After five years of growth and impactful milestones, CLASP is honored to announce a new management team for Efficiency for Access (EforA) at CLASP. Nyamolo Abagi, Senior Manager, will now oversee the program, with the support of  Yasemin Erboy Ruff, Manager, in a deputy role.

This new two-person team reflects the growing ambition and staffing needs of the program in a new, exciting phase. Efficiency for Access was previously managed by Jenny Corry Smith who is now the Chief of Programs at CLASP and will oversee a broad portfolio of CLASP programs.

Nya joined CLASP in 2017 and skillfully managed the Global LEAP Awards Results-Based Financing Program, which has catalyzed the sale of more than 285,000 solar appliances, providing nearly 1.3 million people with new or expanded access to energy.

She brings an in-depth understanding of local entrepreneurs and vulnerable communities. For example, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she collaborated with program funders to restructure performance-based financing into relief grants. This was the earliest direct aid received by some companies, preventing layoffs and enabling them to continue serving communities through the initial lockdowns.

“I am humbled to be stepping into EforA’s driving seat to continue growing a portfolio of work that has consistently supported and advocated for impactful change. Furthermore, it’s a great privilege to be taking on this new role working in close partnership with Yasemin and supported by an incredibly talented, vibrant, and passionate team,” said Nyamolo.

Prior to joining CLASP, Nya managed intricate field operations for Fenix International (now Engie Energy Access), an off-grid solar industry leader.

Yasemin Erboy Ruff is a seasoned international sustainable development professional with over ten years of experience in clean energy access. Prior to joining CLASP, Yasemin managed the Energy Access Practitioner Network, a 2,500-member platform. The Energy Access Practitioner Network, convened the inaugural stakeholder convention hosted by the United Nations Foundation to deliberate on scaling energy access.  Yasemin joined CLASP in 2017 where she has adeptly championed stakeholder engagements for the Efficiency for Access Coalition from its inception, growing it to a strong global alliance of 19 Donor members, 19 Programme Partners and 36 Investor Network members.

Yasemin currently oversees the day-to-day management of the Efficiency for Access Donor Coalition and specializes in partner coordination initiatives and market intelligence dissemination. She has been instrumental in developing the Efficiency for Access brand, in particular, through leading communications campaigns, including a recent solar water pump consumer awareness raising campaign in Kenya. She led the development of several seminal reports, including the Market Survey Report and Solar Appliance Technology Brief series. Yasemin is also spearheading a first-of-its-kind report on inclusivity in the solar appliance sector with an anticipated release later this year.

“It has been a privilege to witness and have a hand in the growth of CLASP’s clean energy access portfolio via Efficiency for Access. This inflection point is a natural extension of my partner engagement and program management role to date, and I could not be more excited to help raise our level of ambition again in partnership with Nya.” said Yasemin.

“I look forward to working closely with Nya and Yasemin as we build on the Efficiency for Access work and deepen our service to the sector”, said Sam Grant, Senior Director, Clean Energy Access.

In 2015, CLASP first launched Efficiency for Access as a one-year campaign to promote efficient appliances to enable access to energy, with support from the World Bank Group, United Nations, Clean Energy Ministerial, and over 120 industry signatories. We relaunched the program in January 2018, in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, ushering in a new era of strengthened partnerships and ambitious commitments to spur technological innovation and scale solar appliance markets.

Since then, the Efficiency for Access Donor Coalition has more than doubled, channeling £214 million in funding towards off-grid appliance portfolios across 52 countries. Efficiency for Access has also channeled a total of £5.4 million towards Research & Development projects.

“My work in the past decade has been focused on accelerating the growth of off-grid appliance markets stemming from my deep roots in the Global South.  Efficiency for Access’s collaborative approach resonates strongly with my personal values – promoting high quality, energy-efficient appliances as a way to boost incomes, reduce carbon emissions, improve quality of life and support sustainable development.” added Nya.

“I’m so excited to witness yet another milestone by the Efficiency for Access program. Nya and Yasemin bring more than 20 years of combined experience in skillfully elevating the needs of stakeholders in energy access and amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities. I wish them success in their new roles,” said Christine Egan, Chief Executive Officer at CLASP.

LEIA is co-managed by CLASP and the Energy Saving Trust, and the two organizations serve as the co-secretariat of the Efficiency for Access Coalition.