Eric is an experienced entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial leader who has spent the last fifteen years on the cutting edge of technology and development. He now blends those disciplines to lead Grameen Foundation’s Application Laboratory and Community Knowledge Worker initiatives in Uganda.

 

Before joining Grameen Foundation, he was with Acumen Fund where he worked on technology issues both internally and with a number of investees. Prior to that, he established, managed and advised startup Internet and technology companies; worked with non-governmental organizations in developing countries; and managed complex projects. In the mid-1990s, he started an Internet Service Provider in the Washington, DC area called Internet Interstate, which was acquired by Verio, Inc., and he later held a variety of positions in management and marketing for both large and small Internet companies.

 

Eric has a BA in International Relations from Emory University and an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University, for which he completed a number of projects including troubleshooting the operations of a microfinance organization in Honduras.

 

 

 

David Edelstein is the Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Innovation at the Grameen Technology Center, a division of Grameen Foundation. In this role, he leads efforts to develop, test, strengthen and scale mobile applications that offer the potential to improve lives and livelihoods. ICT Innovation teams are exploring the potential of specific applications by working with networks of "trusted intermediaries", such as Village Phone Operators, who own and provide access to mobile phones. Additional information about the initiatives underway is available at www.applab.org.

Prior to joining Grameen Foundation, David spent three years at Microsoft designing innovative business models to provide affordable technology products for people in emerging markets. David also worked in Brazil for four years, with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he developed business strategies tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses in developing countries.

Previously, David conducted economic analyses and evaluated public policy with the White House Council of Economic Advisers and with Resources For the Future. He holds a Bachelors degree in Environmental Science and Economics from Colby College and a Masters degree in Economics and Public Policy from Princeton University.

 

Kirsten is responsible for heading up the Ghana Health Initiative, focused on applying mobile phone technology to increase antenatal and newborn care for Ghanaian women and their babies. The project is also focused on developing a model that can be scaled to developing world communities globally to increase the health of poor women and their children.

 

Kirsten’s career has been focused on bringing together the best of the business and social sectors to develop models that create positive social change in a sustainable way. After founding her company, Social Enterprise Group (SEG) in 2000, Kirsten worked to assist organizations and individuals in all sectors to develop efficient and effective social enterprises. She consulted with and taught social entrepreneurs throughout the world. In a quest to find a way to scale technical assistance to social enterprises, she worked with Bainbridge Graduate Institute to develop a comprehensive methodology, Sustayne, for leading groups of social entrepreneurs through the development of their social ventures. Prior to starting SEG Kirsten was Administrator of Strategic Planning at Casey Family Programs. Before working at Casey, Kirsten was a consultant with KPMG Peat Marwick, specializing in management, technology, and organizational development consulting for health and human service agencies. Her fusing of social issues and business expertise began internationally – first as a marketing intern at the Russian-owned world trade center in Moscow and later as a small enterprise development Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa.

 

 

 

Sarah is responsible for training, supporting and monitoring the CKWs. She holds a Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics from Makerere University. Sara’s work experience over the years has revolved around addressing Poverty and Gender related inequalities. She is married to Paul Mugisha and they have two children, Mark (7 years) and Peninah (2 years). She enjoys travelling, reading and playing badminton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Francis Ssebugwawo
Project Officer, AppLab Uganda

 

Francis Ssebugwawo, a graduate of Makerere University Kampala, is the project officer of the Applab Uganda project. Before joining the Applab team, Francis was a pioneer team member of the Village Phone initiative in Uganda. While working as the operations manager for MTN Village Phone, he oversaw the successful implementation of the village phone initiative building a network of 10,000 Village Phone operators spread across rural Uganda. He possesses vast experience in micro finance which he obtained while working with FINCA (Foundation for International Community Assistance), an international micro finance institution, for over six years. Francis loves travelling and spending time with his lovely family of 3 kids (Ivy, Emily, Roy) and Annette, his wife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Ssengooba

Project Analyst, AppLab Uganda

 

Paul is focused on project management of the Agricultural advice pilot. He brings a rich mix of project management and technical skills. Previously, he worked as on various ICT deployment projects and a technical support role with MTN Uganda. He holds a Masters degree in engineering studies with a major in telecom networks from the University of Technology Sydney. Paul is an avid sports man playing competitive volley-ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather Thorne

Heather works with the Director to guide cross-group strategy and lead specific implementation efforts, including the AppLab work in Indonesia. She is also responsible for developing management systems that allow programs to share best practices, improve efficiency of operations, and ensure that program strategies effectively further the mission of the Grameen Foundation. Prior to Grameen, Heather spent 5 ½ years at Microsoft in a series of strategy, marketing, and operational leadership roles, including work focused on emerging markets consumers, in the Windows, Microsoft Research and Mobile divisions. Prior to Microsoft, she was an associate with McKinsey & Company in Seattle, Moscow and Kemerovo Siberia, started (and closed) her own outdoor gear company, worked in Russia for a Moscow-based investment bank, and for NASA on the US-Russian space program. She received BA degrees in Russian Language and Political Science from University of Washington, and an MBA from Wharton.

 

 

 

Tim specializes in applying information technology to address the problems of poverty and health in developing countries. After 12 years at Microsoft working on software development, Tim spent two years consulting with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation looking at the intersection of Information Technology and Global Health. He joined the Grameen Technology Center in 2002 and pioneered replication of the Grameen Village Phone program, launching sustainable initiatives in Uganda and Rwanda and co-authoring the Village Phone Replication Manual.  He is currently leading Grameen's efforts to identify ways to improve the quantity and quality of healthcare in developing countries using mobile phones.  Tim brings a broad range of technical and business expertise, and a valued perspective on technology initiatives for developing countries.

 

 

 

 

Basil is working on the CKW Network team as Field coordinator
He has worked with Production and Marketing with Uganda Cooperative Alliance and with AT Uganda in livelihood recovery/ development projects funded by DANIDA and European Union in Lango and Acholi sub regions respectively.
He has practical experiences in project management and coordination, value chain analysis, rural development, rural micro finance, monitoring and evaluation, organizational development and advocacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jill Shemin is working on the Partnerships team. She is a Boston native (USA), and has lived in Brussels, Washington, DC, New York, and South East Asia. Prior to joining AppLab she was at The UN World Food Programme here in Kampala working in the Agriculture Market Support unit on the Purchase for Progress initiative, which Grameen is including as one of its partnerships beginning in 2010. Jill has a background in agricultural development and trade, food security, and journalism. While in DC she was working at the Foreign Agriculture Service working on an agreement with USAID's EGAT Bureau (Economic Growth & Agricultural Trade), which covers a variety of areas on top of agriculture including climate change, water, and forestry. A Cornell University Alumnus, she has done graduate work in international trade, nutrition, and Bottom of the Pyramid business models, including the Grameen Telecom model. She also has interests in renewable energy.

 

 

 

Hosea is working under the CKW Network team as a training coordinator
Hosea worked as a training officer for different social development projects in Uganda and United Kingdom. He has a passion to see the poor and underprivileged groups improve their lives. Hosea has an MA from London Metropolitan University, Postgraduate diplomas in education and management studies and a BA(Linguistics)from Makerere University Kampala. He enjoys reading, travelling and farming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lydia is working on the partnerships team as a Partnership Analyst.
She is a writer and communications professional. Prior to joining AppLab, Lydia worked as a reporter and society columnist with the New Vision.

As Partnership Analyst, Lydia is monitoring, evaluation and related reporting for the CKW project. She is the point person for the project’s marketing and communications efforts. Professionally, all she aims at is to be relevant to the common man/woman and she for that reason feels very privileged to be part of a social entrepreneurship like the CKW project.

Lydia has a loves for creative writing and traveling. She still writes a society column in the Sunday Vision but please don’t bring it up when you meet her. She is shy about those things. Travelling, she has climbed the Great Wall of China, abseiled besides Sipi Falls and is still itching to do more exciting things. Any sponsors?