The CIDR Pamiga Team
Meet our team of people fully committed to helping businesses and entrepreneurs in remote areas develop.
Renée Chao Beroff
Managing Director
René Azokly
Director Microfinance & Impact Funds
Paul Picot
Ecosystem Platforms Director
Eric Levoy
Director of the Projects & Partnership Division
Gilles Ponsot
Finance Manager
Pierre Casal Ribeiro
Impact Manager
Salim Daouda
Technical Adviser
Hervé Sterkers
Project Manager Climate Impact & Environment
Jeremiah Okwaro
Digital Finance Specialist
Shemir Goulamaly Dandjee
Accounting and Administration
Jacinta maIyo
Project Manager Information Technology
Linda Djaoud
Project Manager Digital Finance
Umberto Trivella
Financial Inclusion Project Manager
Johnson KITHENDU
Financial Inclusion Project Manager
Nancy Kouakou
Office Manager
Nancy KOUAKOU BOUTIN
Office Manager
Nancy joined CIDR – PAMIGA in 2018. She holds a master’s degree in economic sciences from the University of Abidjan, a master’s degree in international finance from the London Metropolitan university and a master’s degree in development economics from the University of Grenoble. She has a multidisciplinary academic background: general economics, finance, trading, development economics which allows her to understand all the issues addressed by the different projects carried out by CIDR – Pamiga.
She started her professional life in Armajaro, London in Commodity trading as Administrative Trade Support. She has held administrative positions in banking (BNI Finances, Standard Chartered Bank), worked in construction in cabinet (GEZA – Expertises 2i, BIO Architects) as Administrative and Commercial Director then Office Manager. This varied experience shows her ability to adapt.
She assists the directors of clusters and provides administrative back-office relay for field actions.
Jeremiah OKWARO
Digital Finance Specialist
Jeremiah has worked for various types of organizations in the digital finance space, including telecom operators, fintechs and multilateral development organizations in different countries – Kenya, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry and Nigeria – and has also managed projects in Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a Consultant for IFC/World Bank.
Johnson KITHENDU
Financial Inclusion Project Manager
Johnson Kithendu is a Financial Inclusion, enterprise development and agri-value chains Consultant & practitioner, with 18+ years of experience helping organizations in human centred design and implementation of strategies, programs, and products geared to transforming lives. He has both hands-on experiences running enterprises as an employee, founder entrepreneur: providing advisory services as a management consultant with some of the world’s best consulting firms like Deloitte, BDO, Madoqua and CIDR-PAMIGA but also has experience stimulating economic development and resilience through development finance and program oversight, design and implementation. he has a wealth of knowledge and experience in Financial Inclusion, specifically in agricultural value chains product design- specifically in four value chains- dairy, horticulture, cereals and select livestock, Digital Finance, Responsible Finance, and Youth Finance. He has provided strategic advisory, training, resource mobilization and operational support, to organizations across different sectors and – most he has supported over 15 financial institutions including regulated and non-regulated micro finance banks, banks, SMEs and Cooperatives. Johnson is a highly talented and a well-spoken of trainer and facilitator of learner-oriented training packages. His specific skills are in human-centred design (HCD) of programs and products/services; institutional audits and strategy development; organisational development; capital linkages between supply and demand side from different institutions; training design, development, delivery and management; and program/project implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
He is passionate about applying his knowledge, skills and experience in helping organizations improve the lives of the communities they serve and more specifically efforts that are geared to serve the rural poor, agriculture, women youth and MSMEs that focus on these categories. He has been involved in policy design for Co-operative Organizational and Marketing Structures including product design, training more than 300 senior managers in cooperatives in Kenya. He has trained over 140 micro finance professionals across Africa through the Annual School of African Microfinance (SAM). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Economics and Accounting) From Maseno University, A Diploma in Banking and a Masters’ Degree in Business Adminstration from United States International University-Africa (USIU-A).
Jacinta KAMEMBA MAIYO
Project Manager Information Technology
Jacinta brings more than 20 years of professional experience in IT, financial inclusion and microfinance. She has extensive international experience in leading IT and financial inclusion IT
projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Her expertise has been crucial for carrying out digital finance projects in Western and Eastern Africa, focused on developing IT strategies and designing digital finance solutions that accelerate financial inclusion, scale and enhance efficiency.
She is a seasoned IT professional with vast experience in core banking system deployment, digital transformation, and project management. She also has expertise in solutions addressing needs in areas such as Inclusive Banking, Core Banking, IT Risk Management, Digital Banking, and Fraud Mitigation. Jacinta has led diverse teams and businesses in emerging economies on the path to digital transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her experience also includes managing tech companies and mobile network operators in their strategy to deliver IT solutions for financial institutions.
She held a governance position where she served as a board member of the Association of Microfinance Professionals of Kenya (AMPK) for 3 years. She is currently serving as a board member at CIDR Kenya and Inuka Africa International, a microfinance institution based in Kenya.
Pierre CASAL RIBEIRO
Impact Manager
Pierre Casal Ribeiro joined CIDR Pamiga in 2020 and is based in Paris.
Pierre has over 10 years of experience in inclusive finance and managing sustainable development projects in developing countries. He has acquired expertise in the design and management of technical assistance programs for Microfinance Institutions, and in microinsurance.
Before joining CIDR PAMIGA, Pierre worked for 5 years at the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation. First he was in charge of the “Agricultural microinsurance” practice, which led him to work with partners in Mali and Kenya, and to publish numerous articles on the subject of access to agricultural insurance for smallholder farmers. Afterwards, he was responsible of technical assistance programs, piloting activities in twelve countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Previously, Pierre worked as a sustainable development consultant, for the NGO Positive PlaNet and the microfinance institution Fondesurco in Peru.
During the past ten years, Pierre has lived in France, Peru, Nicaragua and Senegal, and has carried out missions in many other countries. Pierre is a graduate of the Master Grande Ecole of ESCP and the Master of Microfinance from the ULB University in Brussels. Pierre is also pursuing a PhD in management at Paris Nanterre University, on the economic model and public-private partnerships in agricultural insurance.
Shemir GOULAMALY DANDJEE
Accounting and Administration
Shemir Goulamaly Dandjee was an accountant for 7 years in various accounting firms in Paris.
He wanted to experience a change in his career and to know the life of an enterprise.
He joined CIDR Pamiga in January 2020, and works in close collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer. He manages the accounts of the structure, integrates the accounts of the various African offices into that of the headquarters, participates in the preparation of budgets, cash flow plans and financial reports for projects.
At the organizational level, Shemir Goulamaly Dandjee helps to monitor cash flow. He assists in the preparation of the annual financial statements which are sent to the Auditor. Shemir Goulamaly Dandjee is based in offices in Paris.
Salim DAOUDA
Technical Adviser in charge of Sustainable Economic Development
Salim Daouda joined CIDR Pamiga as Technical Advisor in charge of Sustainable
Economic Development topics and based in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).
Master graduated in creation, business takeover and entrepreneurship from the University of Bordeaux 4, Salim has over a dozen years of experience on topics of sustainable economic development, green entrepreneurship and youth and women socio-professional integration.
Before joining CIDR Pamiga, Salim was the Thematic Referent for Local Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at GRDR, Consultant on behalf of several organizations (OXFAM, ECOWAS, UNDP, UNFPA, World Bank, CIR-Burkina-Faso, Ministry of Youth of Benin, Ministry of SMEs and SMIs of Benin, etc.), and Head of a entrepreneurship promoting center as part of a UNDP project in Benin.
His experiences have taken him to several African countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mauritius, Guinea, Central African Republic, Nigeria). They have enabled him to address challenges of promoting green jobs, supporting project leaders in business creation, access to market.
He is also involved in the planning and monitoring of projects and programs involving territory, economic development and sustainability. Open and pragmatic, he is passionate for these questions.
Umberto TRIVELLA
Financial Inclusion Project Manager
Umberto is a financial inclusion and project management specialist with more than 10 years of experience in both developing and developed countries. His key competencies include quantitative and qualitative
studies, development of new financial products and delivery channels, and training and coaching. Umberto has conducted consulting assignments in 20 countries, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
At CIDR Pamiga, Umberto is in charge of programs aiming to promote access to clean energy for rural households and enterprises through the development of adapted financing and distribution models leveraging new technologies (digital finance, PAYGO). Umberto holds a degree in Political Science from “Sapienza” University of Rome and a Master’s in Cooperation and Development from the Institute for
Advance Study of the University of Pavia, Italy.
Linda DJAOUD
Project Manager Digital Finance
Linda worked 9 years for Deloitte consulting and 4 years for BNP Paribas’ financial management on several business transformation projects and information systems projects.
Linda holds a masters degree in information systems from the IAE Paris Panthéon Sorbonne. She is specialized in the management of complex transformation programs and also in the problems of operational excellence, optimization of organizations and business processes. She has worked with many financial French and international institutions in Switzerland, French Polynesia, Algeria… She has joined PAMIGA in January 2019 as a digital finance program manager. Linda will continue piloting this ambitious project with the members of the network’s microfinance institutions and will provide her expertise in the field of digital transformation.
Paul PICOT
Ecosystem Platforms Director
Paul is an agro-economist graduate from Agro Paris Tech. He has 30 years’ experience in the management of development projects in more than 20 Sub Saharan countries, mainly in the fields of inclusive and agricultural finance targeting smallholder farmers and agri MSMEs. His main areas of expertise are Strategic and operational planning, Development of financial products and financial instruments (credit lines and guarantee mechanisms) for agricultural value chain actors, Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation. He has documented several innovations in rural and agricultural finance.
Paul has carried out more than 50 short term consultations in rural and agricultural finance and agricultural value chain development, in particular for IFAD, AFD and AGRA, for market and feasibility studies, project design, supervision and implementation support missions.
He is based in Nairobi, Kenya and is fluent in French and English.
Gilles PONSOT
Finance Manager
Gilles PONSOT was Finance Manager of CIDR for 13 years after more than five years of field experience and 17 years of administrative and financial coordination.
He is responsible for budgets, cash flow plans and financial reports for projects and for the preparation of the controls done by external auditors. He is the interlocutor of financial partners on all questions regarding financial reporting of projects.
At the level of the structure Gilles PONSOT follows the treasury and the administrative management of the staff. It prepares the annual financial statements and submits them to the Statutory Auditor for certification. He participates in the Boards meetings and reports to the Board members on the financial situation and presents the provisional budget.
Gilles PONSOT is based in Paris and is responsible for carrying out control and training missions on field operations, particularly in Benin, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. He is the regular contact for the administrative and financial managers of the projects and of the offices in Abidjan and Nairobi.
Eric LEVOY
Director of the Projects and Partnership Division
Eric LEVOY is an expert in local economic development and promotion of agrifood companies. Mr. LEVOY has more than 20 years’ experience in the design and implementation of economic development projects in Africa.
He has developed expertise in several sectors, including: local economic development, market access systems, agricultural value chains and the development of contract farming (agribusiness and smallholder farmers), promotion of the agro-ecological transition, the fight against climate change, green economics, circular economy, civic-tech, socio-professional integration of young people.
He has led several programs in Guinea – Conakry, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Ivory Coast to promote access to the market for smallholder farmers, in connection with agrifood companies in various value chains (salt, cashew nuts, rice, soybeans, etc.).
His experience has enabled him to acquire a practical knowledge of the problems faced by the main actors in agricultural value chains (producers and processors) and actions to be taken to promote their synergy, aiming at mutual and sustainable growth.
Hervé STERKERS
Project Manager Climate Change & Environment
Working at CIDR Pamiga since 2015, Hervé Sterkers has supported some local
authorities in Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire to improve the attractiveness of their territory. This attractiveness requires general and sectoral territorial planning, and support for their implementation. In this dynamic, Hervé STERKERS is proficient on several thematics regarding the local governance as planning and digital citizen participation, land, local analysis of climate change and energy transition, environment, waste management, management of natural resources around a natural park, integrated management of water resources. This support is systematically part of a logic of local economic development, promotion of local employment and gender mainstreaming. He leads the various projects by promoting innovation, both in terms of tools (digital integration in development projects), methodology (such as the introduction of Payments for Ecosystem Services) and approach development (for example with the Change Oriented Approach). He works from Cotonou, Benin.
René AZOKLY
Director Microfinance
René AZOKLY has extensive experience as Operations Manager and Managing Director of microfinance institutions. He has been member of the board of directors of various microfinance institutions and major microfinance networks. He is also specialized in training, financial analysis and project management. He has solid experience in designing turnaround plans for microfinance institutions as well as conducting the institutionalization of microfinance projects. Currently, he is the Manager of the CIDR Pamiga’s Pilar responsible for supporting financial institutions and SMEs. He is also the Chairman of LAPO Microfinance Bank’s board Risk Management Committee and one of the Boulder Institute of Microfinance’s teachers.
Renée CHAO BEROFF
Managing Director
PHD in Economics and Finance, Renee Chao-Beroff is the founder and Managing Director of PAMIGA and PAMIGA FINANCE SA, an Investment Vehicle in rural microfinance for Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, at the merger of CIDR with PAMIGA, she became the CEO of CIDR Pamiga, an international NGO which ambition is to contribute to unlock the social and economic potential of rural populations in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Renee Chao-Beroff comes from the Financial Inclusion sector where she worked during more than 20 years, in the field, in remote rural areas and in poor peri-urban neighborhoods, and as advisor to public and private decision makers in policy and strategy, in many countries as well as to many donors. She has initiated work in measuring social and environmental performance for Microfinance as Chairwoman of CERISE and participated at the foundation of the Social Performance Task Force.
She has taught rural and agriculture finance at CEFEB (in Marseille), at the Boulder Training Institute (in Colorado and in Turin) and at Sciences Po in Paris. She was a member of the Policy Advisory Group and at the Executive Committee of CGAP (the think-tank of the World Bank and the 30 largest donors and DFIs for Financial Inclusion) during 10 years.
She has always believed in the virtue of an integrated approach, where Technical Assistance and Investment work in synergy to increase and scale up Impact. This was the vision that led her to create PAMIGA in 2006 and PAMIGA FINANCE in 2012. It is in this context that very innovative projects were implemented in provision of access to productive water and renewable energy as well as in Digital Finance.
Today, with CIDR Pamiga, Renee Chao-Beroff aims at pushing the frontiers of Financial Inclusion even further into Impact Investment, Digital Platforms for Agricultural Value Chains and to address the challenges of Climate Change.
She believes in co-creation, in multi-stakeholder partnerships and in network in action. She is a director at Convergence and active member in numerous international working groups.