Mr. David Wafula is a CABE founder and holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University, the Netherlands, and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Kenyatta University.  David is currently working for the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat as an Agricultural Specialist responsible for coordination of EAC-USAID East Africa funded interventions. He provides technical leadership and supports EAC Partner States in the design and implementation of regional policies, strategies, plans and programs focusing on agricultural development and deepening of regional integration. David has over 18 years of working experience in regional integration initiatives, agricultural policy development and implementation, food and nutrition security programming and biotechnology and biosafety agenda. David facilitates linkages and strategic partnerships between CABE and key regional agencies on the agricultural transformation agenda.

Dr. Nicky Pouw is a Founder of CABE and an associate professor at the Governance and Inclusive Development research programme at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She is a development economist with over 25 years of research and teaching experience on inclusive development, poverty and inequality, food security, and wellbeing economics. She is leading several international research programs, notably with African research partners on these themes, including the ‘Inclusive Business Models for Women Food Entrepreneurship’ project together with CABE. She is author of ‘Wellbeing Economics’ (AUP, 2020) and ‘Introduction to Gender and Wellbeing in Microeconomics’ (Routledge 2018) and co-editor of several other books. She issued multiple special issues on themes related to inclusive and sustainable development, managing editor of INEA, Springer, and Chair of the Board of The Broker.

Ms. Jessica Peyla Nagtalon joined CABE in 2020 as a new Board of Director. Jessica holds an M.S. in International Development Studies from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, an M.Sc. in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz, USA. She has over 15 years of experience working on natural resource management, aquatic ecosystem restoration, climate change, gender and education. Jessica is skilled in non-profit administration, operations, grant-writing and fundraising, and project coordination. She currently works for the EarthLab at the University of Washington (UW), USA, which brings together UW expertise with civic partners to address large-scale environmental problems. Jessica is also active in her local community in Seattle, Washington and in Busia County in Western Kenya.

Mr. Benson T. Mang’eni joined CABE in 2020 as a new Board of Director. He holds an MA. In Project Planning and Management, from University of Nairobi, and Bachelors of Arts Education, from Egerton University. Benson has twenty years’ work experience in the private, public and international development sectors. He is currently working at the International Labour Organization. Benson is a versatile, committed, and results-driven professional. He has a wealth of knowledge in broad areas of active labour market policies and programmes contruting towards decent work and sustainable development. Benson has previously worked with the Youth Enterprise Development Fund in planning, research, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E,) where he was responsible for strategic planning and development, implementation and review of M&E frameworks.