Our staff
Meet some of our staff who make the Ripple Effect
Paul Stuart
“I believe in locally-led development, the power of hope, and the benefit of evidence-based decision making. I am keen to learn from others and open to exploring innovative and entrepreneurial approaches.
“I am grateful for many opportunities to gain experience throughout my career; training as a Chartered Accountant, 15 years in Children’s Publishing, and working and volunteering for organisations whose purposes are aligned around ways to end poverty, reduce inequality, and build confident, thriving and resilient communities.”
Ask me about… Our vision, mission and plans to achieve it.
Contact me: CEO@rippleeffect.org
Melesse Berhanu
“I have over two decades of experience working in the NGO sector, a majority of which have been spent working with Save the Children in Ethiopia and abroad, and with Save the Children USA in Sudan. I have a BA in Economic and an MA in Rural Development. I am very much excited to be joining Ripple Effect not only because the vision, mission and value statements are precise and clear, but also that they align to my personal beliefs and goals.”
Ask me about…Ripple Effect Ethiopia, funding and growth strategy, strategy implementation including technical considerations specific to our areas of expertise, programme reach and impact.
Contact me: Ethiopia@rippleeffect.org
Catherine Mwangi
“I have 12 years’ experience in data management, monitoring and evaluation, and operations research. I have worked with projects that assess performance pre/post intervention, but Ripple Effect takes it a notch higher and designs projects that address the specific needs of the people – adding value to whole communities.
“This focus on effective programmes means we get to design projects that address the specific needs of the people. I knew I had to be part of that.”
Ask me about… Putting data into perspective, and using that information to aid decision making, accountability and learning.
Contact me: MandE@rippleeffect.org
Deogratious Egeru
“I had once heard it said that you would know a family working with Ripple Effect when you saw one. This is true! The ripples created with passing on a gift was the icing on the cake for me; I knew at once that I wanted to be part of this.
“I am an agribusiness professional, highly experienced in enterprise development, marketing and value chain development, and public and private sector engagement.”
Ask me about: agri-enterprise and market development, farmer institutional support, financial inclusion and any innovations in these areas.
Contact me: enterprise@rippleeffect.org
Fred Ochieng
“I had once heard it said that you would know a family working with Ripple Effect when you saw one. This is true! The ripples created with passing on a gift was the icing on the cake for me; I knew at once that I wanted to be part of this.
“I am an agribusiness professional, highly experienced in enterprise development, marketing and value chain development, and public and private sector engagement.”
Ask me about: agri-enterprise and market development, farmer institutional support, financial inclusion and any innovations in these areas.
Contact me: enterprise@rippleeffect.org
Gloria Nimpundu
“From a young age I have always wanted to help improve the living conditions of vulnerable people. I started as a young activist in children's rights which later inspired my choice of professional career. I have more than 16 years of professional experience in non-profit humanitarian and development organizations.”
Ask me about… our work in Burundi, our current and potential relationships with partners and government bodies.
Contact me: burundi@rippleeffect.org
Joanna Brownbill
“From a young age I have always wanted to help improve the living conditions of vulnerable people. I started as a young activist in children's rights which later inspired my choice of professional career. I have more than 16 years of professional experience in non-profit humanitarian and development organizations.”
Ask me about… our work in Burundi, our current and potential relationships with partners and government bodies.
Contact me: burundi@rippleeffect.org
Laurent Munyankusi
“In my 20 years’ designing strategies and building programmes in the development sector, I have seen many living in extreme poor conditions. Yet I know that the world is full of good knowledge, skills and technologies that can bring a positive change.
“I am driven by seeing formerly vulnerable people becoming resources for their communities as their share their knowledge, skills and experience with their neighbours.”
Ask me about… Ripple Effect Rwanda, organisational development, leading and coaching teams and partnership creation.
Contact me: rwanda@rippleeffect.org
Meshark Sikuku
“My ambition has always been to support rural communities and improve lives. Following my studies in agriculture and development management, my career has been focused on creating sustainable change through strategic project design.”
Ask me about… sustainable farming, food security, biodiversity conservation, and the climate crisis.
Contact me: farmsystems@rippleeffect.org
Mike Coburn
“For more than 18 years, I’ve dedicated my professional career to serving in various leadership and fundraising roles for humanitarian and international development NGOs.
“My favorite part of working with Ripple Effect are the relationships I have with my colleagues in Africa who plan and implement our life-changing projects every day. It is a blessing to see the smiling faces of farming families who are now self-sufficient and helping their neighbors.”
Ask me about… our 501c3 charity in the United States, our strategy and fundraising efforts.
Contact me: mike.coburn@rippleeffect.org
Pamela Ebanyat
“For more than 18 years, I’ve dedicated my professional career to serving in various leadership and fundraising roles for humanitarian and international development NGOs.
“My favorite part of working with Ripple Effect are the relationships I have with my colleagues in Africa who plan and implement our life-changing projects every day. It is a blessing to see the smiling faces of farming families who are now self-sufficient and helping their neighbors.”
Ask me about… our 501c3 charity in the United States, our strategy and fundraising efforts.
Contact me: mike.coburn@rippleeffect.org
Rowena Warren
“Since qualifying as a chartered accountant nearly 20 years ago, I have focused my career in the not-for-profit sector. Having volunteered in Kenya in 2015, I saw how Ripple Effect was having a life changing impact on those involved and gave families hope the future. I wanted to carry on being a small part of that.”
Ask me about… increasing our impact, raising more funds, or improving our employee engagement.
Contact me: finance@rippleeffect.org
Sofanit Mesfin
“Since qualifying as a chartered accountant nearly 20 years ago, I have focused my career in the not-for-profit sector. Having volunteered in Kenya in 2015, I saw how Ripple Effect was having a life changing impact on those involved and gave families hope the future. I wanted to carry on being a small part of that.”
Ask me about… increasing our impact, raising more funds, or improving our employee engagement.
Contact me: finance@rippleeffect.org
Titus Sagala
“The impact Ripple Effect has resonates with my personal experience of growing up in rural Kenya; it brings me joy to see others transform their lives, like my family was able to.
“I have a technical agricultural background and over 20 years’ experience in community development and management.”
Ask me about … Ripple Effect Kenya: our strategies, objective, vision and partnerships; and technical questions on farm systems.
Contact me: kenya@rippleeffect.org
Winnifred Mailu
"I believe poverty can be eradicated for good if we all come together to address the underlying global injustices that have taken place over time.
"At Ripple Effect we transform rural livelihoods. I am very happy to be part of this journey and confident that we are creating impact while ensuring that we preserve dignity for the communities we serve. My background is economics and over 15 years working in development gives me the required experience to co-design solution with communities and partners."
Ask me about... our areas of expertise in sustainable agriculture, gender and social inclusion and enterprise.
Contact me: winnifred.mailu@rippleeffect.org
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