REUBEN
MUHINDI
WAMBUI
About
Reuben is an economist and climate finance specialist with deep expertise in climate risk and sustainable finance. His work spans multiple UN agencies, international organizations, central banks, banks, and other financial institutions. Previously, he served as the Africa Regional Lead at UNEP FI.
He is the founder of Kenya Climate Directory, Kenya's leading climate and nature repository hosting over 3,000 knowledge and data resources, and has been a prominent voice in climate action and sustainable finance. An avid industry speaker, he has trained more than 300 C-suite executives and central bankers, and is frequently featured across television, radio, and print media.
His research has been published in leading platforms including the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), Center for Global Development (CGD), African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), Project Syndicate, and Africa Policy Journal of the Harvard Kennedy School. He has been recognized with multiple awards, including the prestigious St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award and the Rudi Dornbusch Prize in International Economics.
Reuben has contributed to high-level workshops and conferences hosted by the Central Bank of Kenya, Oxford University, Chatham House, International Energy Agency, the World Bank, among others. He serves as an Agenda Contributor for the World Economic Forum and was a Subject Matter Expert for the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) certification.
In 2024, he was appointed to the Steering Committee of the United Nations Environment Programme – The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (UNEP-TEEB) AgriFood Project in Kenya.
He holds a Bachelor in Financial Economics from Strathmore University (Kenya) and a Master in International Economics from the Geneva Graduate Institute (Switzerland), where he is currently pursuing a PhD in International Economics.
An avid traveler, he has visited over 20 countries. Outside work, he is a big sports fan, and enjoys watching tennis, playing golf, and supporting Manchester United.
Experience & Consulting
Previous consulting clients
Climate, Sustainability & Net-Zero Transition
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)
World Green Building Council Africa Regional Network
Grantham Research Institute, London School of Economics (LSE)
Kenya Bankers Association
Organisation of Southern and Eastern African Insurers
African Venture Philanthropy Alliance
International Organizations
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions
World Bank
Partnership for Action on Green Economy
Financial Sector
Central Banks
Central Bank of Kenya
Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Bank of Central African States (BEAC)
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
Academic & Teaching
Strathmore University
Institut Supérieur de Finance (ISF) Dakar
Strathmore Business School
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
Research & Publications
Click on hyperlink 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
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.
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
CV & Contacts
Curriculum Vitae Download CV
Download headshot: Headshot photos
Contacts
LinkedIn Reuben M Wambui
Media & Featured Work
Click on any of the articles to read more
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)