Our Team
Meet the experts driving climate finance and sustainability initiatives in Africa.
Dr. Maria Nantongo
Director, CFSC
Expert in development economics, climate finance, and governance. Led key contributions to Uganda's climate finance initiatives and development economics research. Holds a PhD in Development Economics and has made significant contributions to climate finance research and policy development.

Dr. Christine Grüning
Co-Director, CFSC
Dr. Christine Grüning is an expert in environmental economics, climate finance, and policy. She serves as Co-Director at CFSC and as Director of the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance, leading influential research and capacity-building initiatives. Holding a PhD from the European University Viadrina, she has advanced the field with innovative certification programs and key industry reports.

Dr. Joanes Atela
Co-Director, CFSC
Dr. Joanes Atela is an expert in natural resource management and climate change mitigation with over 15 years of experience advising African governments. He serves as Co-Director at CFSC and is the Founder and Executive Director of ARIN, where he has led impactful research and policy initiatives in community-based adaptation and climate action. He holds a Ph.D. in Environment and Development from the University of Leeds.

Dr. Collin Agabalinda
Research Fellow, Climate Finance and Sustainable Development Specialist
Seasoned expert in rural finance, climate adaptation finance, and sustainable development with over 20 years of experience. Specializes in designing, implementing, and evaluating financial inclusion initiatives. Part-time lecturer at MUBS and ICT University, mentoring postgraduate and PhD students. Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance from Frankfurt School and holds a PhD in Business Administration & Sustainability.

Dr. Brendah Akankunda
Research Fellow, CFSC | Lecturer, Department of Accounting, MUBS
Expert in energy economics and sustainability with a PhD in Energy Economics. Has made significant contributions to energy economics research and sustainability practices, focusing on developing sustainable solutions for energy challenges.