My passion for innovative development finance brought me to Financial Access in 2010. Having been involved in numerous capital raising and financial advisory assignments across emerging markets over the last 30 years, I became increasingly fascinated by the challenge to improve financial inclusion in agricultural supply chains. At Financial Access we have developed this as our key focus area, with particular expertise in creating innovative, low-cost and practical solutions for financial institutions to provide sustainable financing to smallholder farmers at scale
Eelko is Managing Director of Financial Consulting Services and Chairman of the Board of the Advans Group, an international microfinance investment firm. Eelko has extensive experience in international, commercial and development finance and in building businesses in the financial sector. At Financial Access his focus areas include agrifinance, supply chain finance and MSME finance. Eelko has particular expertise in developing and implementing technology-led access to finance solutions in the agriculture sector.
More recently, his activities at Financial Access concentrate on the design and delivery of innovative, sustainable and scalable financing models for farmers tied to large commodity supply chains.
Before joining Financial Access, Eelko was the CEO of the Orangefield Group, following its management buy-out from ING Group in 2007. Until 2007 Eelko worked for ABN Amro Bank for 20 years in a variety of commercial and senior management roles in The United States, Asia and Europe.
Eelko holds a Masters of International Law Degree from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD, France.
Financial Access brings a different approach to agribusiness financing through employing technology to minimize the risk and costs challenges for financial institutions.
John Ssali is currently an Advisor to FACS and is based in Kampala, Uganda. His main focus is in value chain mapping, research and training. With over to 14 years of Agricultural finance sector experience, he worked for Centenary Bank in various roles as an Agricultural Credit Officer, Commercial Loans Officer and Senior Credit Analyst and at Pride Microfinance (MDI) as Manager Credit Agricultural Lending. He started the Agricultural lending unit, developed an Agricultural lending manual, brought on board several development partners and managed the quality growth of the Agricultural loan book.
He joined Financial Access under the F4A programme which was designed and developed to bridge the gap between financial institutions and the agricultural sector. The aim was to increase agricultural finance to MSME agri-businesses and to agricultural producer organizations. Heworked as a Manager, Agrifinance Solutions for Financial Access (East Africa) Ltd during which time he executed various capacity building projects for various financial institutions in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia and South Sudan. The activities included Agribusiness Strategy Development, Agriculture Value Chain Studies, Agriculture Loan Product Development, Training for financial institutions based on their training needs.
John holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (Economics) from Makerere University, Kampala, a Certificate in Agricultural Finance from Kenya School of Monetary Studies and a Certificate from School of Applied Microfinance Kenya.
Christopher is an international development enthusiast with a keen interest in innovative models that link finance to smallholder communities. He believes sustainable finance mechanisms are key triggers for transformation in developing economies, and the nexus between investment and agriculture is where this happens; and this is what Financial Access does!
Based in Accra, his work with Financial Access enables him to leverage skills in value chain analysis, farming systems and livelihood assessment, and his experience in agrifinance, in developing and delivering sustainable smallholder financing programmes.
He holds an MSc in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science where his master thesis focused on exploring microfinance as a tool for smallholder adaptation to climate change. He is currently pursuing a PhD on the use of digital tools for smallholder credit access with Wageningen University and Research.
Whitney is passionate about humankind wellness and that has a lot to do with financial inclusion. She is privileged to work with Financial Access where we aim at eradicating poverty by equipping small-scale farmers with the financial muscle to improve their livelihoods and in return there is food security. That way we make the world a little bit better for everyone.
Prior to joining Financial Access, Whitney worked for Zamara Actuaries Administrators and Consultants Ltd for four years where she held the position of a Business Analyst.
Whitney holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Daystar University and a Project Management certification from Computer Pride College.
Being part of Financial Access means being part of the onset of each smallholder’s business potential. Simeon is passionate about financial inclusion through digital transformation, and believes that with the right data-driven approach we can rapidly close the gap between investors and smallholder farmers, thereby strengthening the global agricultural supply chains and ultimately contributing to food security and poverty alleviation.
Prior to FACS, Simeon worked in grant finance and grant management for an international NGO, managing an EU-funded programme and contributing to the financial and operational soundness of the overall grant portfolio. His interest for the developing context and his enthusiasm for financial data sparked during his time at university.
Simeon attained a BSc in development economics and a MSc in political science focusing on financial decision-making in a complex political environment.
Kripa Pandurangan possesses nine years of multifaceted professional experience, having served as a Client Relationship Manager within esteemed financial institutions such as Standard Chartered Bank and HDFC Bank Limited. Additionally, she has contributed her expertise to business development and marketing endeavors at Malayala Manorama Company Limited, a prominent media conglomerate in India.
Throughout her tenure, Kripa has honed her proficiency in various domains including time management, relationship cultivation, business expansion, innovative problem-solving, and collaborative teamwork. Her responsibilities have consistently entailed extensive travel, adherence to stringent deadlines, and the attainment of organizational objectives. Noteworthy attributes distinguishing her include self-motivation and exceptional interpersonal communication skills.
At FACS, Kripa is dedicated to fostering organizational efficiency and simplifying processes. She takes great pride in contributing to FACS’s overall objective, which encompasses supporting agricultural institutes and small agri-businesses to positively impact farmers’ livelihoods, thereby bolstering her sense of purpose.
Kripa holds an MBA degree from a prestigious university in India
As a senior advisor – climate risk solutions at Financial Access, Emmanuel brings his technical knowledge of climate change to help develop financial products for different users; especially farmers to gain access to credit.
Dr. Emmanuel Attoh is a reliable and impact-driven climatologist with extraordinary interdisciplinary skills. He has over 10 years of experience working in academia, industry and consultancy organisations. Given the unprecedented multi-sectoral impacts of climate change across the globe, Emmanuel is keen on leveraging his expertise to understand the risks posed by climate change and deploy actionable solutions to address them. He holds a PhD in Climate and Environmental sciences from Wageningen University and has extensively worked on climate risk assessment and management, and climate information services for adaptation.
Philemon Tetteh-Addo is an agricultural economist with special interest in socio-economic evaluation of agriculture technologies, project evaluations, agricultural marketing, and agribusiness development. He holds an MPhil in Agricultural Economics and a BSc Degree in Agricultural Technology from University for Development Studies, Ghana. He has worked with several Research Scientists at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research- Savanna Agricultural Research Institute as a socio-economist in Ghana. Within this period he undertook evaluation of several agriculture technologies, project monitoring and evaluation and other consulting assignments. Key to agri-business development is value chain upgrading and innovative Agri-financing which is the core of FACS and joining the team affords Philemon a working space that require his experience and skill while bringing him joy for what he does.
As an Agrifinance Advisor, Philemon plays the role of conducting project research, value chain diagnostics as well as designing financial structures and financial inclusion solutions for impact in the agricultural sector.
Rita has a strong background in financial planning, analysis, and strategic decision-making. With a proven track record of optimizing financial performance and driving growth, Rita brings comprehensive accounting and financial management expertise. Her proficiency in analyzing complex financial data and translating them into actionable insights makes her a great value add for informed business decisions.
Her experience spans over a decade of successfully working with and coordinating cross-functional teams in diverse sectors including banking, asset-finance, leasing, agro-tech, export processing, audit, research, M&E consulting, and insurance to achieve financial objectives, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and contributing to stakeholders’ socio-economic development.
She is a Certified Public Accountant CPA-Finalist. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, B.Com (Hons) in Finance, and has a Master of Business Administration, MBA in International Business Management. She is an Alumna of Strathmore University, the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and the University of Nairobi. In her free time, she enjoys baking, traveling, mentoring children and youth, as well as learning new skills.
Rita is keen on contributing to the growth of emerging economies in Africa and the world, through sustainable Environmental, Social, and Governance, ESG practices of impact investing.
Prisca, an agronomy engineer, graduated from the National Polytechnic Institute of higher education, research, and production in Côte d’Ivoire (INP-HB). Her specialization lies in crop protection, complemented by a strong interest in agricultural finance. Her professional journey commenced at ANADER, where she served as a specialized technician focusing on perennial crops. There, she led a team of Agricultural Advisers, guiding peanut, palm, cocoa, and rubber growers. Transitioning to ADVANS, she assumed the role of agricultural account manager, tailoring loans for cocoa and cashew nut cooperatives. Promoted to Agricultural Segment Supervisor, she oversaw a team of agricultural account managers, crafting financing solutions for various sectors such as corn, rice, cocoa, cashew nuts, and rubber. Her dedication to agricultural finance stems from recognizing its pivotal role in ensuring food security. With extensive experience in agricultural finance and project management, she earned her expert certificate in agricultural finance in 2022.
Nirina has an extensive background spanning over two decades in project management, consulting, auditing, and risk management. Driven by a passion for excellence and a genuine concern for the well-being of individuals, Nirina extends her expertise as a project manager and coach, guiding leaders through complex projects and facilitating organizational change. Her managerial prowess extends across West Africa, France, and the Netherlands, demonstrating a consistent interest in driving change and employing best business practices.
Throughout her career, Nirina has held pivotal roles in multinational corporations such as Industrial Promotion Services (West Africa), Société Générale, EY, and Saypience, where she adeptly managed operational and legal risks while leading governance bodies. Specializing in sectors ranging from public/private to banking and agro-industrial, she has played a vital role in supporting clients through transformation programs, change implementation, and environmental and social impact evaluations.
Holding Master’s degrees from INSEAD and Sciences Po Paris, she has cultivated a wealth of experience in the cocoa, cotton, cashew, and sugar industries across various African countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Benin.
Reinier Bernaert combines a deep passion for impact investment with a wealth of experience in finance and operations management, making him a leading force for sustainable development in East Africa. As the newly appointed Regional Head East Africa & Senior Advisor for Impact Investment Solutions, Reinier is set to drive significant social and economic growth across the region through innovative financial strategies.
Before his current role, Reinier shaped the future of impact investing at Shaping Impact Group, demonstrating exceptional skill in nurturing investments that drive social and technological advancement. His strategic mindset and financial expertise were instrumental in the growth and success of significant ventures in health tech and sustainability.
Reinier’s entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly as a co-founder and driving force behind Hutspot, a concept store that revolutionized retail in the Netherlands. Under his strategic and financial stewardship, Hutspot scaled remarkably, expanding to multiple cities. This venture not only demonstrated Reinier’s capacity for innovative business models but also underscored his talent for scaling businesses.
Educated at the University of Amsterdam with a Master’s in Business Economics and further enriched at the London School of Economics, Reinier’s analytical and strategic capabilities are well-established. His career is a testament to his belief in the transformative power of finance, from fostering startup ecosystems to empowering communities in East Africa.
Reinier is recognized for his excellent communication skills, ability to solve complex problems, and resilience under pressure. His journey reflects a commitment to not just achieving financial success, but to creating a lasting impact on society through innovative and sustainable investment solutions.
