Effie Wambua

Company Overview: KIFFWA, in collaboration with Netherlands Water Partnership and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands provides early-stage capital, finance and technical expertise to support the creation of viable water-climate investment opportunities and attract private providers of finance. Key Responsibilities include:

• Developing comprehensive project pre-development documentation (MOUs, NDAs, Term Sheets, JDAs and Joint Venture Agreements)
• Expanding the company's mandate to incorporate SDG 13 as well as guiding KIFFWA's mission change from a water fund to a water-climate fund by providing legal expertise
• Managing relationships with external counsel across diverse jurisdictions for seamless handling of legal matters affecting KIFFWA's initiatives and governance structures.
• Planning for and organizing the institutions' Board and Investment Committee meetings, and implementing corporate governance best practices by advising Board and IC members on fiduciary duties and compliance matters.
• Advised executive leadership on legal implications of strategic decisions, promoting sound decision-making practices in the operations of the two institutions of KIFFWA.
• Performing monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting checks for KIFFWA limited and Stichting KIFFWA Foundation
• Ensuring effective coordination and information sharing on legal issues affecting project activities with stakeholders as well as engaging with communities in project areas to ensure participation and contribute to the realization of projected benefits.

Key responsibilities include:

• Structuring, negotiating and drawing up the company's internal and third-party contracts and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Selecting and supervising external counsel as they work on projects thereby building the company's legal capacity
• Providing in-house legal counsel and corporate secretarial services to the 2 sets of KIFFWA's Board of Directors, the Investment Committees and the Company's management teams
• Conducting due diligence on new ventures, structuring projects Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs); identifying legal risk and guiding transactions on all matters legal in the various projects being undertaken by the organization
• Successfully developing high-quality business policies and procedures and ensuring their alignment with both short-term and long-term strategic objectives of the company
• Maintaining custody of the company's legal documents, (including contracts, RFPs and company constitutional documents) as well as the company seal
• Accurately preparing and filing the company's annual statutory returns and impact reports
• Mobilizing resources for the company both locally and internationally
• Successfully developing and implementing a robust communication strategy to re-structure the company's communication of legal matters with stakeholders
• Developing and reviewing governance policies, tracking implementation of Board Decisions/resolutions and implementing the Boards' work plans
• Developing the Company's Board Charters and overseeing their continued implementation
• Managing document review projects efficiently while adhering to strict timelines, ensuring thorough analysis of relevant materials before submission deadlines passed.
• Preparing detailed due diligence reports for corporate transactions, identifying potential areas of concern or liability exposure.

• Drafted and filed required legal pleadings, motions and instruments in court proceedings
• Structured, negotiated and drew up commercial contracts ensuring their compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Facilitated the Judicial Service Commission interviews in search of a new Chief Justice and Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges of Kenya
• Attended legal seminars and workshops to expand knowledge on legal ethics, decorum and advocate presentation
• Assisted senior attorneys in preparing for trial, contributing to successful outcomes in numerous cases; making sure to attend court, record proceedings and formulate and file the necessary responses.
• Increased client satisfaction by providing timely and accurate legal research on various topics.
• Structured, negotiated, drew and reviewed contracts thoroughly to identify potential areas of risk or non-compliance before execution by clients.
• Negotiated favorable settlements in various disputes, saving clients from costly litigation expenses.
• Conducted comprehensive due diligence investigations for corporate transactions, mitigating risks for clients.

• Leveraged knowledge in competitive tendering processes to lead teams tasked with the acquisition of a suitable medical scheme for the corporation's staff and the corporation's vehicles
• Reviewed and managed the corporation's finance and procurement policies and revised them when necessary to ensure their compliance with changing laws and best practices
• Facilitated effective procurement of goods and services by setting up a vendor enrolment process as well as managing over 100 vendors
• Oversaw and managed all company purchases and confirmed their value
• Optimized cash flow management, ensuring timely payment of invoices and reducing outstanding debts.
• Assisted executive leadership in making informed decisions by providing reliable financial forecasts based on rigorous analyses.