Our Team

Kabir leads the Utilities for Energy Transition program focusing on enabling utility digitalization, data driven decision-making and adoption of innovative business models across the globe in World Bank client countries.  Kabir is also part of the core team for the Markets, Connectivity, and Trade program and leads the World Bank’s regional integration and power trade engagement with the Eastern Africa Power Pool.

Prior to joining ESMAP, Kabir worked in the Bank’s Energy and Extractives Global Practice in the East and Southern Africa regions, where he managed various energy sector country dialogue and investment lending and analytical projects on utility strengthening, electricity access, cross-border power trade, and renewables.

Kabir holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland and a MA in Economics from the University of Delhi.

Kasun joins the ESMAP Portfolio Team as a Program Assistant. He has worked with the World Bank Group since 2020 gaining extensive experience in administration, operations, human resources, and project management. In addition to his current role, Kasun has developed specialized expertise in statistics, data, and gender-related initiatives.

Kasun’s career spans across various United Nations agencies, including UNFPA, FAO, UNESCO, and UN Women, where he contributed to mission-critical projects. His diverse experience also includes roles in government and the private sector.   Academically, Kasun holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Project Management from Cardiff Metropolitan University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from the University of London, with academic direction provided by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Additionally, he earned a certificate in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Bristol, highlighting his multidisciplinary academic background.

Kenta is a seasoned renewable energy and access professional. Since Kenta joined the Bank in 2014, he engaged in operations and advisory work for eight countries in East and Southern Africa. He led greenfield engagements in some of the most challenging countries, including the Board delivery of the very first energy lending operation in South Sudan, energy sector reengagement in Sudan, and turnaround of geothermal and energy access projects in Ethiopia. He engaged complex sector reform dialogue such as fuel/electricity subsidy and legal framework reform, and designed energy access interventions in highly fragile and conflict-prone environment. In his capacity as a TTL, he has mentored a number of colleagues new to the Bank operations. 

Prior to joining the Bank, he has worked at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris as a Policy Analyst, and at Institute for Global Environmental Strategies in Japan as Energy and Climate Researcher. He holds MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from the London School of Economics, and BA in International Liberal Studies from Waseda University. 

Lucie has 24 years of experience in communications, with 16 years at the World Bank Group, including assignments with IFC in Nairobi and Dakar.  She has worked on environmental and social policies, transport and climate change, and trade and investment climate issues. 

As ESMAP’s communications lead, she is responsible for advising ESMAP teams on messaging and communication of ESMAP global knowledge products and program results; raising ESMAP’s profile in international forums and enhancing ESMAP’s digital presence; and supporting regional teams on energy subsidy reform communications.

Marie-Gisele provides integral support to the Energy Access and the World Bank Power System Planning teams. She has acted as the Sr. Executive Assistant in the Office of the Director and Sr. Director of the World Bank Energy & Extractives Global Practice.  Marie-Gisele's experience expands numerous World Bank operation systems, monitoring and evaluation, trust fund administration, and human resources related matters. Marie-Gisele is fluent in both French and English.

Marj implements front- and back-end development and oversees the overall design of the ESMAP website, subsidiary sites, activity databases, and other online platforms. She designs and produces the monthly electronic newsletter; writes news for the web; and maintains ESMAP’s external contacts database.  Marj leads the coordination of all ESMAP’s Donors’ Consultative Group Meetings and all International knowledge exchange and global outreach events, such as: ESMAP Knowledge Exchange Forums in Austria, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; Mini Grids Learning Events in Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar, and Nigeria; and the ESMAP Geothermal International Conferences. She also implements ESMAP’s social media campaigns.

Michelle is passionate about knowledge and data-driven products for strategic decisions, with over 17 years of experience in the energy sector. Enthusiastic about innovation and policy adaptation for Just Energy Transition, working toward a zero net emissions industry that can deliver universal access to energy services. She has experience in promoting, designing, and evaluating clean cooking programs.

Michelle was a senior Economist and the Knowledge Coordinator at the Energy Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Responsible for leading the knowledge agenda, analytical products, databases, and dissemination, and developing the area, the funding, and the team from the beginning. Recently, she led the Energy HUB for Latin America and the Caribbean, a collaborative tool for data gathering and knowledge-sharing for Latin America and the Caribbean Energy Transition. And she led the development of a unified agenda for clean hydrogen at the IDB. 

Michelle was also an advisor on energy industries related matters for governments, regulatory authorities, utilities, and industrial associations in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. She has worked as an independent consultant and as part of consulting companies, think tanks, and ONGs. She has been actively involved in educating senior professionals and young researchers; she also serves as an Energy Policy Advisor at the Florence School of Regulation, and editor and peer reviewer of academic journals. She is a regular speaker in workshops, seminars, and conferences. As a result of her research interest, she has co-authored twenty-nine articles in peer-reviewed journals and eight book chapters.

Michelle has PhD in Economics from the University of Paris Sud XI and she was a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute.

In her new role in ESMAP, Michelle will be leading the Clean Cooking Fund.

Wali is primarily responsible for trust fund administration and financial management/reporting in the ESMAP and Energy Climate Finance programs.  He comes to us from the Afghanistan Country office where he was working on the Bank’s largest single country multi-donor trust fund, the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). Wali has extensive experience in financial management, Bank’s operational policies and procedures, disbursements and trust fund management. Over the last one year, Wali was with the South Asia Regional Integration Unit and the FCV Group on Development Assignment managing regional and global trust funds.

Naoki manages a regional and country grant portfolio as well as global knowledge development focused on regional energy integration and power market development. He has also been involved in lending operations and analytical work related to regional integration in Southern Africa and South Asia. Prior to joining ESMAP, Naoki worked as a consultant in business strategy and infrastructure finance, with a strong focus on the power sector. Naoki holds an MSc in Development Management (Applied Development Economics) from the London School of Economics.

Senior Program Assistant

Peace will support the SRMI team in developing and implementing renewable energy programs. This includes providing advisory services, technical support, and capacity building.

During the past six years, Peace has developed expertise in utility operations, risk management, and electricity regulatory affairs at the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL). Her previous role as a Junior Investment Analyst at PROPARCO in Paris involved project finance for energy solutions across Africa.  Peace began her career as an Audit Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Uganda. Passionate about advancing Sustainable Development Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy), Peace is committed to making a positive impact in the energy sector.  She holds a Specialized Master’s in Infrastructure Project Financing from École des Ponts in Paris and is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).