lending globally. Previously, he served as Chief Innovation Officer for Root Capital, where he led the impact and advisory teams and designed blended finance approaches to reach under-served agricultural enterprises. He has written and spoken extensively on agricultural finance, including how to leverage public and philanthropic funding to activate capital markets and create economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and low-wage workers while stewarding the environment. He was selected by the Mulago Foundation as a Rainer Arnhold Fellow, which recognizes leaders with scalable poverty solutions. He has a BA from Harvard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Cindy Karanja
Associate, Product
Cindy Karanja
Associate, Product
As Associate, Product at Aceli Africa, Cindy supports product operations and process improvements. She is a financial services professional with experience across banking, insurance, and fintech startups. Cindy has led initiatives in financial systems implementation, digital transformation, and the design and rollout of digital insurance products, enhancing both access to finance and operational efficiency within organizations. Passionate about leveraging technology to drive impact and deliver inclusive financial solutions, she has played a key role in enhancing digital financial solutions and building strategic partnerships. Her expertise spans business analysis, product management, and customer experience, positioning her as a valuable contributor to innovation in the agri-finance sector.
Eddah Nang’ole
Senior Manager, Impact & Learning
Eddah Nang’ole
Senior Manager, Impact & Learning
Eddah is the Senior Manager, Impact and Learning at Aceli Africa, where she leads the design and implementation of ESG strategy and MEL frameworks. Her work generates insights into the impact of Aceli’s interventions on lender behavior, SME access to finance, enterprise growth, and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. She also leads regional capacity-building initiatives for financial institutions, with a particular focus on gender lens investing and climate finance. With a background in economics, sustainability, and impact measurement, Eddah brings expertise to advancing inclusive development finance across the region. Prior to joining Aceli, she led MEL initiatives at LTS International and the World Agroforestry Centre, focusing on climate adaptation, agroforestry, women’s empowerment, and multi-donor program evaluations.
Esther Muriithi
Senior Associate, Operations
Esther Muriithi
Senior Associate, Operations
Esther is the Senior Associate, Operations at Aceli Africa, where she supports operational efficiency, program excellence, and communications. She plays a central role in ensuring smooth implementation across Aceli’s partnerships, innovation, impact & learning, and technical assistance functions. With a background in partnerships and fundraising, Esther has held roles at Living Goods, KPMG East Africa, and AMREF Health Africa. She is passionate about sustainable development and believes that agricultural SMEs are critical conduits for catalyzing inclusive social and economic transformation across Africa.
Freddy Bob-Jones
Managing Director
Freddy Bob-Jones
Managing Director
Freddy is the Managing Director at Aceli Africa, leading strategy, execution, and organizational growth across the African continent. He manages product operations, enhances internal systems, and helps build key partnerships to advance inclusive finance for agricultural SMEs. With over 20 years of experience in international development, Freddy specializes in strategy, operations, and institution-building. His previous senior roles include positions at AMREF Health Africa, International Planned Parenthood Federation, PwC, and the UK Civil Service, spanning Africa, Asia, and Europe. Passionate about creating scalable impact, he advocates for bold, practical solutions to development challenges.
Geoffrey Nyamao
Country Manager, Kenya
Geoffrey Nyamao
Country Manager, Kenya
In his role as Country Manager for Kenya, Geoffrey drives efforts to expand capital deployment to agri-SMEs across the financial services sector, grow Aceli’s lender network, and strengthen stakeholder engagement. With over 14 years of experience in credit and relationship management, he has held various senior leadership roles, developing innovative, customer-centric, and bespoke financial solutions. Geoffrey’s expertise has been honed through these leadership positions at KCB Bank Group and Old Mutual. His leadership has earned him industry recognition, underscoring his deep commitment to sustainable finance and the development of SMEs in the agricultural sector.
James King’ara
Senior Product Associate
James King’ara
Senior Product Associate
As a Senior Product Associate at Aceli Africa, James designs products that catalyze agricultural SME lending. He has played a central role in advancing East Africa’s agricultural industry by optimizing supply chains and enhancing access to affordable farm inputs. Previously, at iProcure, he led data monetization initiatives that enabled smarter, data-driven decisions and developed tools that remain integral to the company’s technical infrastructure. He is passionate about improving access to essential services and creating opportunities in underserved communities.
Janet Kanyambo
Country Director, Rwanda
Janet Kanyambo
Country Director, Rwanda
As Country Director at Aceli Africa, Janet Kanyambo leads strategic engagements with Rwandan financial institutions to expand agricultural lending to SMEs. She has supported Aceli’s network of lending partners by strengthening lender capacity building and managing relationships with technical assistance partners to increase investment in agricultural SMEs. Janet previously worked at the Rwanda Development Bank (BRD), where she was part of the team that established the Business Development Fund (BDF) and served as Fund Manager for 10 years. During her tenure, she played a key role in designing new market products to address gaps in the agricultural sector and gained extensive experience in strategic and emerging issues in agribusiness financing.
John Robert Okware
Uganda Country Director & Lender Activation Lead
John Robert Okware
Uganda Country Director & Lender Activation Lead
John Robert Okware is the Uganda Country Director and Lender Activation Lead at Aceli Africa. In this role, he leads strategic engagements with financial institutions, donors, and government bodies to expand agricultural lending. He is responsible for growing Aceli’s network of lending partners, strengthening the pipeline of investment-ready enterprises, and driving key policy engagements within Uganda. With over two decades of experience in Uganda’s commercial banking and agricultural finance sectors, John Robert brings expertise in business partnerships, market and value chain development, credit and operational risk management, blended finance, and digital transformation. His prior roles include Chief Commercial Officer at Opportunity Bank Uganda and Senior Branch Manager at Centenary Bank Uganda. Having grown up in a farming family, John Robert is passionate about agriculture and dedicated to serving agri-SMEs.
Joseph Karanja Mbugua
Head of Finance & Operations
Joseph Karanja Mbugua
Head of Finance & Operations
Joseph is the Head of Finance & Operations at Aceli Africa, where he co-leads financial strategy, shared services, and operations across five countries. He has played a central role in establishing Aceli’s legal entities and systems in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zambia, while advancing digital transformation, policy development, and AI-enabled efficiencies. With over 20 years of experience across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the US, Joseph brings deep expertise in strategic finance oversight and scaling operations across corporate, nonprofit, and impact-focused sectors. He is passionate about building resilient institutions and leveraging finance to drive systems change, scale, and equitable development.
Karen Chege
Manager, Technical Assistance
Karen Chege
Manager, Technical Assistance
Karen Chege is the Technical Assistance Manager at Aceli Africa, where she leads the design and implementation of the Technical Assistance program that strengthens the pipeline of investment-ready agricultural SMEs and enhances post-investment support for enterprises. With a background in development finance, project management, and portfolio oversight, Karen brings expertise in program design, management, and stakeholder engagement to the team. Prior to joining Aceli, she worked with KPMG, the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center, where she played a key role in managing development finance initiatives that supported SME growth across Africa. She is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals and fostering collaborative learning communities within the development finance and agri-SME sectors.
Laila Laurence
Senior Associate, Legal & Compliance
Laila Laurence
Senior Associate, Legal & Compliance
Laila Laurence is the Senior Legal and Compliance Associate at Aceli Africa, ensuring compliance with data protection and regulatory standards across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Zambia. Her role also includes conducting internal compliance audits, particularly related to Anti-Money Laundering, developing internal policies, and supporting governance through preparation of board materials, coordination with external counsel, and monitoring legal and regulatory developments. Previously at Tetra Tech, WYG Group, and Danone, she supported due diligence and market-entry strategies. An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Notary Public, certified Mediator, and Commissioner for Oaths, Laila is committed to professional development and collaborating with teams to address legal challenges.
Leonora Onyango
Manager, Product
Leonora Onyango
Manager, Product
Leonora Onyango is the Manager, Product at Aceli Africa, where she leads data analysis and financial incentive design to unlock private capital for agri-SME lending. She oversees Aceli’s annual benchmarking exercise, generating market insights that inform strategy, strengthen partnerships with financial institutions, and advance sector learning. Before joining Aceli, Leonora worked as an actuarial consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, developing solutions for some of the largest financial institutions in East Africa. She brings expertise in financial analysis, product design, and stakeholder engagement, and is passionate about innovative, evidence-based solutions that expand access to capital and drive sustainable economic growth.
Liz Cottle
Chief of Staff
Liz Cottle
Chief of Staff
Liz is Chief of Staff at Aceli Africa, where she oversees governance and stakeholder management functions. She has cultivated and managed over $100M in donor funding for Aceli from bilateral and philanthropic organizations and focuses on the long-term, strategic growth of the model. Liz brings strong organizational skills and a strategic mindset to the team. Prior to joining Aceli, she worked with international and domestic nonprofits focused on income inequality and policy research. Liz is inspired by access to finance for women stemming from her experience with microfinance in Malawi.
Martin Thuo
Manager, Innovation
Martin Thuo
Manager, Innovation
As the Manager for Innovation at Aceli Africa, Martin designs and implements catalytic solutions to increase financing to agricultural SMEs across East Africa. He has led the deployment of pioneering products with Aceli’s partners to foster a more inclusive, climate-resilient food system. With a background in development finance, international development and ag-tech, Martin brings a unique blend of financial innovation and human-centered design. Prior to Aceli, he co-led the design and rollout of digital services and regional expansion strategy at a leading ag-tech startup.
Mercy Limo
Manager, Human Resources & Operations
Mercy Limo
Manager, Human Resources & Operations
Motivated by the challenges she experienced growing up in a village of tea farmers, Mercy seeks to empower smallholder farmers across Africa. She is a seasoned human resources and operations professional with over a decade of experience in banking, private equity, and institutional funds in Kenya. Mercy is responsible for building and supporting Aceli’s operations infrastructure across East Africa.
Moses Rurangwa
Senior Associate, Salesforce & Product
Moses Rurangwa
Senior Associate, Salesforce & Product
Moses is a Senior Associate for Salesforce & Product at Aceli Africa, where he leads platform enhancements that empower agricultural-finance partners with actionable, data-driven insights. With over ten years of software engineering experience, he has architected and delivered Salesforce CRM and custom solutions for governments, telcos and NGOs most notably a smart-stadium platform and a farmer lay-away system serving over 350,000 farmers. Skilled in Apex, Python and Android development, Moses builds scalable and user-centric products. He holds a MSc in Computer Science and is passionate about harnessing technology to improve livelihoods across Africa.
Mwallu Mwachang’a
Country Director, Tanzania
Mwallu Mwachang’a
Country Director, Tanzania
Mwallu is responsible for Aceli’s strategic direction in Tanzania, including managing relationships with lenders, technical assistance providers, and other key partners. He brings a wealth of experience in program management, client relationship and stakeholder engagement, commercial banking and agricultural finance, portfolio and risk management. Before joining Aceli, Mwallu worked for TIB Corporate Bank as Director of Corporate Banking where he managed business development and growth, and Financial Sector Deepening Tanzania, where he led investments supporting SMEs, farmers, and rural households, with a focus on innovation, policy & regulatory initiatives, and microfinance development. He previously held senior manager roles with NMB Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, and Tanzania Development Finance Company in corporate banking and agribusiness. Mwallu is keen on improved capacity and sustainability of the financial sector for access to finance and economic development.
Patrick Muganga
Manager, Uganda
Patrick Muganga
Manager, Uganda
Patrick Muganga is Uganda’s Country Manager at Aceli Africa where he coordinates programs aimed at increasing private capital flows to agricultural SMEs, improving agribusinesses’ capacity, and influencing policy through data and learning. Patrick has been vital in fostering relationships with various ecosystem players. He brings a decade of experience in managing donor funded agricultural development projects with special focus on agri-market systems and SME development. Before joining Aceli, Patrick worked as independent consultant and with Kilimo Trust where he managed country operations and led projects aimed at professionalizing agri-SMEs and smallholder farmers. He is deeply passionate about creating positive impact.
Rehema Kahurananga
Communications Manager
Rehema Kahurananga
Communications Manager
Rehema Kahurananga is the Communications Manager at Aceli Africa, where she drives the organization’s strategy for sharing its work. Her role involves collaborating across teams on content production, overseeing Aceli’s digital platforms, building internal communications capacity, and supporting key events. Fascinated by the power of words, Rehema began her career as a writer and, later, Deputy Editor of True Love East Africa magazine. She has since worked in strategic communications across renewable energy, health, SME finance, and aviation. Prior to joining Aceli, she was the Regional Communications and Membership Manager at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. She is committed to telling stories that reflect Africa’s resourcefulness, complexity, and opportunities.
Richard Midikira
Senior Manager, Innovation & Partnerships
Richard Midikira
Senior Manager, Innovation & Partnerships
Richard is the Senior Manager, Innovation & Partnerships at Aceli Africa where he oversees the exploration of market channels and partnerships to unlock capital for underserved borrower segments. He also leads programs that strengthen the capacity of financial institutions and agricultural SMEs. Richard brings to the team +15 years of experience in strategy, project design and implementation and partnership management in multi-country and cross-cultural contexts. Prior to joining Aceli, Richard served as the agri-sector lead for a UN-agency implemented program promoting trade and investment between India and East Africa. He also worked at EY and Deloitte as team lead for various advisory engagements, with a specialization in financial services risk advisory. Richard’s passion lies at the nexus of SME development, financial services and inclusive economic growth.
Richard Tembo
Senior Associate, Zambia
Richard Tembo
Senior Associate, Zambia
Richard Khale Tembo is a Senior Associate at Aceli Africa, where he supports strategic engagement with financial institutions to expand access to finance for agricultural SMEs. He plays a key role in managing lender relationships, tracking program performance, and supporting implementation of Aceli’s financial incentives and technical assistance initiatives. Having worked across diverse sectors including women’s economic empowerment and project management, Richard’s experience covers microfinance, donor engagement and SME financial product design. Prior to joining Aceli Africa, he worked at AB Bank Zambia, leading donor-funded initiatives and providing high-level reporting, while also driving targeted efforts to expand financing for women-led MSMEs and emerging entrepreneurs. He is passionate about inclusive finance and committed to unlocking capital for underserved businesses across Zambia’s agricultural and SME landscape.
Sandra Wangui
Senior Associate, Product
Sandra Wangui
Senior Associate, Product
Sandra Wangui is the Senior Associate, Product at Aceli Africa, where she coordinates the product operations team responsible for loan queue and incentives management. With a background in finance, data analysis and system operations, her role also involves onboarding partners and ensuring that incentives are deployed efficiently. Prior to joining Aceli, Sandra worked as the Group Finance Analyst for Mi Vida Homes and Garden City Group, where she provided support in capital planning and financial risk management, stakeholder reporting, policy and regulatory compliance, accounting, portfolio management, and business operations. She is passionate about access to financing for women and youth.
Simon Nderitu
Senior Associate, Finance & Accounting
Simon Nderitu
Senior Associate, Finance & Accounting
Simon Nderitu is the Senior Associate, Finance & Accounting at Aceli Africa, where he supports multi-country financial operations by enabling strong financial systems, controls, and coordination across offices. He brings a strong foundation in nonprofit financial management, with prior experience at CURE International and Hand in Hand Eastern Africa. His expertise spans budgeting, grants accounting, and statutory compliance. At Aceli, Simon plays a critical role in strengthening internal financial controls and supporting operational readiness for program delivery across country offices.
Tarari Kalango
Associate, Executive Office
Tarari Kalango
Associate, Executive Office
Tarari is passionate about improving livelihoods on the African continent by increasing access to economic opportunities through financing. An economist by training, she previously worked as a Consultant for Teneo, a management consulting firm based in London, where she focused on commercial due diligence and growth strategy engagements for private sector clients across the UK and USA. At Aceli, Tarari works in the Executive Office supporting administration, governance, donor management, and fundraising.
Tidzitwa Zulu
Country Director, Zambia
Tidzitwa Zulu
Country Director, Zambia
Tidzitwa Zulu is the Country Director for Aceli Africa in Zambia, where she leads strategic partnerships with financial institutions, technical service providers, and public sector stakeholders to expand financing for agricultural SMEs. She played a pivotal role in establishing Aceli’s operations in Zambia, building strong, sustainable relationships across the agri-finance ecosystem and catalyzing increased capital flows to underserved market segments. With over a decade of experience in agricultural finance and development, Tidzi brings deep expertise in market systems, private sector engagement, and inclusive finance. Prior to joining Aceli, she held senior positions at ACDI/VOCA and MUSIKA, advancing social inclusion, agricultural innovation, and rural market growth. She is passionate about leveraging private sector solutions to expand access to finance, foster sustainable livelihoods, and build resilience across Zambia’s agri-food economy.
Titianne Donde
Policy Consultant
Titianne Donde
Policy Consultant
Titianne was recently Chief of Party for the Kungahara Wagura Amasoko project to facilitate resilience-focused policy reforms that promote agricultural export growth in Rwanda. She previously served as Director of Business Incubation and Commercialization within the Center for Agricultural Transformation managed by Land O’Lakes in Malawi and as Regional Advisor in the design of Aceli Africa. Her prior experience includes Chief-of-Party for the Feed the Future Kenya Innovation Engine, a project focused on innovative solutions for food security. Titianne also worked in the commercial banking sector with CFC Stanbic Bank and ABC Bank in Kenya.
Triza Rabuku
Product Analyst
Triza Rabuku
Product Analyst
As Product Analyst at Aceli Africa, Triza evaluates loan data, assesses eligibility for financial incentives, and provides insights that enhance capital access for agricultural SMEs. She brings a background in financial reporting, credit assessment, and stakeholder engagement, with prior experience in consulting and accounting sharpening her skills in financial analysis and strategic decision making. Triza is passionate about leveraging financial innovation and data-driven solutions to promote sustainable growth and meaningful impact.
Vivian Muchiri
Product Analyst
Vivian Muchiri
Product Analyst
As Product Analyst at Aceli Africa, Vivian evaluates loan data, assesses eligibility for financial incentives, and generates insights to expand access to capital for agricultural SMEs. She brings experience in research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement from her time at UN-Habitat, along with a background in financial reporting from Minet Kenya Insurance. Vivian is passionate about using finance as a tool to advance sustainable development and inclusive economic growth.
Board
Andrew Stern
Board Member
Andrew Stern
Board Member
Andrew is the Founder and Global Coordinator of the Global Development Incubator (GDI). He has played many roles within GDI initiatives, including Interim CEO of Convergence and of Emerging Public Leaders, and currently serves on the Boards of citiesRISE and the Institute for Transformative Technologies, and the advisory board of Upstart Co-Lab. Prior to founding GDI, Andrew was a Global Operating Partner at Dalberg Global Advisors.
Beth Shiferaw
Board Member
Beth Shiferaw
Board Member
Beth is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lucid Africa Capital, an investment firm focused on establishing and investing in businesses in Eastern Africa. She previously worked for ONCAP Management Partners L.P., a middle market private equity fund. Beth was responsible for identifying, analyzing, negotiating, executing, and monitoring private equity investments. She also worked for the investment banking division of Merrill Lynch in New York and Toronto. Beth served on the board of GDI Americas where she held the role of Chair of the Audit Committee.
Buhle Goslar
Board Member
Buhle Goslar
Board Member
Buhle is a fintech entrepreneur focused on building and supporting technology solutions for consumer empowerment, and access to finance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Buhle is the Chairperson and Independent Non-Executive Director of Lula, a South African SME digital banking platform. She is also a Board Director of e-commerce company Copia (Global and Kenya), CGAP, and the women’s empowerment platform WIMA (Tanzania). She is the former Africa CEO of JUMO, a Banking-as-a-service platform. Before this, Buhle held commercial, product and consumer leadership roles in several financial institutions such as Woolworths Financial Services, Barclays Wealth (now Absa Wealth) and Investec Private Bank.
Dr. Robert Ochola
Board Member
Dr. Robert Ochola
Board Member
Robert is CEO of AfricaNenda, leading efforts to expand financial access across the continent through interoperable digital payment systems. He previously held leadership roles at Afreximbank, Safaricom, and KCB Bank Group. With a career spanning banking, telecommunications, and digital finance, Robert brings extensive experience in financial innovation across Africa.
Gretchen Phillips
Board Member
Gretchen Phillips
Board Member
Gretchen is the Managing Director for Reimagining Capitalism for the philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network. She was previously the founding Chief Executive Officer of GenerationHope, Inc, a consumer products company in the Philippines that reinvests its profits in education- and employment-related ventures. She is passionate about building organizations that drive innovative, market-oriented solutions to enable growth, and has worked with a range of organizations to that end, including Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, the US Department of State, TechnoServe, and PRADAN. She serves on the boards of GDI US and GenerationHope and Friends of Hope in the Philippines.