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The ECI Family

Abraham Leno

Executive Director

Once a refugee in Guinea, Abraham has spent his whole career promoting health, dignity and joy in the world’s most difficult places — starting in Guinea, where he and his family were refugees themselves. As a humanitarian Leader, Abraham has led humanitarian efforts in Liberia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Balochistan in Pakistan, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As the DRC country director for Alight (formerly the American Refugee Committee), Abraham helped co-create and implement the revolutionary Asili business model.

Abraham is grateful to have lived beyond survival and now has a family and a home of his own and other people who look up to him. His relief and development work are inspired by memories of this kindness and the generosity of many others. He travels widely throughout the DRC and United States, but he is based in ECI’s headquarters in Bukavu.

Aline Mihigo, Coffee Field Officer

An experienced agronomist based in Bukavu, Aline works to support the development of ECI’s coffee program in South Kivu, Kawa Bora ya Kivu. Aline studied agronomy at the Universite Evangelique en Afrique (UEA) in Bukavu, and speaks fluent French, Swahili, and Lingala. She joined ECI in April 2013.

Alphonsine Mbela, Deputy Country Manager – Operations

Alphonsine joined ECI in January 2013 and oversees the financial operations. Alphonsine has a wealth of experience in accounting and has previously worked for World Vision DRC, World Vision Zimbabwe, and UNHCR. She has one degree in Economics and one in Human Resources Management from the Universite Ouverte du Nord Kivu. Alphonsine was born and grew up in Goma. She speaks English, French, Swahili, and Lingala. 

Freddy Bingane, Finance and Administration Coordinator

Freddy Bingane brings years of experience in finance and accounting to ECI’s finance department. Before joining ECI in December 2014, Freddy worked as a finance officer for Save the Children International in the Oriental province. Freddy holds a degree in Management and Accounting from the University of CEPROMAD in Bunia, DRC.

Gerry Kahashy, Multimedia Specialist

Gerry was born and raised in Goma, DRC. Prior to joining ECI in October 2015, Gerry worked as a radio technician and producer at the Mutaani Project in Goma, as well as a cameraman and video editor at Big Ideas Entertainment in Kenya. Gerry speaks English, French, and Swahili.

Luc Ndyanabo, Capacity-Building and Grantee Coordinator

Luc joined ECI in November 2010. He is responsible for arranging all field visits, security and procurement out of ECI’s Goma office. Luc studied Economics and Management at the University of CEPROMAD. Luc was born and raised in Goma, and speaks English, French, and Swahili.

Maryline Mwenge Vira, Finance Assistant

Maryline has over a decade’s experience in financial administration of local and international non-governmental organizations in eastern Congo, including current ECI partner HEAL Africa. She joined ECI in 2012 and supports our Finance Manager in overseeing the financial administration of ECI’s programs. Maryline grew up in Goma and studied Business Management & Administration at Universite Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs. Maryline speaks French and Swahili.

Wallace “Tad” Lunden, Business Manager

Tad manages Asili’s business platform, identifies future investments, guides business strategy, and acts as quality control manager of the Asili brand and its promise.

Tad graduated with an M.A. in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration from the Korbel School at the University of Denver in 2009, and from there joined Deloitte Consulting. Upon a return to his native Minnesota, Tad joined ARC and shipped off to DRC to help Asili get off the ground. He’s been with Asili ever since.