Reuben is an economist and climate finance expert with a strong track record in international economics, climate risk, and sustainable finance. His experience spans UN agencies, multilateral institutions, commercial banks, and central banks, advising on some of the most pressing financial and environmental challenges facing Africa and the global South.
He previously served as Africa Regional Lead at the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), where he led efforts to integrate climate and sustainability practices across the continent’s financial sector. He is the Founder of the Kenya Climate Directory – the country’s largest public-access climate knowledge platform – and serves as Managing Director of Climate Shapers Africa, a specialized advisory firm advancing green finance and executive capacity-building.
His thought leadership has been featured in Project Syndicate, the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), the World Economic Forum, and the Africa Policy Journal at Harvard Kennedy School. His work has earned recognition through several awards, including the prestigious St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award and the Rudi Dornbusch Prize in International Economics.
He is frequently invited to speak at high-level forums hosted by institutions such as the Kenya Bankers Association, Oxford University, Chatham House, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the World Bank. He has served as a Subject Matter Expert for the global Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) certification. Since 2024, he sits on the Steering Committee of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) AgriFood Project in Kenya.
Reuben has been a visiting lecturer at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town (South Africa), and Strathmore University Business School (Kenya). As a consultant, he has delivered executive training to over 700 executives and board members globally. He is currently a PhD candidate in International Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Switzerland. As a thought leader, he is an Agenda Contributor to the World Economic Forum.
An avid traveler, he has worked and traveled across 21 countries – bringing a global perspective to his work.
Previous consulting clients
International Organizations
World Bank/IFC
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)
Finance for Development Lab, Paris
World Green Building Council Africa Regional Network
Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics (LSE)
Organisation of Southern and Eastern African Insurers (OESAI)
African Venture Philanthropy Alliance
United Nations (UN) Agencies
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions
Partnership for Action on Green Economy (alliance of five UN agencies)
Financial Sector
Central Banks and Industry Associations
Central Bank of Kenya
Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Bank of Central African States (BEAC)
Kenya Bankers Association
Commercial Banks
KCB Bank Group
Equity Bank Group
Absa Bank
Bank of Africa
Co-operative Bank
Ecobank Kenya
Habib Bank AG Zurich
Kingdom Bank
Development Bank
Consolidated Bank
Faculty & Teaching Engagements
Strathmore University
Strathmore Business School
University of Cape Town (UCT) Graduate School of Business
Expert Contributions & Workshops
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Chatham House Africa Programme
International Energy Agency
Smith School, University of Oxford
International Emissions Trading Association
Alliance for Financial Inclusion
African Research Impact Network
Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Program
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)
National Assembly of Zimbabwe
Stockholm+50 Regional Consultations
Previous Employement
UNEP FI
Credit Suisse
McKinsey & Company
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Published works
Wambui, R., Feyertag, J., & Monnin, P. (2023). Net zero central banking in Africa's diverse economies: challenges, opportunities and policy options. London: Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Mohieldin, M., Kenewendo, B., & Wambui, R. (2023). Breaking Financing Barriers for a Just Climate Transition in Africa. Accra: African Center for Economic Transformation.
Kimundi, G. & Wambui, R. (2023). Climate Change, Climate Policy Relevant Sectors and Banking Sector (In)Stability: A Vulnerability Assessment. Nairobi: Kenya Bankers Association.
Kimundi, G. & Wambui, R. (2023). Climate Change, Climate Policy Relevant Sectors and Banking Sector (In)Stability: A Vulnerability Assessment [Policy brief]. Nairobi: Kenya Bankers Association.
Wambui, R. (2021). Climate-related Financial Risks for Kenyan Banks: An Analysis of Loan Portfolios and GHG Emissions. Geneva: Graduate Institute Publications.
Wambui, R. (2019). Systemic Interventions for Sustainable Capital Financing. St. Gallen Symposium.
Makambi, S., Kimundi, G., & Wambui, R. (2017). Influence of Bank Lending to the Government on Private Sector Credit in Kenya: A Fiscal Deficit Specification. Nairobi: Kenya Bankers Association.
Franceschi, L., Memusi, S., & Wambui, R. (2015). The Cost of Devolution in Kenya: A Cost Analysis of the New Governance Framework Introduced by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya and its Impact on the Country’s Public Finance. Africa Policy Journal, Harvard Kennedy School.
Book chapter
Wambui, R. (2022). Scaling Up Sustainable Finance and Investment in the Global South: A Case Study on Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Schoenmaker, Di and Volz, Ulrich, (eds.), Scaling Up Sustainable Finance and Investment in the Global South, London: Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).
Commissioned work and expert contribution
Contributing author: Factsheet: Breaking Financing Barriers for a Just Climate Transition in Africa - African Center for Economic Transformation (2023)
Lead author: Report on the Industry Workshop on the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)’s Guidance on Climate-related Risk Management - Kenya Bankers Association & UNEP FI (2022)
Lead author: Greening the SMEs: Improving SME Access to Green Finance in Mauritius - UN PAGE (2021)
Contributing author: Climate Risk Regulation in Africa’s Financial Sector and Related Private Sector Initiatives - AfDB, GCA, & UNEP FI (2021)
Contributing expert: Sustainable Investment in Kenya: Increasing the Quantity and Quality of Investment Flows - World Economic Forum (2021)
Other research contributions
UNCTAD (2023). SDG Investment Trends Monitor: Issue 4, September. SDG Investment is Growing, but Too Slowly: The Investment Gap is Now $4 Trillion, up from $2.5 in 2015. New York and Geneva: United Nations. United Nations publication.
UNCTAD (2023). World Investment Report 2023: Investing in Sustainable Energy for All. New York and Geneva: United Nations. United Nations publication.
UNICEF (2016). The links between Equity, Governance, Education and Peacebuilding in Kenya. Nairobi: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office.
World Bank (2013). Kenya Innovation Survey.
Media articles and interviews
Business Daily Africa (2024): Third-party assurance is the new frontier in sustainability reporting - Wambui, R.
Business Daily Africa (2024): Kenya must deepen its economic diplomacy in a globalised world - Wambui, R.
World Economic Forum (2023): Why trillions more are needed to bridge the SDG financing gap - Zhan, J., Casella, B., Wambui, R., & Vine, R.
Green Central Banking (2023): African central banks can help build low-carbon and green economies - Wambui, R., Feyertag, J., & Monnin, P.
Project Syndicate (2023): How to Close Africa's Climate-Finance Gap - Mohieldin, M., Kenewendo, B., & Wambui, R.
Business Daily Africa (2023): How chief sustainability officer role has evolved - Wambui, R. & Shah, R.
Business Daily Africa (2023): Why Kenya needs information resource tools like climate directory - Wambui, R.
Africa Ahead (2022): The Role of Young Insurance Professionals in Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change Risk in Africa - Wambui, R.
Global Shapers Zurich (2022): Interview on working in the area of climate change and sustainable finance - Wambui, R.
Geneva Graduate Institute (2020): Perspective on the Master in International Economics | Reuben Wambui [Video].
Business Daily Africa (2019): More Women in Management No Longer Tokenism for Firms - Wambui, R.
PhD in International Economics Merit Scholarship – Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland
Rudi Dornbusch Prize for best Master thesis in Economics – Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland
Global Winner, Wings of Excellence Award – St. Gallen Symposium, Global Award
Credit Suisse Merit Scholarship – Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland
Silver Award Winner – UNLEASH Innovation Lab, Singapore
Values Day Leadership Award – McKinsey & Company, Kenya
First Runner-Up, CFA Institute Research Challenge – CFA Institute, East Africa
Most Outstanding Student Award – Strathmore University, Kenya
Best Overall Student in Financial Economics – Strathmore University, Kenya
Undergraduate Scholarship – Shah Ranmal Raja Charitable Trust, Kenya
Curriculum Vitae Download CV
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Contacts
LinkedIn Reuben M Wambui
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Featured on CNBC Africa to speak on the state of the Kenyan economy and the World Bank Economic Update
Live on NTV Kenya discussing the state of the economy and the foreign exchange market in Jan 2023 (Interview in Swahili)