David Knopp
David Knopp

David oversees the Africa portfolio of TWFA, based at the regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. This includes development of technical strategy, overall portfolio management, and regional expansion.

He has a long-standing background in private sector development and value-chain market facilitation, and is the principal contact in the region for all TWFA-related efforts.

Dennis Kwena
Dennis Kwena

Dennis is based in Nairobi and leads our strategy and social investment work, as well as our sugar sector investments in Kenya and the tea industry programme in Tanzania. He is responsible for our investment and sector expansion efforts in Africa. Dennis also leads our sustainability portfolio and oversees the results, monitoring, evaluation and learning function. Dennis is a trained economist with experience in international development, development finance, investment, and management consulting. He previously worked with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (formerly DFID), Deloitte, and PwC. Dennis has an MSc in Economics & Econometrics from the University of Nottingham.
Duncan Page
Duncan Page

Duncan is an engineer by training and has significant executive level management experience in the East African tea sector, having led Sotik’s outgrower and factory operations in Kenya, and more recently having served as MD at Tatepa in Tanzania, overseeing their avocado, tea packing, and tea factory companies. Tatepa’s tea factory (Watco) is the largest tea operation in Tanzania with over 14,000 smallholder farmers.
Sanjay Sharma
Sanjay Sharma

Sanjay has more than 25 years’ experience within the tea industry in areas including tea processing, field and factory management, estate administration, planning and infrastructure development, and smallholder development. He previously worked with McLeod Russel India Limited in senior management roles within their tea estates in India and Uganda. He has also worked with the Gisovu Tea Company, Rwanda, and most recently as Senior Plantation Manager, PT Melania, Indonesia. Based at Shagasha, Sanjay has overall responsibility for Shagasha Tea Company and Mulindi Factory Company, Rwanda.
Elizabeth Obuogo
Elizabeth Obuogo

Based in Kigali, Elizabeth oversees finance and accounting for all tea greenfield operations in the region. She has more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting in the commercial agriculture sector through Chief Accountant and Finance Manager positions with Kakuzi Ltd., and Dominion Farms Ltd. Elizabeth is a Certified Public Accountant (ICPAK member) and has an MBA from Strathmore University.

Patrick Njuguna
Patrick Njuguna

Patrick is based in Kigali and oversees all finance and accounting for Mulindi and Shagasha Tea Factories. He is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in financial management and advisory in the commercial agriculture sector. Prior to his role at EATI, Patrick was Chief Accountant at Eastern Produce Kenya Ltd. He has an MBA in strategic management from the United States International University.
Bridgette Imbuga
Bridgette Imbuga

Bridgette is responsible for Human Resources and Administration across the region. She has more than 20 years of experience in HR development and has had the opportunity to serve in various capacities in organisations such as Citibank N.A., Safaricom PLC, KPMG and, most recently, Kenya Airways PLC as Chief of Human Resources. She has an MSc in Human Resources Management from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a Global Executive MBA from the United States International University. She is a full member of the Institute of Human Resources Management (FIHRM).
Jessie Kezengwa
Jessie Kezengwa

Jessie is a Certified Public Accountant, with a BA in Business Admin Finance and MSC in Procurement, Logistics and Supply Chain Management. She brings with her over 18 years of tea marketing and sales experience, having worked in senior positions at Unilever Tea East Africa as well as James Finlays, where she most recently served as Commercial Manager for Leaf Tea based out of Mombasa.
Etienne Bihogo
Etienne Bihogo

Etienne provides operational oversight and technical backstopping of SCON (N) and SCON (S) from his base in Kigali. He has more than 20 years of experience in the tea and coffee sectors. Etienne previously worked for the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) and has served as Country Manager for Rainforest Alliance, as well as Director General of the Rwandan Coffee Board. He was also the Founder and General Manager of the Rwandan Smallholder Specialty Coffee Company (RWASHOSCCO). Etienne has a Master of Agribusiness from Texas A&M University.

Filbert Kavia
Filbert Kavia

Filbert is based in Karongi District, Rwanda and oversees the Rugabano greenfield project. Filbert has almost 25 years of experience in agriculture in the public and private sectors, with a focus on agricultural research, management of the tea value chain, standards and certification, quality assurance and farmer extension. He previously worked with Mufindi Tea and Coffee Company and the Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Tanzania Smallholders Tea Development Agency (TSHTDA), and, most recently with the Njombe Outgrowers Services Company as General Manger. Filbert is a trained Agricultural Economist and holds an MSc in Agricultural Economics and Project Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture and University of Salford business school Manchester.

Mathew Ng'enda
Mathew Ng'enda

Mathew is responsible for providing technical backstopping to the Njombe Outgrowers Services Company senior management team. He has more than 30 years’ experience in commercial tea field and factory operations and has built significant expertise in smallholder engagement through senior management roles at KTDA. He also served as Operations Director for TWFA operations in Tanzania. Mathew has a Bachelor’s degree from Kenyatta University and two Masters Degree in Project Management from the University of Nairobi and University of Salford Business School.

Elizabeth Mwangi
Elizabeth Mwangi

Elizabeth is responsible for sustainability and impact initiatives, including monitoring, evaluation, learning, safeguarding, social development, and climate change. She plays a key role in the assessment and design of new initiatives. She has more than 15 years’ experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning, as well as programme management in organisations including Forum Syd, Catholic Relief Services and TradeMark East Africa (TMEA). Elizabeth holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Nairobi and a Masters in International and Community Development from Deakin University.

Vincent Hategekimana
Vincent Hategekimana

Vincent is based in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda where he manages all operational, finance and administrative matters for the SCON farmer services companies. He has more than 10 years of experience in tea extension and smallholders’ cooperative management in the tea sector having previously worked for a large tea smallholders’ cooperative in Rwanda, Mulindi Factory Company, and the Rwanda Local Government. Vincent has a degree in Agribusiness and Rural Development from University of Rwanda, and a Master of Development Studies from Kigali Independent University.

Raissa Mungarakarama
Raissa Mungarakarama

Raissa is based in Nyaruguru District, Rwanda and is responsible for the day to day management of SCON(S) operations. Her role includes overseeing the implementation of all field activities and handling of operational, finance, and administrative matters. She has seven years’ experience within the tea sector, providing effective tea extension services and sustainable farmer training to smallholder farmers in Nyaruguru. She facilitated numerous Farmer Field Schools at Shagasha Tea Company before joining SCON(N) as a Tea Agronomist in 2016. Raissa has an Agricultural Science degree from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, majoring in Crop Production.
John Mhagama
John Mhagama

Based in Njombe, Tanzania, John is responsible for the day-to-day management of NOSC operations which includes overseeing the implementation of all field activities and handling of all operational, finance, and administrative matters. He has more 25 years’ experience providing extension services to smallholder farmers on behalf of companies such Tea Research Institute of Tanzania and Wakulima Tea Company Limited. He also has tea plantation management experience having worked as an Assistant Estate Manager with Unilever Tea Tanzania. John has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and two Masters degrees in Agriculture (Crop Science and Production) and Community Economic Development.
Callixte Havugimana
Callixte Havugimana

Callixte is based in Rugabano Sector, Karongi District, Rwanda and is responsible for the day-to-day management of ROS operations. His role includes overseeing the implementation of all field activities and handling of all operational, finance, and administrative matters. He has more than 10 years’ experience providing extension services, seven of which have been within the tea sector in Karongi. He previously worked for Karongi Tea Cooperative Growers (KATECOGRO) before joining ROS as a Tea Agronomist in 2017. Callixte has a Bachelor’s degree in Agroforestry from the University of Rwanda.
Benjamin Yego
Benjamin Yego

Benjamin is based in Mulindi District, Rwanda and is responsible for all operational, financial and administrative management at The Wood Foundation Africa’s Mulindi factory. He has more than 25 years of experience in tea manufacture and factory management having previously worked in senior roles with Eastern Produce in Kenya. Benjamin has a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Eastern Africa at Baraton. He is currently pursuing an MBA.
Gerald Gicheru
Gerald Gicheru

Based in the Mulindi district in Rwanda, Gerald is responsible for the management of all field services for farmers at Mulindi Factory Company. He has longstanding experience in the tea sector with more than 20 years of experience in field and factory operations. Prior to joining The Wood Foundation Africa, Gerald worked with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) where he served as the Senior Field Services Manager.
Innocent Rugamba
Innocent Rugamba

Innocent has more than 11 years’ experience in tea sector focussing on field, estate and farmer management. He has a Degree in Agriculture from National University of Rwanda and an MSc in Rural Management from Annamalai University (India). He speaks English, French, Kinyarwanda and Kiswahili.
Titus Ondigo
Titus Ondigo

Titus is based in Transmara, Kenya and is responsible for managing and coordinating all farmer and agricultural training activities in the sugar sector programme. This includes managing quality and quantity targets, consultants, evaluation and reporting activities, and budgeting. He also develops training and manages delivery colleagues, alongside risk management and reporting.
Shukrani Mdegela
Shukrani Mdegela

Shukrani is an accredited Farmer Field Schools Trainer and Facilitator and plays a central role in our farmer training activities in Tanzania and Rwanda. Shukrani holds a Masters degree in Agriculture Extension Services specialising in agribusiness training and is experienced in Rainforest Alliance certification, commercial extension, hybrid farming and food safety. Prior to joining TWFA in 2018, Shukrani worked with the USAID, AGRA, EU and TRIT.

Halima Lima
Halima Lima

Halima coordinates the finance, administrative and logistics functions for TWFA based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her role includes supporting the set-up of new investment vehicles in Tanzania and aiding in compliance with statutory requirements.

Jennifer Mbabazi
Jennifer Mbabazi

Jennifer provides financial and administrative support to the TWFA Rwanda’s office, assisting in its day to day operations. She is the contact for in-country logistical support and assists in contracting and mobilization processes for staff and consultants.

Diane Gakuba
Diane Gakuba

Diane is responsible for providing in-house IT technical support to TWFA and all service companies based in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. She has over 10 years’ IT experience having worked in various capacities in Rwanda. Prior to joining the team, Diane worked as IT Manager with Global Communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering and Information Technology from Kigali Institute of Science and Technology and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Information Technology.
Patrick Sibomana
Patrick Sibomana

Patrick is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR). He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and brings with him over 10 years of experience to financial reporting, corporate finance, audit, business planning and taxation. Prior to joining, He was the Financial Controller at Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) for 4 years. He coordinates accounting, finance, and reporting of Rwandan Tea Factories.