Reuben Muhindi
Wambui
Sections: Biography | Publications | Experience | Awards & Honors | Featured Work | Contact Info
Biography
Reuben is an Economist and Climate Finance Specialist with extensive experience in climate risk and sustainable finance. He has consulted for multiple organizations including World Bank, Grantham Research Institute (LSE), FSD Kenya, UNCTAD, UNEP, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. He has also been an expert consultant for over 15 banks including central banks. Previously, he served as Africa Regional Lead at UNEP FI. He has published in several platforms such as Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), Center for Global Development (CGD), Project Syndicate, and Africa Policy Journal at Harvard Kennedy School.
He is the founder and chief editor of the Kenya Climate Directory. This is Kenya's centralized knowledge portal that consolidates over 1,000 climate and nature-related publications across 110+ themes. He is also founder of Climate Shapers Africa, a pan-African advisory firm focused on climate finance. A seasoned trainer, he has trained over 300 senior executives and central bankers on climate risk, regulation, clean energy financing, net-zero transition, and sustainable investing.
Over the years, he has been an expert contributor in workshops/conferences by Oxford University, Chatham House, Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), World Bank, National Assembly of Zimbabwe, International Energy Agency (IEA), World Economic Forum, Institut Supérieur de Finance (ISF), and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). He has also served as a subject matter expert for the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) professional exam. Previously, his work on sustainable finance was awarded the prestigious St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award in Switzerland.
An avid traveler, he has worked/traveled in France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, UAE, Uganda, and the UK. He has featured in several print and broadcast media outlets including CNBC Africa, St Gallen Symposium, Family Radio, NTV Kenya, Hot96 Radio, Africa Ahead, Business Daily Africa, and Global Shapers Zurich Hub. He has also been an Agenda Contributor for the World Economic Forum (WEF).
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 received the Rudi Dornbusch Prize for best thesis in Economics. Currently, he is pursuing a PhD in International Economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. Outside of work, he is a big sports fan and enjoys watching tennis, playing golf, and supporting Manchester United.
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 panels and presentations
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
Strathmore Business School (SBS)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions
CECG / Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Banks & Organizations 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
International Energy Agency (IEA)
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
Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL)
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, Senegal
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
Featured Work / Media
(you can 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)
Contact Info
Reuben Wambui
Nairobi | Geneva
Email: reuben.wambui@graduateinstitute.ch
Social media (27,000+ followers)
Twitter @reubenmuhindi
LinkedIn Reuben M Wambui