ENERGIA’s International Secretariat is based at Hivos, People Unlimited:
Postbus 85565
2508 CG The Hague
The Netherlands
Visitor’s address:
Raamweg 16
2596 HL The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)70 376 55 00
Fax: +31 (0)70362 46 00
International Coordinator and Programme Manager
Sheila Oparaocha | Contact by e-mail
Sheila Oparaocha has eighteen years of working experience in the gender and energy sector. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine and a Master’s Degree in Gender and Development Planning. Sheila is the International Coordinator and Programme Manager of the ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy. She has the overall and primary responsibility for managing ENERGIA’s international programmes, planning, monitoring, reporting and liaising with ENERGIA’s donors. Sheila also provides technical support to ENERGIA’s activities on women entrepreneurship development, gender mainstreaming in energy programmes, international policy advocacy, research and evidence development, network building and knowledge management. Sheila co-chairs the Sustainable Development Goal 7 Technical Advisory Group that has been convened by UNDESA to review progress on SDG 7 and it interlinkages with other SDGs for the 2018 High level Political Forum.
Sheila Oparaocha has eighteen years of working experience in the gender and energy sector. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine and a Master’s Degree in Gender and Development Planning. Sheila is the International Coordinator and Programme Manager of the ENERGIA International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy. She has the overall and primary responsibility for managing ENERGIA’s international programmes, planning, monitoring, reporting and liaising with ENERGIA’s donors. Sheila also provides technical support to ENERGIA’s activities on women entrepreneurship development, gender mainstreaming in energy programmes, international policy advocacy, research and evidence development, network building and knowledge management. Sheila co-chairs the Sustainable Development Goal 7 Technical Advisory Group that has been convened by UNDESA to review progress on SDG 7 and it interlinkages with other SDGs for the 2018 High level Political Forum.
Programme Managers
Annemarije Kooijman | Contact by e-mail
Coordinator Gender and Energy Research Programme
After having worked for over ten years at the University of Twente holding several positions, the last of which was as senior researcher, coordinator of research project development and strategic advisor, Annemarije joined ENERGIA in August 2014. Annemarije holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Energy, diffusion of technology and small enterprises. Her areas of research include the sustainability of biomass, biofuels, renewable energy and energy access and the diffusion of innovations.
Coordinator Gender and Energy Research Programme
After having worked for over ten years at the University of Twente holding several positions, the last of which was as senior researcher, coordinator of research project development and strategic advisor, Annemarije joined ENERGIA in August 2014. Annemarije holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Energy, diffusion of technology and small enterprises. Her areas of research include the sustainability of biomass, biofuels, renewable energy and energy access and the diffusion of innovations.
Remco van Stappershoef | Contact by e-mail
Coordinator Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
Remco’s expertise is in entrepreneurship, business and value chain development, and project management with a focus on sustainability and poverty reduction. He has a MA in Economics, with a specialization on strategic management and organisation, and he has gained over 20 years of work experience. The first 10+ years he worked in the private sector in several commercial-finance roles with multinationals, SMEs & start-ups. The last 10 years he has worked in the non-for-profit sector, holding different business advisory and project management roles mainly within the renewable energy value chain. He has lived and worked in Cambodia, Guatemala, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Vietnam. Since April 2019, Remco joined the Energia Secretariat to strengthen the Women Economic Empowerment Portfolio.
Coordinator Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
Remco’s expertise is in entrepreneurship, business and value chain development, and project management with a focus on sustainability and poverty reduction. He has a MA in Economics, with a specialization on strategic management and organisation, and he has gained over 20 years of work experience. The first 10+ years he worked in the private sector in several commercial-finance roles with multinationals, SMEs & start-ups. The last 10 years he has worked in the non-for-profit sector, holding different business advisory and project management roles mainly within the renewable energy value chain. He has lived and worked in Cambodia, Guatemala, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Vietnam. Since April 2019, Remco joined the Energia Secretariat to strengthen the Women Economic Empowerment Portfolio.
Programme Officers
Caroline Brants | Contact by e-mail
Project Officer Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
Caroline is a human geographer by education and has many years of international experience in the field of gender and development. She joined ENERGIA in February 2017. Prior to that, she was Hivos’ project officer for India and has worked as a gender specialist in various projects in Africa and Asia. She has also supported research work in Ghana on access to and control over land and has actively contributed to the development of a toolkit which supports the production and use of sex-disaggregated agricultural data.
Project Officer Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
Caroline is a human geographer by education and has many years of international experience in the field of gender and development. She joined ENERGIA in February 2017. Prior to that, she was Hivos’ project officer for India and has worked as a gender specialist in various projects in Africa and Asia. She has also supported research work in Ghana on access to and control over land and has actively contributed to the development of a toolkit which supports the production and use of sex-disaggregated agricultural data.
Francisco Bascope | Contact by e-mail
Project Officer
Francisco joined ENERGIA in June 2017. Prior to this, he worked as a Programme Officer – Green Entrepreneurship at the Hivos Regional Office South America in La Paz, Bolivia. His career path of over 13 years in Latin American countries encompasses certified forest management, renewable energy and policy-making in sustainable development organizations, as well as in the public and private forest sector. Francisco is a forest-engineer and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Socioeconomics.
Project Officer
Francisco joined ENERGIA in June 2017. Prior to this, he worked as a Programme Officer – Green Entrepreneurship at the Hivos Regional Office South America in La Paz, Bolivia. His career path of over 13 years in Latin American countries encompasses certified forest management, renewable energy and policy-making in sustainable development organizations, as well as in the public and private forest sector. Francisco is a forest-engineer and holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Socioeconomics.
Shukri Abdulkadir| Contact by e-mail
Project Officer Gender and Energy Research Programme
Shukri has joined ENERGIA in November 2016, and is responsible for supporting the project management of the Gender and Energy Research Project. She has a background in communications, with experience in project management. She has worked for several years on programmes related to parliamentary capacity building and raising awareness on harmful practices in Northern and Eastern Africa. She holds a Bachelor’ degree in Communication and Information Sciences and a Master’ degree in Communication Sciences, with a specialization in Political Communications.
Project Officer Gender and Energy Research Programme
Shukri has joined ENERGIA in November 2016, and is responsible for supporting the project management of the Gender and Energy Research Project. She has a background in communications, with experience in project management. She has worked for several years on programmes related to parliamentary capacity building and raising awareness on harmful practices in Northern and Eastern Africa. She holds a Bachelor’ degree in Communication and Information Sciences and a Master’ degree in Communication Sciences, with a specialization in Political Communications.
Communications
Tjarda Muller | Contact by e-mail
Communications Coordinator
Tjarda joined ENERGIA in November 2013, and is responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating communications strategies and plans in ENERGIA’s international programmes. She has over 15 years working experience in development cooperation and communication for development, and has worked in the Netherlands and Central America as programme coordinator and communications specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture and a Master’s degree in International Organisations.
Communications Coordinator
Tjarda joined ENERGIA in November 2013, and is responsible for developing, implementing and coordinating communications strategies and plans in ENERGIA’s international programmes. She has over 15 years working experience in development cooperation and communication for development, and has worked in the Netherlands and Central America as programme coordinator and communications specialist. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Culture and a Master’s degree in International Organisations.
Lucia Lenci | Contact by e-mail
Communications Officer
Lucia joined ENERGIA in 2018 as Communications Officer. She is responsible for designing and implementing communications strategies aligned with ENERGIA’s goals to engage target audiences. She writes and distributes a wide range of communication products, which should inspire action towards ensuring energy access for all by supporting women’s entrepreneurship. She also leads on developing ENERGIA’s online profile through its presence on selection social media platforms. After a Master’s degree in Nanotechnology Engineering, she specialized in Environmental Communications and worked as journalist and communications expert in the nonprofit sector.
Communications Officer
Lucia joined ENERGIA in 2018 as Communications Officer. She is responsible for designing and implementing communications strategies aligned with ENERGIA’s goals to engage target audiences. She writes and distributes a wide range of communication products, which should inspire action towards ensuring energy access for all by supporting women’s entrepreneurship. She also leads on developing ENERGIA’s online profile through its presence on selection social media platforms. After a Master’s degree in Nanotechnology Engineering, she specialized in Environmental Communications and worked as journalist and communications expert in the nonprofit sector.
Finance
Busi Maphosa | Contact by e-mail
Financial Officer
Busi has been working with Hivos since June 2016 under the Finance Tender Support and Control department. She joined the ENERGIA team as Financial Officer in December 2016. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Management, Economics & Consumer Studies. Busi has worked in the retail, tourism and humanitarian sectors in finance, administration and accountancy roles. Her experience encompasses financial reporting, administration, budgeting and control.
Financial Officer
Busi has been working with Hivos since June 2016 under the Finance Tender Support and Control department. She joined the ENERGIA team as Financial Officer in December 2016. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Management, Economics & Consumer Studies. Busi has worked in the retail, tourism and humanitarian sectors in finance, administration and accountancy roles. Her experience encompasses financial reporting, administration, budgeting and control.
Support
Joke Keuning | Contact by e-mail
Project Assistant
Project Assistant
Joke has been working with Hivos for over ten years as project assistant, supporting a variety of different departments, projects and programmes administratively. Her background however is in arts and web design and Joke is currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s programme to become a translator Spanish-Dutch. For this study, she travels as much as possible to Central and South American to learn about the language and culture. Her passion is literature and her dream is to become a literary translator.