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
Sheila Oparaocha | Contact by e-mail
International coordinator and programme manager
Sheila graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zambia and pursued her MSc in Gender and Rural Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). After completing her Master’s, she continued to work as a research associate in the Gender and Development Program at AIT. Whilst living in Thailand, she also conducted research in Lao PDR, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Malaysia. Sheila joined the ENERGIA team in October 1999.
International coordinator and programme manager
Sheila graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zambia and pursued her MSc in Gender and Rural Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT). After completing her Master’s, she continued to work as a research associate in the Gender and Development Program at AIT. Whilst living in Thailand, she also conducted research in Lao PDR, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Malaysia. Sheila joined the ENERGIA team in October 1999.
Soma Dutta | Contact by e-mail
Coordinator Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
Soma has been working with ENERGIA since 2004. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Master’s degree in Rural Management. She is Programme Coordinator with ENERGIA, and currently leads ENERGIA’s Women’s Economic Empowerment (WE) programme. Soma works on cross cutting issues of gender, poverty and development in the context of energy access and on efforts that contribute to women economic empowerment through energy access.
Coordinator Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme
Soma has been working with ENERGIA since 2004. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Master’s degree in Rural Management. She is Programme Coordinator with ENERGIA, and currently leads ENERGIA’s Women’s Economic Empowerment (WE) programme. Soma works on cross cutting issues of gender, poverty and development in the context of energy access and on efforts that contribute to women economic empowerment through energy access.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
