New East Africa Council Member from Dhamana Guarantee Company

We are excited to welcome Christopher Olobo, CEO at Dhamana Guarantee Company, as the newest member of the IPFA East Africa Council.

We asked Chris a few questions to get to know him a little better:

IPFA: If you could personally change or influence one thing within infrastructure and/or energy, what would it be?  

Chris: I would champion local currency financing for infrastructure projects in East Africa. This reduces forex risks, more importantly attracts domestic institutional investors (like pension funds). This is already working in regions like Europe, Canada, and Australia, and it’s time East Africa unlocked that same potential. With the right structures and risk-sharing tools, we can make these investments attractive, stable, and impactful. That’s the main reason I chose to leave my role at IFC to join the project development team and help complete the setup of Dhamana. With a mandate to mobilize domestic institutional capital into infrastructure and energy projects, we’re working to unlock long-term, local currency financing that meets the region’s development needs while also delivering stable returns for investors. It’s about building a bridge between opportunity and capital, right here at home.

IPFA: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to yourself at the start of your career? 

Chris: Be consistent! Small efforts form big wins. And treat people well, always. The same faces you meet early on are often the ones you’ll cross paths with again. Relationships and integrity matter more than titles and status.

IPFA: What do you hope to bring to this council? 

Chris: I hope to raise the profile of Project Finance and demystify it for more industry players in East Africa. I also hope to support IPFA’s local membership and, more specifically, the Future Leaders Network by creating more opportunities for young professionals in our region to engage, grow (both personally and professionally), and shape the future of infrastructure and energy finance.