Speakers

Dr. Bekele Shiferaw, GPS Program Manager, World Bank

Bekele A. Shiferaw is a senior Environmental Economist at the World Bank’s Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice working on the economics of natural capital and ecosystems services. He is currently the Program Manager for the Global Program on Sustainability (GPS). GPS is the World Bank’s Group umbrella program and Multi-Donor Trust Fund. Its objective is ‘to strengthen the production and use of quality data (economic and financial) on natural capital and ecosystem services to inform government and financial market decisions’. GPS builds on achievements of the Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES) program (2012 – 2019).  GPS has been hosting the Global Policy Forum on Natural Capital on various timely topics with interest to trigger dialogue on key global challenges including nature loss, degradation of natural resources, climate change and pollution issues for green and resilient development. Bekele has worked in global development with interest in economics of natural resources, agrifood systems, environment, and climate change issues for over 25 years, including in research, program evaluation, policy analysis and engagement.

H.E Mr. Bereket Feshatsion, State Minister, Ministry of Planning and Develoment, Ethiopia

Bereket Tesfamariam is the State Minister at Ethiopia's Ministry of Planning and Development. With over 15 years of experience, he guides the nation's strategic direction by leading portfolios in development planning, policy alignment, and statistics. His leadership has been instrumental in several key reforms, including the establishment of a results-based system for planning, monitoring, and evaluation and the strategic guidance provided to efforts to modernize and standardize national statistics. He has also contributed to deepening public investment management reforms and introducing digital tools for planning and monitoring. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of the Development Planning and Public Investment Management Division, where he was responsible for appraising and prioritizing development projects and preparing public investment plans.

Fred Kabanda, Division Manager, Extractives African Development Bank

Mr. Fred Kabanda has over 30 years of practical experience in extractive natural resources management, spanning governance, policy, regulation and commercial aspects. 

He is the Division Manager, Extractives at the African Natural Resources Management and Investment Centre of the African Development Bank where he oversees the work streams in oil, gas and mining sectors. He represents the Bank at boards of several institutions including the EITI Board as an observer. 

Before joining the Bank, Mr. Kabanda worked with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral development where he was Assistant Commissioner. He has also previously worked as a lecture in Makerere University’s Geology Department. He is passionate about capacity development and has sat on the council of many technical institutions where programs have been run to enhance the employability of the youth. 

He is trained in Engineering, Geology and Management. He holds a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He also holds degrees in Geology from Makerere University together with several post graduate trainings in management from International Universities across the world. He has membership affiliation to several professional bodies.

Dr. Valerie Hickey, Global Director, Climate Change, World bank

Dr. Valerie Hickey is the World Bank’s Global Director for Climate Change, leading the integration of resilience, mitigation, and climate finance across operations. Previously she was a Global Director for Environment, she leveraged the Bank’s capital, convening power, and analytics to make nature a driver of jobs and growth, strengthen resilient and inclusive economies, and embed environmental health in development. With the Bank since 2003, she has led transformative projects globally, including managing Haiti’s environment portfolio after the 2010 earthquake and advancing work on the blue economy, biodiversity, and combating wildlife crime.

H.E. Dr Claudine Uwera, Senior Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister, Rwanda

Dr. Claudine Uwera is an Economist, currently serving as Senior Strategic Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Rwanda. Holding a PhD in Environmental Economics from the University of Gothenburg, she has been bringing over two decades of leadership in strategic planning, sustainable development, and public finance. Her distinguished public service includes tenure as Minister of State in charge of Economic Planning and later as Minister of State for the Environment, where she spearheaded Rwanda’s green growth agenda and institutionalized natural capital accounting within national planning frameworks. A former Dean and Senior Lecturer at the University of Rwanda’s School of Economics, Dr. Uwera is widely recognized for her commitment to evidence-based policymaking and institutional reform. Her current advisory role focuses on aligning national development priorities with climate resilience, inclusive growth, and long-term sustainability. 

Dr. Sam Mugume Koojo, Assistant Commissioner,  Ministry of Finance, Uganda

Dr. Sam Mugume Koojo is a macroeconomic policy analyst, development planner and researcher with over 25 years of community development work and research on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. He holds a PhD and master’s degree in Natural Resource Management (Environment Economics) and Bachelors of Statistics. 

Banji Miyoba Ng’andu, Assistant Director – Regional Planning, Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Zambia

Banji has been coordinating implementation of the Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) programme in Zambia since 20224.  To advance the NCA programme, she has been coordinating the Ministry of Finance and National Planning collaboration with Ministries/Agencies implementing the NCA programme, Cooperating Partners, Academia and Private Sector.  With over 8 years of experience at Management level, Banji holds an International Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration and Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies.