African Risk Capacity Appoints Three New Directors

The African Risk Capacity Limited (the ARC Ltd) has appointed three new non-executive directors (NEDs) and a special advisor to join its board of directors.

The organisation explained that the move was to bring independent strategic guidance and oversight to its operations.

Those appointed were Mr Abdoulie Janneh, Ms Delphine Traoré Maïdou and Dr Frannie Leautier as NEDs as well as Dr Michel Jarraud, who would serve as Special Advisor to the Board. The appointments took effect Wednesday, August 1.

The ARC Limited is a financial affiliate of the African Risk Capacity (ARC), which is a specialised agency of the African Union established to assist member states in tackling the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable people.

ARC transfers the burden of weather and other natural disaster risks away from governments, enabling them to build resilience and better plan, prepare, and respond to extreme events.

A statement from the organisation explained that working alongside the board chairman, Mr Dele Babade, the NEDswould join a team that is making concrete strides in empowering African sovereigns to build resilience against the catastrophic effects of climate and other natural disasters.

Babade said, “the new Non-Executive Directors are bringing on board deep expertise, versatile experience, tested knowledge, and expansive networks to chart new paths that will continue to place ARC Ltd as a leader in innovative natural disaster risk financing and management.”

Janneh was an executive director at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation based in Dakar, Senegal, a role he has held since 2012. He is the former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) (2005 – 2012).

Also, Maïdou holds a Bachelor’s degree, Business/Accounting, University of Pittsburgh; MBA, Insurance Management, Boston University, School of Management.  

Also, Leautier is the founder and Managing Partner of the Fezembat Group. He holds a PhD, Infrastructure Systems, MIT; Masters degree in Transportation, MIT.

Leautier, is the former Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank During her tenure at the bank, she led efforts in improving overall operational effectiveness to drive greater developmental impact.

Similarly, Jarraud was previously Secretary-General – World Meteorological Organisation. He holds a degree of “Ingénieurde l’Ecole Polytechnique“ – Major Mathematics, Physics with chemistry and economics as additional subjects: Ecole Polytechnique; Degree of “Ingénieur de la Météorologie“: Ecole de la Météorologie Nationale – Paris (France).