UNDP Rome Center
Our team
Leadership
Agostino Inguscio
Coordinator - UNDP Rome Centre for Climate and Energy Transition
Agostino Inguscio is currently the Director of the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition. He was previously Special Advisor on international affairs at the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition and Senior Expert on climate change for the 2021 G7/G20 Office of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers. He also worked as Policy Officer at the European Commission, lecturer at the University of Cape Town and researcher at Yale University. He holds a doctorate and masters from the University of Oxford.
Political Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Team
Simone Marino
Senior Advisor
Simone Marino heads Political Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at the UNDP Rome Centre, serving as the focal point for UNDP’s engagement with the Italian Prime Minister’s Office and key national institutions, including on the Mattei Plan for Africa and related flagship initiatives. Prior to UNDP, he worked with the European Commission Secretariat General Task Force RECOVER, and with UNDP in New York on global policy, high-level negotiations, and growth enhancing structural reforms. He has also worked in private consulting, mobilizing private-sector and institutional partners to invest in international development initiatives in Africa, Middle East, and Asia. He is currently enrolled in the Executive Global Master in Energy, Finance and Geopolitics at the European University Institute (EUI), holds an MSc Research in Social Policy from the London School of Economics, an MSc in Sociology and Social Research from the University of Trento (with a Visiting Research Fellowship at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo), and a BA in Economic Sociology from the University of Trento; he also completed executive education in Sustainable Finance at the University of Cambridge.
Alessio Lucci Cordisco
Policy Advisor
Alessio Lucci Cordisco supports the Team as a Policy Advisor, liaising with Italian institutions, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation—to manage strategic relations and advance joint development cooperation initiatives. He brings experience across public institutions and the private sector, with a track record in policy processes at both Italian and EU levels. Prior to his current role, he served within national and European institutions, including the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. He also worked in the financial sector at SACE and in a leading Italian public affairs and institutional relations consultancy, operating at the intersection of business, policy and stakeholder engagement. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from LUISS Guido Carli University, as well as a Double Degree Master’s jointly conferred by the United Nations University and Maastricht University.
Domenico Villano
Adaptation Fellow
Domenico supports the Team’s work on climate adaptation, with a particular focus on the G7 Adaptation Accelerator Hub. He brings a strong research and practice background in adaptation finance, with expertise in resilience alignment and sustainable finance. He is currently in the third year of a PhD in Social Sciences for Sustainability and Well-Being at the University of Florence, where his doctoral research focuses on climate adaptation finance, with an emphasis on resilience alignment. He recently completed a research fellowship at the Environmental Change Institute of the University of Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Nicola Ranger. Prior to his doctoral studies, he accumulated more than six years of professional experience in sustainable finance with the ethical banking group Banca Etica, contributing to research and outreach on ethical and alternative finance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Naples Federico II, a master’s degree in Geography and Anthropology from the University of Basilicata, and an MBA in Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship from the University of Trento.
Priyanka Soni
Adaptation Finance Specialist- Adaptation Accelerator Hub
Priyanka supports the Team in advancing the Adaptation Accelerator Hub’s adaptation finance agenda, providing technical assistance to partner countries, shaping investment strategies and project pipelines, and strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships to unlock financing for climate adaptation. She brings experience in designing and delivering large-scale adaptation and resilience programmes, including initiatives financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Prior to joining the UNDP Rome Centre, she worked with the UNDP Climate Hub in New York supporting the development and implementation of these portfolios. Earlier in her career, she held roles with the World Economic Forum and Unilever, focusing on food systems transformation, innovation strategy, and digital transformation. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University, New York and a degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Rajasthan Technical University, India.
Raffaella Garutti
Project Manager - Digital Flagship Project
Raffaella is the Project Manager of the Italian Digital Flagship Programme. She has extensive experience in the design and implementation of complex, multi-country and multi-stakeholder initiatives, leading strategic coordination and supporting programme in close collaboration with bilateral donors and international institutions. Prior to this role, Raffaella worked with UNDP for over 15 years, managing complex projects and programmes across the Caribbean, Headquarters, in the MENA region, and Africa, including in politically sensitive and crisis-affected contexts, Her work has focused on governance reform, institutional strengthening, resource mobilisation, and strategic stakeholder coordination. Raffaella holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Bologna, an MA in International Development Studies from the University of Pavia, and an MA in Management of Non-Profit Organisations from the University of Milan.
Riccardo Ortolan
Senior Digital Transformation Advisor - Digital Flagship Projectù
Riccardo Ortolan is the Senior Digital Transformation Advisor supporting the Italian Digital Flagship Programme at the UNDP Rome Centre. He leads the design and delivery of large scale digital transformation programmes, drawing on a career rooted in ICT project delivery, information systems engineering and programme management across complex institutional environments. His work covers public digital infrastructure, information systems, AI and data platforms, and sectoral digitalisation initiatives, with extensive experience interfacing with governments, bilateral donors, including the EU and the US Department of State, as well as development banks and other multilateral partners. He has over twelve years of experience working with the United Nations on complex digital and ICT programmes across Europe, Africa and Central Asia, including operational and field contexts in Afghanistan, Kenya and Uzbekistan, combining hands on technical delivery of information systems with formal project and programme management responsibilities. Prior to joining the United Nations, Riccardo worked in the private sector in Australia and Norway, focusing on enterprise information systems and software development in international contexts. He holds a Master's degree in Information Systems from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and is certified in PMP, MSP, PRINCE2, ITIL Strategic Leader, CISSP and Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer.
Partnerships and Strategy Team
Duccio Maria Tenti
Policy Specialist, Energy and Climate Change
Duccio Maria Tenti leads strategic planning and public–private partnerships the United Nations Development Programme in Italy.
He previously served as Energy and Climate Advisor at the Italian Prime Minister’s Office during Italy’s G7 Presidency 2024, contributing to high-level negotiations and international climate diplomacy.
Before this role, he worked at the European Commission as a Policy Officer on climate change and energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, and was also in charge of major global climate forums and multilateral engagement, with a strong focus on Europe–Africa cooperation and investments.
He is an Adjunct Professor at Sciences Po in Paris, where he lectures on climate change policy and sustainability. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Trieste and a postgraduate degree in EU Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Nicola Scotti
Policy Analyst
Nicola is currently working in the “Partnerships & Strategy Team” as a Policy Analyst, focusing on collaborations with public institutions, academia, think tanks, foundations, research centres. In his previous roles, Nicola gained experience in diplomacy and international cooperation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Representation of Italy to the UN in Geneva, and for the private sector where he collaborated with multilateral organisations, global institutions and universities. He has an academic background in International Relations, coupled with experiences for NGOs and voluntary associations focused on humanitarian assistance and sustainable development.
Carlotta D'Elia
Policy Analyst - Private Sector Engagement
With a background in Economics and International Cooperation, her professional experience spans both the public and private sectors. She previously worked as a consultant at a private firm, managing projects on the digital transformation of the public sector. At UNDP, she focuses on designing strategies and developing frameworks that facilitate public–private partnerships within the energy sector. Dedicated to building collaborations that enable bold achievements and promote the redistribution of resources, she works to ensure that shared objectives and common goals are successfully realised.
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Erik Burckhardt
Global Policy Adviser
Erik Burckhardt is a Global Policy Adviser at UNDP, where he works on G7 engagement, sustainable development and global governance. Before joining UNDP, he held policy and legal roles across national, regional and think-tank institutions and was an advisor to the European Commissioner for Economy, leading work on taxation, competitiveness, competition policy and major climate-related initiatives.
Communications
Malak Chabar
Communications & Project Analyst
Malak is a Communications and Project Analyst at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition, overseeing the communication strategy of the Youth4Climate initiative and of the Centre. Malak has honed her expertise through a range of experiences, from working with startups on civic engagement initiatives to managing communication projects for NGOs focused on poverty relief and inclusion in Mauritania. Her proficiency in English, French, Arabic, Italian, Chinese, and Spanish enables her to connect with and mobilise a global audience, fostering effective cross-cultural collaborations. Malak holds a Master of Science degree in Chinese Studies and international Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Ömer Kavuk
Communications Analyst
Ömer is joining the team as a Communication Analyst, bringing over ten years of experience in strategic communications across development, climate, and public policy. His background combines journalism, communications, and content creation, shaped through roles at both country and global levels, including with the European Union.
At UNDP, he has led and contributed to high-visibility communications efforts from developing communication strategies and managing high-level partnerships to coordinating global campaigns. His portfolio includes flagship initiatives such as The Climate Dictionary, Climate Action Explained, Dear World Leaders, and branding of Climate Hub's and COP28. His work focuses on crafting clear, accessible, and coherent narratives that align policy priorities with public and donor engagement.
Outside of his UN work, Ömer has held a solo photography exhibition, illustrates as part of his creative practice, and is a published author, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to his work.
Youth and climate - Y4C Team
Roxáni Roushas
Coordinator, Youth4Climate
Roxani Roushas leads the Youth4Climate initiative – a global support programme for young climate leaders – at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate and Energy. Prior to that, she was based in Amman, Jordan with UNDP’s Regional Innovation Team, managing initiatives on youth-led innovation, women’s digital entrepreneurship, and on enhancing country-level development programming through the use of foresight, behavioural science, and systems thinking. Roxani has also worked with UNDP Somalia on capacity development, strategy, resource mobilisation, and inter-agency coordination on youth and disability. In earlier roles, she coordinated gender, youth, and strategic communication work at the Delegation of the European Union to the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and worked at the International Labour Organization in Geneva on global labour migration policy.
Buay Tut
Project Analyst
Buay is an innovation, international development and program management specialist with over a decade of experience leading interdisciplinary programs in civil society, public and private sectors. He previously served as Head of Exploration with the Accelerator Lab, (UNDP) South Sudan, in East Africa. Buays work champions strategic partnerships, localised intelligence, and advocacy. His work spans climate change adaptation and resilience, youth and women empowerment, fragile and conflict settings and digital transformation. Buay holds a Master's in International Education Policy from Harvard University (USA)and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Political Science and Management from St.Olaf College (USA).
Malak Chabar
Communications & Project Analyst
Malak is a Communications and Project Analyst at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition, overseeing the communication strategy of the Youth4Climate initiative and of the Centre. Malak has honed her expertise through a range of experiences, from working with startups on civic engagement initiatives to managing communication projects for NGOs focused on poverty relief and inclusion in Mauritania. Her proficiency in English, French, Arabic, Italian, Chinese, and Spanish enables her to connect with and mobilise a global audience, fostering effective cross-cultural collaborations. Malak holds a Master of Science degree in Chinese Studies and international Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Pavel Faus
Project Analyst
Before joining Youth4Climate at the Rome Centre, Pavel was part of UNDP's Partnerships Team at the Istanbul Regional Hub for four years. He led activities under the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs, focusing on coordinating innovation challenges and expertise-sharing projects, as well as building partnerships with donors in the RBEC region. Pavel holds a Master's degree in Energy Security and International Relations from Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, where he specialized in the role of renewables in the energy mix of European countries and the political aspects of energy security.
Domenico Poerio
Project Associate
Domenico Poerio is a Youth4Climate Associate with the Youth4Climate team at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition, supporting energy-focused youth climate initiatives through project analysis, coordination, and programme support.
He has a background in Business Economics and Management, with a specialization in Energy Systems and Climate Change from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Domenico has international experience in the renewable energy sector, including on-grid and off-grid systems and bioenergy, and has worked with cross-disciplinary teams across management and technical domains in Italy and Honduras.
Nikka Gerona
Communications and Project Associate
Nikka Gerona is a climate professional and storyteller working at the intersection of climate governance, energy systems, and sustainable business. She has mobilized impactful campaigns and global initiatives with UNICEF and UNDP. She has also represented the Philippines in various events, particularly in UN Climate Change Conferences and Conference of Youth, contributing to the development of Global Youth Statements and advancing youth engagement in international climate processes.
She was also a Youth Fellow at UNICEF Innocenti, researching climate breakthroughs and co-designing the Leading Minds Conference on Climate in Italy. Currently, she is pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management to further strengthen her foundation in climate policy.
Lidya Embakom Beyene
Youth4Climate Analyst and Focal Person for Africa
With a background in Political Science and International Relations, I began my career as a communication and visibility professional across various sectors dedicated to positive social impact programs. I bring over 6 years of experience in commercialising social impact products, coordinating and supervising youth-led voluntarism programs, and managing development projects. My expertise also extends to communication and public policy development. I am passionate about designing and implementing social impact projects and promoting equal access to knowledge and opportunities for all. Currently I serve the UNDP Rome Centre, as Youth4Climate’s Learning and Partnership Specialist.
Lakshmin Datysgeld Guzman
Youth for Climate Expert
Lakshmin Datysgeld Guzman is a youth engagement specialist within the Youth4Climate team. Her role focuses on youth engagement, policy-related processes, and the coordination of the Youth4Climate flagship event. Her professional experience includes work with UNDP, the UN Secretariat, UNHCR, and OHCHR, across climate action, development, humanitarian, peacekeeping, and human rights contexts. While at the UN Secretariat, she coordinated the first cohort of Youth Advisory on Climate Change to the Secretary-General. She also brings field experience from humanitarian and displacement settings along the Angola–Democratic Republic of the Congo border. Lakshmin is passionate about advancing the rights of and working with Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous youth, drawing on several professional experiences across regions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and an MBA with a focus on project management and sustainability.
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Energy for Growth in Africa Team
Francis Dennig
Energy and Climate Specialist
Francis currently leads the work identifying and supporting bankable sustainable energy projects in Africa through the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership. He joined the UNDP Rome Centre from the Macroeconomic and Debt Unit at the World Bank, where he integrated climate and energy considerations into the World Bank’s macroeconomic models.
He holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford and was an assistant professor of economics at Yale-NUS College in Singapore.
Kigha Benyoh Nsafon
Policy and Strategy Analyst for Energy and Climate Change
Kigha joined the UNDP Rome Centre in 2023 as Policy and Strategy Analyst for Energy and Climate Change. In this role, he coordinates the energy team at the country level and liaises with UNDP country offices and relevant agencies to identify, finance, and implement country-driven clean energy projects. Prior to joining UNDP, he implemented several energy and climate projects for UN agencies, state governments and private sector partners.
Kigha holds a Ph.D. in Energy Convergence and Climate Change from Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea; a Master’s degree in International Relations (specialty in Renewable Energy) from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon and the University of Padua, Italy.
Sunday Jerome Salami
Project Management Analyst
Sunday Jerome Salami contributes to the work of the Rome Centre by providing cross-cutting programme management support and technical assistance to two of the Centre’s work areas: The Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership and PISTA (Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance). He has experience in research, program coordination, data and policy analysis and has previously worked at the Kofi Annan Foundation, UNESCO-IIEP, and the European Commission (DG INTPA).
He holds a master's degree in transnational governance from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy and a BA (Hons) degree in Social Sciences jointly delivered by Glasgow Caledonian University and African Leadership University in Mauritius.
Kiduo M. Mwamnyenyelwa
Project Management Specialist
Kiduo provides technical support to countries in the formulation, enhancement, and implementation of the UNDP-Italy Energy Partnership with a focus on Kenya, Rwanda, and Algeria. He brings extensive experience in managing projects, programs, and portfolios. He is a practitioner member of the Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA).
He holds two master’s degrees from Universidad Isabel I; one in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and another in Natural Risk Management and Climate Governance. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from Stefano Moshi Memorial University College in Tanzania. In addition, he has two Diplomas from Alison; one in Economic Energy Systems and another in Environmental Quality Monitoring and Analysis.
Veronica Nkooyio
Fellow, African Young Women Leaders Programme
Veronica contributes to the programmatic implementation of the Energy for Growth and Youth for Climate programs at the UNDP Rome Centre. She brings extensive expertise in the design and implementation of renewable energy and climate change interventions across the humanitarian, development, and private sectors. Her professional interests focus on advancing energy access for communities and promoting the adoption of Renewable Energy Technologies. She has previously served in energy advisory roles with GIZ and CLASP. Veronica holds a master's degree in Renewable Energy Technologies. She is currently a Fellow of the African Young Women Leaders (AfYWL) Programme, a joint initiative of UNDP and the African Union Commission
Joseph Njuguna
Energy Finance Specialist
Joseph is the Kenya focal point for the Energy for Growth Initiative. He brings extensive experience across the Africa region in energy access, renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy financing. He leads strategic stakeholder engagement, drives the development of a pipeline of bankable projects and oversees the assessment of financial requirements and bankability gaps to ensure that priority interventions are well-positioned for investment and scalable implementation under the E4G. Prior to joining UNDP, he worked as a consultant supporting both public and private sector partners across the region on energy standards and labelling, energy management, mini-grids and clean cooking. He holds an MSc in Management of Development Projects (University of Manchester), an MBA (Finance) and a BSc in Electrical Engineering (University of Nairobi). He is a Certified Energy Manager and a Certified Measurement & Verification Professional by Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).
Atta Pascal Atta
Energy Finance Specialist
Atta Pascal ATTA contributes to the work of the Rome Centre by overseeing the implementation of the Energy for Growth Initiative in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as other initiatives, including PISTA (Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance). His role involves close engagement with key stakeholders in Côte d’Ivoire’s power sector, as well as the identification and structuring of clean energy projects across the country. He brings experience in energy policy and reform development, cross-border electricity trade contracts management, and energy projects management. Prior to support the Rome Centre, he worked at the Ministry in charge of Energy of Côte d’Ivoire, the national state-owned utility, and USAID Power Africa. He holds a PhD in Energy from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM), Paris, and an Engineering Degree in Energy from the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
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Peace Kaliisa
Programme Manager -Sustainable Energy
Peace Kaliisa is the Energy for Growth initiative focal person in Rwanda. Her role includes engaging key stakeholders in Rwanda’s energy sector particularly the public and private sector players by identifying and putting together clean energy projects that require financing. She has extensive experience in energy policy formation, reforms, project management and stakeholder engagement specifically public and private sector. Prior to joining the UNDP, she was with the Ministry of Infrastructure-Rwanda where she coordinated a number of donor-funded projects some of which were mainly World Bank, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), European Union and other multilateral and bilateral (Dutch, USAID, Belgian, France and others) institutions that focus on development finance.
Climate finance — PISTA Team
Cristina Altomare
PISTA Team Lead
Cristina Altomare works on climate finance at the UNDP Rome Centre, leading PISTA - the Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance. In her previous capacities, she worked as an economist in the staff of then Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, focusing on the climate and energy portfolio and at the European Central Bank, specialising in macroeconomic financial and non-financial statistics. She also worked as economist at Greencroft Economics, a boutique consulting firm advising on low-carbon and inclusive growth in developing countries, and as research assistant at Stockholm University, focusing on a project on local infrastructure and community decision-making in Bangladesh.
She studied Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS, University of London) and the University of Tor Vergata.
Rohith Gopaluni Venkata Sai Subramania
Finance Specialist
Rohith serves as a Finance Specialist at UNDP Rome Centre, preparing impactful projects in the area of climate, clean energy and environment to leverage requisite financing. He previously served as the Nigeria Focal Point for the Italy - UNDP Energy Partnership.
Prior to UNDP, Rohith worked with the IFC, World Bank Group for 5 years and was instrumental in deploying over US$210 million and managing a portfolio of over US$330 million in debt, mezzanine, blended and equity investments across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Prior to IFC, Rohith worked in investment banking with Deutsche Bank in East and Southeast Asia.
He holds a Master in Advanced Global Studies (Environmental Policy and Sustainability) with Cum Laude honours from Sciences Po Paris and a B. Com (Honors) from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.
Nicola Farina
Project & Strategy Analyst
With extensive experience in project financing and public financial instruments, Nicola is currently a Program and Partnerships Analyst on the PISTA Team. He is involved in identifying, co-designing, scaling up, and monitoring climate and clean energy initiatives, as well as mobilizing international cooperation funds and climate finance resources, primarily in Sub-Saharan countries and the MENA region.
Before joining UNDP, he worked as a consultant specializing in the design, implementation, and monitoring of public programs and financial instruments for public institutions, development finance institutions, and the Italian government. His work also focused on financing and implementing projects related to the energy and digital transitions, catalyzing European and national public funding, and mobilizing private sector resources.
He holds a Dual Degree Master’s in economics and public policy from Sciences Po Paris - with a regional concentration in African Studies - and Bocconi University, graduating cum laude.
Caterina Brunelli
Climate Finance Associate
Caterina is a Climate Finance Associate with a background in development economics, environmental policy, and sustainable development. Her current work involves the planning, design, scale-up and monitoring of high-impact climate and clean energy initiatives. Previously, Caterina interned with the PISTA team, providing cross-cutting project support. As a graduate consultant with GIZ, Tackle Africa, and HSBC, she also worked on projects focused on energy transition and sustainable development across the African continent, as well as corporate emissions reporting. Her experience also extends to the health sector, having previously worked as a research analyst on genome sequencing.
Caterina holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Sciences Po University and another in Development Management, with a specialisation in Applied Development Economics, from the London School of Economics. She also earned an MA in International Relations and French from the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Mpho Mataboge
Sustainable Finance and Investment Specialist
Mpho is a Chartered Development Finance Analyst with extensive experience in project and infrastructure financing across Sub-Saharan Africa. She has supported and managed syndicated finance transactions, including flagship renewable energy projects in South Africa. She has also held roles in economic policy and academia. Currently, she is a Sustainable Finance and Investment Specialist, implementing the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership and Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance (PISTA). Mpho is dedicated to enhancing access to finance for renewable energy projects and high-impact climate action initiatives.
Damilola (Dami) Adeola Adebiyi
Programme and Strategy Specialist
Dami is an investment professional with extensive experience in the financial sector across Sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as an Investment Officer for the IFC Disruptive Technologies and Funds Africa team in Nairobi, where she played a pivotal role in supporting investments in fintechs across various verticals, including payments, lending, insurtech, and digital banking. Her tenure at IFC also included significant contributions to the Agribusiness Sub-Saharan Africa team, where she was instrumental in committing to multiple new business transactions, business development, and portfolio management.
Before joining IFC, Dami honed her expertise at Sage Grey, a boutique corporate finance and advisory firm in Nigeria. There, she developed financial models, investment pitchbooks, and memoranda to facilitate access to finance (equity, debt, and mezzanine financing) for projects in diverse industries such as Oil and Gas, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Agribusiness, and Energy
Dami holds an MA (Hons) degree in Economics from the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, and Masters degree in Investment Analysis from Aston University, United Kingdom. She has also completed her Level 3 CFA exam.
Ana Victoria Rojas
Gender Specialist
Ana Victoria Rojas is a leading gender-energy expert, who brings more than 21 years of experience working on sustainable development, of which 18 dedicated to advancing gender equality in renewable energy and climate change sectors. As a senior consultant and advisor on Gender, Energy and Environment, Ana has provided technical gender mainstreaming support to energy and climate change policies, programs, projects and partnerships across Latin America, Asia and Africa, and at global level. She has published more than 30 papers and knowledge products on these topics. Originally from Costa Rica, Ana also holds the Dutch nationality and is currently based in the Netherlands.
Vishav Vir Singh Ahlawat
Climate Finance Analyst
Vir is an industrial engineer turned development economist. He has about a decade of experience spanning power, renewable energy, international development, agriculture, and climate finance, His work spans project management, delivery of technical deliverables to clients, policy analysis and advice, capacity building etc. Recently, he was engaged with the Climate Bonds Initiative as senior research analyst, focusing on accelerating climate finance for India’s decarbonization.
He is passionate about sustainable development, climate finance and data-driven policies. He holds a postgraduate in Development Studies with a specialisation in Applied Development Economics from the London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra. He enjoys yoga and loves exploring nature.
Sergio Feld
Social and Environmental Standards Technical Advisor
Sergio brings to the UNDP Rome Centre three decades of experience spanning international organizations, private sector, national and local governments, NGOs, and academia. He has worked extensively across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Before joining the Rome Centre, Sergio served as a senior member of transaction teams at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, where he led appraisal, due diligence, negotiation, and oversight of U.S. government grant-financed investment programs. He has provided expertise on social and environmental standards for a diverse portfolio of projects in energy, transport, water infrastructure, sustainable industrial zones, agriculture, forestry, and climate resilience.
Previously, Sergio was Policy Advisor and Environment Practice Team Leader at the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok, and earlier worked as Program Officer and Consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization. He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Policy and Behavior from the University of Michigan.
Project Management Support Unit and Operations
Gülgün Sahin
Head of Project Management Support Unit
Gulgun Sahin is the Head of Project Support Unit at the UNDP Rome Centre, where she oversees the project support activities essential for the Centre’s efficiency and strategic alignment with global development goals. Gulgun is very keen on operational efficiency where she ensures that all processes within Rome Centre are in line with UNDP mission of promoting sustainable development in different parts of the world. Her work primarily involves identifying operational bottlenecks and developing sustainable solutions.
Gulgun has been with the UNDP for eight years, serving in various capacities. Prior to her role in Rome, she was the Head of the Programme Support Unit at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. There she led a team dedicated to implementing and scaling up the impact of development projects across the ECIS region. Gulgun holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration. She was awarded with the Chinese Government Scholarship for her master studies in Public Administration.
Deborah Di Napoli
Administrative Assistant
Deborah Di Napoli is the Team Assistant at the UNDP Rome Centre, where she ensures the smooth functioning of daily operations and provides high-quality administrative and logistical support. Deborah assists with project-related activities, including procurement and human resources support. She manages the Head of Office’s calendar, coordinates deadlines and follow-ups, and facilitates effective communication across the unit.
In her operational role, she oversees office logistics, prepares receipts and processes payments in the ERP system and monitors monthly credit card transactions. She liaises with service providers and landlords, ensuring that office facilities and contractual obligations are consistently met. Deborah also supports office maintenance and asset management, maintaining organized records and managing supplies.
Known for her reliability, attention to detail, and service-oriented approach, she contributes to a well-coordinated and efficient working environment at the UNDP Rome Centre.
Ali Salam
Procurement & Administrative Analyst
Ali Salam is a Procurement and Administrative Analyst at the UNDP Rome Centre, where he supports high-value and strategic procurement processes for the Centre’s climate and energy portfolio. His work focuses on managing complex procurement cases, coordinating closely with technical teams, and ensuring full compliance with UNDP policies and operational standards.
Ali has over 15 years of experience in procurement, operations, and logistics. He previously worked with multinational companies in operations roles before joining UNDP in 2010, where he supported a wide range of procurement and operational functions over many years. In 2021, he began contributing to global initiatives, including Sida-funded projects, before joining the Rome Centre.
He holds a CIPS Level 4 Certificate in Procurement and Supply, complementing his extensive practical experience in procurement and operational management
Elson Decolongon
Operations Specialist
Elson Decolongon is the Operations Specialist at the UNDP Rome Centre (based in New York), where he is responsible for the financial, administrative and operational oversight and ensuring effective and transparent utilization of resources and integrity of services.
He brings a strong track record with UNDP, having worked since 2010 under the BPPS/GPN Team, specializing in finance, programme management, and operations.
Elson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of St. La Salle in the Philippines and an Executive Master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Joseph’s College in New York.
Nargis Sharshekeeva
Project and Admin Analyst
Nargis Sharshekeeva joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2007 and brings over 17 years of practical experience in administration and operations across various local and international organizations. Her professional journey began as an Admin and Finance Assistant with the EU-UNDP Parliament Project, subsequently advancing her expertise in administrative and financial roles within the UNDP Democratic Governance Programme and the UN House Project. Since 1 July 2024, Nargis has been working remotely as a Project and Administrative Analyst for the UNDP Rome Centre. She initially joined the Centre in January 2024 on a three-month detailed assignment as a Programme and Administrative Associate. In her current role, she is responsible for processing payments, organizing travel, and preparing financial reports for Rome Centre projects.
Nargis holds a Master's Degree in International Relations and Political Science from the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University. She is proficient in English, Russian, and Kyrgyz, and has a basic understanding of Turkish. Married and a happy mother of three children, Nargis enjoys music, reading, and traveling in her free time
Mpho Motsoasele
Procurement Analyst
Mpho Motsoasele serves as the Procurement Analyst at the UNDP Rome Center, where he supports procurement processes and drives the implementation of innovative and sustainable procurement strategies. His role also focuses on shaping the procurement landscape and architecture, while supporting the Center with day-to-day operations, recruitment activities, and initiatives for knowledge building and sharing.
Prior to joining the Rome Center, Mpho held a similar procurement role with the Nature Hub (BPPS) team in New York. Before that, he served as a Procurement Analyst and one of the Team Leads at the UNDP Mongolia Country Office, where his role was focused in procurement strategies and the GCF project implementation.
Mpho holds an advanced degree in Development Economics and a bachelor’s degree in Management Sciences from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He is CIPS Level 4 certified and is currently pursuing an MBA in Energy and Sustainability.
With the world advancing toward the 2030 Agenda and beyond, Mpho remains committed to making meaningful contributions to sustainable development.
Nagehan Celebi
HR Analyst
Nagehan Çelebi is an HR Analyst with over 13 years of international experience across the UN system and the private sector. She specializes in HR advisory, recruitment, performance management, workforce planning, and HR policy implementation. At UNDP, she has supported multiple offices and global teams, leading end-to-end HR processes, strengthening compliance, and enhancing staff experience through talent development, onboarding, and well-being initiatives.
Before joining UNDP, Nagehan held several HR leadership roles in the private sector across Türkiye, Romania, and North Africa (Sudan, Algeria and Egypt), focusing on organizational development, talent acquisition, HR systems, and shared services. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and Organizational Change and brings a strong commitment to inclusivity, efficient HR operations, and creating engaging work environments.
Stefania Rojas
Project and Administrative Analyst
Stefania Rojas is a Project and Administrative Analyst and provides project, administrative, and operational support to the Rome Centre, contributing to the smooth execution of activities across its portfolio. Her work includes coordinating travel and logistics, processing payments and procurement requests, maintaining project documentation, and ensuring adherence to UNDP policies and procedures. She also supports knowledge management efforts, helping organize information, share resources, and facilitate learning across the team.
Stefania brings over eight years of experience within the UN system. At IFAD, she supported contract and grant administration, budget and expenditure processes, and corporate services, gaining hands-on experience with operational workflows and donor compliance. She also contributed to events, travel coordination, and internal systems used across multiple regions. Earlier at FAO, she worked in the Forestry Department, supporting knowledge dissemination, newsletters, and outreach materials, as well as logistics for technical meetings and international workshops.
In her role at the Rome Centre, Stefania assists colleagues with day-to-day operational requirements, supports financial and administrative processes, and helps maintain effective coordination, ensuring that activities are delivered efficiently, on time, and in line with organizational standards.
Stefania Rojas
Project and Administrative Analyst
Jakhongir Juraev is a Project Budget Analyst at UNDP Rome Centre with over 14 years of experience in programme and resource management, strategic planning, and financial compliance. He has a proven track record in expanding programme portfolios, strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, and ensuring adherence to UNDP rules and regulations. Jakhongir served as HACT and M&E focal point at UNDP Uzbekistan Country Office, where he supported compliance, oversight, and evaluation processes across multiple projects. He has developed innovative tools such as a Resources Monitoring Dashboard migrated to Power BI, improving data-driven decision-making.
His international experience includes detailed assignments in UNDP Lao PDR (2022) and UNDP Indonesia (2024), as well as mentoring colleagues in UNDP Moldova, reflecting his commitment to capacity building and knowledge sharing. Passionate about sustainable development, data analytics and RBM, Jakhongir brings strong analytical and organizational skills to development initiatives.
Insurance and risk finance team (FRA)
Edgar Aguilar Paucar
Value Chain Resilience – Technical Lead
Edgar Aguilar is IRFF’s Value Chain Resilience Specialist. Previously, Edgar worked for the International Labour Organization at its Regional Office for Africa in Côte d’Ivoire, where he facilitated public and private partnerships to increase access to finance to agricultural value chains. Supporting the ILO Impact Insurance Facility, Edgar has worked closely with the insurance industry, developing risk management solutions for smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Edgar holds a master’s degree in Rural Development for Southern Countries and an engineer diploma in Agriculture. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.
Enock Sing'oei
Agricultural Insurance Specialist
Enock Sing’oei is agriculture and climate insurance expert. He has been global and regional lead on agriculture and climate innovation projects, market systems development initiatives, resource mobilization and programme design and implementation across Africa and Asia. Enock is a Microinsurance Master 2020 alumnus and a fellow of ILO Impact Insurance Facility. He holds an MBA, a diploma in Human Resources and certifications in insurance, social innovation and climate finance. Enock grew up on a farm and is passionate about supporting projects that decrease risk and improve well-being for low-income people.
Emanuele Moretti
Research Knowledge and Monitoring Officer
Emanuele is a Research, Knowledge and Monitoring Officer with the IRFF's Financial Resilience in Agriculture (FRA) team. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of York and a Master's degree in International Development from the London School of Economics. He previously worked as a Research Intern with the IRFF's Central team in Geneva. Before joining the IRFF, he worked as a trainee at Insurance Europe, where he was part of the secretariat of the European Insurance CFO Forum, providing policy analysis on the European Union’s sustainable finance policies and other international frameworks. Before completing his studies, Emanuele interned at Carnegie Europe and Generation Italy (McKinsey & Company), conducting research on different policy areas, value chains resilience and labour markets, respectively. He speaks Italian, English and French.
LINKEDIN
Gaia Falabella
Research Knowledge and Monitoring Officer
Gaia is a Research, Knowledge and Monitoring Officer with the Financial Resilience in Agriculture (FRA) team at IRFF. She holds a Master’s degree in Law and a second-level Master’s degree in Food Law from LUISS University in Rome. Before joining IRFF, Gaia gained valuable experience working with several United Nations agencies, including the Law and Development Service at FAO, the Trade Hub at UNEP and the FACS Programme at UNDP, where she contributed to initiatives focused on sustainability, legal frameworks and equitable access to resources. She also worked at Bioversity International and CIAT within the Grant Management Unit, supporting the administration and monitoring of international research and development funding. Gaia speaks Italian, English and Spanish, has working proficiency in French, and is currently studying Arabic.