Emmanuel, Miems, Cathy, Afa’a and Gavin
Vincent, Kofi and Emma

E+Co Africa

Kofi Nketsia-Tabiri, E+Co Africa Regional Manager, has been playing a lead role in enterprise development assistance, investment due diligence, portfolio management and marketing E+Co’s activities in countries in East and West Africa. Previously, Kofi worked at the Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment, a Ghanaian NGO specializing in energy/technology policy research and project/enterprise development. While working in KITE, Kofi was directly involved and developed considerable experience through “learning by doing” approach in the development and financial appraisal of clean energy enterprises in Ghana, based on the enterprise-centered model. Kofi holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with majors in Renewable Energy Resources and Entrepreneurial Development and Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Emmanuel Mbezele, Investment Officer, is responsible for providing enterprise development services and due diligence for enterprises in West and North Africa. Prior to joining E+Co, he worked as project director for social security reform in Africa for WADF (World African Development Forum) where he designed an alternative proposal for social security financing for African countries. Emmanuel has vast business experience in financial analysis, business evaluation and project management. He holds a Master degree in financial management from Rands Afrikaans University and is currently completing his Doctorate at the University of Pretoria.

Gavin Watson, Investment Officer, is responsible for providing enterprise development services and due diligence to enterprises in select countries in Africa. Previously he established and managed his own business specializing in the marketing and distributing of mining supplies. Prior to that, he worked as a research assistant for a Stock Brokering firm specifically for the mining sector. Gavin has a postgraduate degree in Business Management and a certificate in Financial Management from UNISA. Presently, he is completing his Masters degree in Entrepreneurial Development.

Afa'a Nkama, Investment Officer, is responsible for providing enterprise development services and due diligence in East Africa. Mr. Nkama, fluent in English and French, has a business degree in Business Management and an emphasis in Financial Management and Accounting.  He has been an entrepreneur himself and his most recent job has been with a super market chain. He is currently registered with CIMA to become a Chartered Management Accountant.

Emma Staub (Mauritius), Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, is responsible for monitoring and assessing the impact of over 35+ investments in the E+Co Africa portfolio according to E+Co triple bottom line.  This includes regular visits within the region to collect the most accurate information on enterprises and to evaluate the real impact of E+Co investments.   Before joining E+Co, she worked for Ernst and Young and BDO Spencer Steward (KZN) Inc., two well recognized accounting firms, as a trainee accountant where she developed high organizational skills.  Mrs. Staub is originally from Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean; she is fluent in French and English; Mrs. Staub completed a DEUG in Psychology at the University of Aix en Provence in France with honorable mention in Biology and a Degree of Bachelor of Accounting Sciences at the University of South Africa UNISA with honorable mention in Economics.

Miems van Niekerk, Miems van Niekerk, Office Manager, has 22 years of varied experience in administrative and secretarial functions which enables her to organize the administrative activities of the office, coordinate the travel logistics of staff members, assist in asset management functions and manage the overall day to day running of the office. Prior to joining E+Co, she worked at the CSIR, Defencetek Division, the Office of the State President and the Office of the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs as personal assistant. She obtained a Secretarial Certificate at the Vaal Triangle Technikon in 1981 as well as a Public Relations Certificate in 1997 from PRISA. In 2006 Miems has completed the Programme in Bussiness Communication at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Currently she is studying an international qualification of the Chartered Institute of Business Management at the University of South Africa.

E+Co Ghana

Vincent Yankey, E+Co Investment Officer for West Africa, is responsible for providing enterprise development services and due diligence for enterprises in West Africa. Mr. Yankey is a seasoned executive with a track record in Financial Management, Financial Accounting, Risk Analysis, Private Equity Investments in Emerging Markets, Project Management and Systems Analysis and Design. Prior to joining E+Co, Mr. Yankey was the Finance Manager/Investment Officer for Fidelity Capital Partners Limited in Accra. Mr. Yankey is completing his Masters in Business Administration from the Manchester Business School, UK; he is a oracle financials and database specialist; and, he graduated with a BSc with Honors from the University of Ghana.

Catherine Diam, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, is responsible for assessing the financial, social and environmental benefits of the projects in West Africa. This includes regular visits with the entrepreneurs and the end users to collect the most current and accurate data. She also provides English-French translation services to the Communication Officer. Prior to joining E+Co, Ms. Diam worked for the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA), a membership association that represents the interest of state and local air pollution control agencies in the U.S. Ms. Diam holds a B.A. degree in Langues Etrangères Appliquées from l’Université Gaston Berger de St. Louis, in St. Louis, Sénégal and a M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC. Ms. Diam is a native Senegalese. She is fluent in Wolof, French and English and is proficient in Spanish.

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