Research & Publications

(click on any of the hyperlinks to read or download) 

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 [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

• African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) (2023).  Factsheet: Breaking Financing Barriers for a Just Climate Transition in Africa. 

• Kenya Bankers Association & UNEP FI (2022). Report on the Industrywide Sensitization Workshop on the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)’s Guidance on Climate-related Risk Management. (Lead author) 

• UN PAGE (2021). Greening the SMEs: Improving SME Access to Green Finance in Mauritius. (Lead author)

• AfDB, GCA, & UNEP FI (2021). Climate Risk Regulation in Africa’s Financial Sector and Related Private Sector Initiatives. (Working Group contributor) 

• World Economic Forum (2021). Sustainable Investment in Kenya: Increasing the Quantity and Quality of Investment Flows. (Expert insights contributor) 

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.

Op-eds, media articles and interviews

• Wambui, R. (2024). Kenya must deepen its economic diplomacy in a globalised world. Business Daily Africa.

• Wambui, R., Feyertag, J., & Monnin, P. (2023). African central banks can help build low-carbon and green economies. Green Central Banking.

• Zhan, J., Casella, B., Wambui, R., & Vine, R. (2023). Why trillions more are needed to bridge the SDG financing gap. World Economic Forum.

• Mohieldin, M., Kenewendo, B., & Wambui, R. (2023). How to Close Africa’s Climate-Finance Gap. Project Syndicate. 

• Wambui, R. & Shah, R. (2023). How chief sustainability officer role has evolved. Business Daily Africa.

• Wambui, R. (2023). Why Kenya needs information resource tools like climate directory. Business Daily Africa.

• Wambui, R. (2022). Interview on working in the area of climate change and sustainable finance. Global Shapers Zurich.

• Wambui, R. (2022). The Role of Young Insurance Professionals in Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change Risk in Africa. Africa Ahead.

• Geneva Graduate Institute (2020). Perspective on the Master in International Economics | Reuben Wambui [Video]. 

• Wambui, R. (2020). Central Bank of Kenya Ought to Tackle Climate Change Risks. Business Daily Africa. 

• Wambui, R. (2019). More Women in Management No Longer Tokenism for Firms. Business Daily Africa.

Industry presentations and panels

• Africa Climate Week & Summit, Kenya

• Africa Climate Week, Gabon

• Kenya Bankers Association Research Conference

• Africa Insurance Organisation (AIO) Conference

• UNEP FI Global Roundtable

• UNEP FI Regional Roundtable for Africa and Middle East

• 4th PSI Africa Market Event on Sustainable Insurance

• Ocean Innovation Africa – Africa's Blue Economy Summit

• UNEP FI Global Roundtable

• St. Gallen Symposium, Switzerland

Experience

Previous employers

• UNEP FI

• Credit Suisse 

• McKinsey & Company

• Strathmore University

• Utawala Africa

Organizations consulted for

• World Bank 

• Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)

• Kenya Bankers Association (KBA)

• FSD Kenya 

• UNCTAD

• LSE Grantham Research Institute

• UN Climate Change High-Level Champions

• CECG / Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Industry clients trained

• Absa Bank

• African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA)

• Bank of Africa

• Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

• Co-operative Bank

• Consolidated Bank

• Development Bank

• Ecobank

• Equity Bank

• Habib Bank AG Zurich

• Kingdom Bank

• Organisation of Southern and Eastern African Insurers (OESAI)

• World Green Building Council Africa Regional Network (WorldGBC ARN)

Teaching experience

• Strathmore University, Kenya

Thematic workshops contribution

• Chatham House Africa Programme

• International Emissions Trading Association (IETA)

• Kenya Bankers Association (KBA)

• National Assembly of Zimbabwe

• Smith School, University of Oxford

• Stockholm+50 Regional Consultations 

• Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Program

• World Bank 

• World Economic Forum (WEF)

Countries' worked/traveled

Kenya, Tanzania, Spain, South Africa, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Uganda, Malawi, Mauritius, UAE, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Gabon, Greece

Awards & Honors 

• 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