REUBEN

MUHINDI

WAMBUI

MEDIA & FEATURED WORK

Featured on CNBC Africa to speak on the state of the Kenyan economy and the World Bank Economic Update

Global winner of the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award for a paper on 'Systemic interventions for sustainable capital financing'

Keynote address at the Africa Insurance Organisation (AIO) Conference on the role of young professionals in mitigating the effects of climate change

Awarded Rudi Dornbusch Prize for best thesis in International Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland

Interview with CNBC Africa on expanding green finance initiatives within the East Africa Community (EAC)

Research writing on 'Climate-Related Financial Risks for Kenyan Banks' now available on Amazon

Training senior managers on climate risks in banking following guidance issued by the Central Bank of Kenya

Trained all Kenyan bank CEOs following guidance issued by the Central Bank of Kenya on climate risk management

Trained the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) supervision department on current trends in climate risk regulation

Interview with the Global Shapers Hub in Zurich, Switzerland on working in the area of sustainable finance

Africa Climate Week in Gabon with UN Climate Change High-Level Champion Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin ahead of COP27 in Egypt

Live on NTV Kenya discussing the state of the economy and the foreign exchange market in Jan 2023 (Interview in Swahili)

Panelist at the Africa Climate Summit during the launch of the TCFD Reporting Template for Kenya Bankers Association

Founder of the Kenya Climate Directory. This is Kenya's centralised climate and nature repository with over 3,000 resources

Hosted on Hot96 Radio with Jeff Koinange and Nick Odhiambo to talk about climate change to the general public following very severe flooding in Kenya

Moderated the panel session on financing energy efficient buildings at the IEA 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency

Facilitated consultations with Kenyan banks on the Climate Risk Disclosure Framework published by the Central Bank of Kenya

Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) Africa Network engagement with the financial industry executives

Kenya Climate Directory (KCD) was a Top 3 finalist at the NCN Climate Awards 2024. With Lydia, Co-Director and Head of Partnerships at KCD

AFI Workshop in Côte d'Ivoire training policymakers from eight central banks on the new IFRS SI and S2 standards, and implications for MSMEs

Teaching the Climate Finance course as part of the MCom in Development Finance programme at the University of Cape Town, South Africa

Trained the accountants' professional body ICPAK on integrating IFRS S1 and S2 sustainability reporting standards into business strategy

Invited by three Kenyan TV stations to discuss the state of Kenya's economy following protests over the contested Finance Bill

Regional Training on Greening of MSMEs and the Role of Regulators, organized by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) and the Central Bank of Eswatini

ABOUT

Reuben is an economist and climate finance expert specializing in international economics, climate risk, and sustainable finance. He is the founder of the Kenya Climate Directory and the Executive Director of Climate Shapers Africa Limited. He sits on the Steering Committee of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) AgriFood Project in Kenya.

Reuben has consulted for various institutions including the World Bank, multiple UN agencies, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, UNEP Finance Initiative, Central Bank of Kenya, among others. He has spoken at high-level forums convened by the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), among others.

He has published widely in platforms such as the Africa Policy Journal at Harvard Kennedy School, World Economic Forum (WEF), Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and Project Syndicate. He has won several awards, including the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award and the Rudi Dornbusch Prize in International Economics. He has written three book chapters and authored multiple articles and commissioned reports.

As an industry expert, he has trained 850+ professionals at management and senior management levels, delivering trainings in Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Eswatini, and South Africa. As a subject expert on green financial regulation, he has trained central bankers from over 20 countries. He also served as a Senior Climate Risk Expert on the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) technical assistance programme that developed the Kenya Green Finance Taxonomy.

Reuben holds a Master in International Economics from the Geneva Graduate Institute (Switzerland) and a Bachelor in Financial Economics from Strathmore University (Kenya). He is currently a PhD candidate in International Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. As an adjunct lecturer, he has taught climate finance courses at University of Cape Town (South Africa) and Strathmore Business School (Kenya).

An avid traveler, he has visited 22 countries.

CLIENT PORTFOLIO

Previous clients and consultancies:

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

World Bank/IFC
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA)
Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)
Finance for Development Lab, Paris
Grantham Research Institute, London

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 5 UN agencies)

CENTRAL BANKS & INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

Central Bank of Kenya
Kenya Bankers Association
Rwanda Bankers Association
Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)

COMMERCIAL BANKS

KCB Bank Group
Absa Bank
Bank of Africa
Ecobank Kenya
Kingdom Bank
Development Bank
Consolidated Bank
DTB Group

ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS

Strathmore University
Strathmore Business School (SBS)
University of Cape Town (UCT)

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

FSD Kenya
Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)

WORKSHOPS & EXPERT CONTRIBUTIONS

World Economic Forum (WEF)
Chatham House Africa Programme
International Energy Agency
Smith School, University of Oxford
International Emissions Trading Association
African Research Impact Network
Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Program
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)
National Assembly of Zimbabwe
Stockholm+50 Regional Consultations
World Green Building Council Africa Regional Network
Organisation of Southern and Eastern African Insurers (OESAI)
African Venture Philanthropy Alliance
Afronomicslaw

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

UNEP FI
Credit Suisse
McKinsey & Company

PUBLICATIONS

Click on hyperlink to read or download

PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Wambui, R., & Cheruiyot, J. (2025). Project-based guarantees in climate finance: Enhancing effectiveness and scale. Paris: Finance for Development Lab. External contribution.
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 CHAPTERS

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).

MEDIA ARTICLES & OP-EDS