Samuel Martin

Samuel has more than 22 years of professional experience in the promotion of renewable energy, access to energy and energy efficiency. Specialist in rural electrification and clean cooking, in particular on institutional and policy issues as well as financing aspects, he has worked and lived on 4 continents (Africa, Asia, Europe and South America). He has experience working for consulting firms, NGOs, research institutions and the United Nations. In this context, he has developed, implemented and evaluated projects aimed at improving access to energy for the poor, dealing with institutional, technical and financial aspects. He has led projects and programmes for NGOs and since becoming a consultant has been the team leader for a number of assignments. A fast learner, Samuel has been able to adjust to new environments and contexts everywhere he lived and worked. He has extensive experience in the mini-grid sector, contributing to the development and implementation of the first hybrid solar-hydro-thermal mini-grid in Laos in 2007 and the subsequent signature of a PPA between the private owner of the mini-grid and the national electricity company. Since this first experience more than 15 years ago, Samuel has worked in the mini-grid sector on various projects, including supporting the development of the regulatory framework in Mozambique, carrying out feasibility studies in the DRC, support to a non-governmental entity to develop and implement a private sector support programme which resulted in the commissioning of 3 mini-grids, support to multilateral organisations to design programmes to support the development of mini-grids in Malawi and DRC as well as support to various mini-grid companies to raise funds. Samuel has also a strong sense of diplomacy and a positive solution finding attitude. For example, in 2012 in Communist Laos, he organised the first policy dialogue on energy issues. Since 2001, Samuel has lived in various developing countries, in Asia and then in Africa. He currently resides in Burkina Faso. He is a native French speaker who has worked for a long time in English. He also has a good commend of Portuguese due to various trips in Brazil at the turn of the century, in particular to carry out his Master thesis projects.