Francis is a Principal with the Africa, Islands, and Southeast Asia Program specializing in productive uses of energy, energy access challenges, inclusive multi-stakeholder facilitation and energy policy solutions to accelerate the global transition to clean energy economy. He focuses on sub-Saharan Africa and leads RMI’s activities in Ethiopia.
Prior to RMI, Francis worked for the Tony Blair Institute as West Africa regional advisor under the Power Africa initiative, where he supported governments to implement power sector reforms, energy access programs, and integrate power trade opportunities. In 2015, he has contributed to the negotiations for the energy transition law in France on behalf of the French wind energy association, helping to secure ambitious renewable energy targets. Francis has expertise collaborating with utilities, regulators, policymakers, and private industry in France, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Togo, Benin and Ethiopia.
MEng, Physics and Energy Engineering, Universite Paris Sud XI/ Supelec (2009)
Paris, France and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, the productive use of electricity will be key to achieve national targets of universal electrification. This study identifies opportunities to electrify agricultural productive uses in Ethiopia and explores prevalent activities, community practices, and economic returns that indicate the potential benefits for rural communities.
Energy challenges are one of the common features of current disruptions in sub-Saharan African countries in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.