Impact investments are investments made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
Find Out More20 Sep. 2024
The National Advisory Board for Impact Investment (NABII) Zambia is pleased to announce the appointment of Simunza Muyangana as the Board Chairperson and Carl Jensen as the Board Vice-Chairperson.
Simunza previously served as the Vice-Chairperson and acted as Interim Chairperson for two months before this appointment. He succeeded Ms. Namaya-Morero Mbikusita-Lewanika, who was Prospero Limited's representative on the Board after she resigned from her position at Prospero Limited. Namaya held the position of Chairperson since the formation of the NABII Board in March 2023.
Simunza brings a wealth of experience to the role, including his expertise and knowledge from his current role as support lead for entrepreneurs at BongoHive, Lusaka’s first innovation and technology hub. BongoHive provides a range of start-up and tech programs, workshops, and events focused on making Zambia Africa’s next hotbed of innovation.
Before joining BongoHive, Simunza worked at a marketing and telecommunication consultancy in South Africa. He is a Swedish Institute of Management fellow and serves on the boards of the Zambia Business Angel Network, Copper Rose Zambia, Flutterwave Zambia, and the Southern Africa Innovation Collective.
"I am honoured to be appointed Chairman of the National Advisory Board for Impact Investment (NABII) at such a pivotal moment. On the 19th of November this year, NABII will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary and I am excited to be part of that and to lead the board in its mission of driving sustainable economic development through impact investing. Together with our members, we will strive to ensure that every investment in Zambia aligns with both financial returns and positive social and environmental outcomes." - Simunza Muyangana
Similarly, Carl Jensen served as a board member before being appointed Vice Chairperson.
Carl brings a wealth of experience to the role, with his expertise in sustainable agriculture and social enterprise. As the Co-founder and CEO of Good Nature Agro, a for-profit social enterprise, Carl has been instrumental in linking over 11,000 smallholder farmers to quality markets and essential agricultural services. His work has focused on improving seed quality and implementing climate-smart farming practices, which have significantly enhanced the productivity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Carl hails from a multi-generational family farm in the United States, giving him a deep connection to agriculture. He completed his MSc in International Agricultural Development from UC Davis, with a focus on soil management and business. Since launching Good Nature Agro in 2014 with his co-founders, Carl has demonstrated a strong commitment to leveraging business for social good. His leadership has helped build a sustainable agricultural model combining profitability and positive social impact.
In the field of impact investment, Carl’s approach highlights how agricultural enterprises can successfully blend financial returns with meaningful social and environmental outcomes. Under his guidance, Good Nature Agro has become a key player in advancing sustainable development within Zambia's agricultural sector, serving as a prime example of how impact investments can transform local communities while achieving scalability and sustainability.
Additionally, former Chairperson, Ms. Namaya-Morero Mbikusita-Lewanika, has expressed her optimism about the future of the board and its impact on investment in Zambia. Reflecting on her time with NABII, Ms. Lewanika stated that it was a great privilege to be a part of the early stages of the National Advisory Board and later serve as the Board Chairperson representing Prospero while she was with the organisation.
She further highlighted her confidence in the new leadership team.
"Seeing the NABII grow from a Taskforce to a GSG National Partner Impact gives me hope that NABII will continue to achieve great things in the impact investment space. I would like to congratulate the new leadership team and express my confidence in their expertise and dedication to advancing the impact investing agenda." - Ms. Lewanika
Ms. Lewanika emphasised the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of impact investment in Zambia and extended her best wishes to the new team as they continue to drive this agenda forward.
Please see additional information about the NABII Board here.