Introducing the 2026 Emerging Economies Fellows

Led by Monica Araya, the fellowship program offers a deep learning and training experience for young professionals. Selected through a competitive nomination process within the network of Drive Electric Campaign partner organizations, fellows are from some of the fastest-growing markets across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

The Drive Electric Emerging Economies Fellows program provides:

• Mentorship from members of the Drive Electric community of electric transportation leaders and advocates.
• Support through monthly learning modules with Drive Electric experts and an honorarium.
• Investment in a network of alumni to continue after the completion of the program.

“For the second year, this fellowship brings together a fantastic cohort of early-career professionals advancing e-mobility in emerging markets. This is a unique opportunity to learn from each other and from our inspiring Drive Electric partners,” said Monica, a Distinguished Fellow at ClimateWorks Foundation who is leading program development for the fellowship. “I am inspired to support this community of future leaders.”

Meet our 2026 Emerging Economies Fellows

Alejandra Cuéllar (she/her)

Alejandra is electric mobility communications strategist at GSCC Mexico, where she works to enhance the public debate on climate change and clean energy solutions on a broader level. She was previously a journalist and editor specializing in climate, health, and human rights at Dialogue Earth Latin America.

📍 Colombia and Mexico

Bhuchis Phoompakvan (he/him)

Bhuchis is a junior advisor at GIZ Thailand, where he focuses on supporting evidence-based transportation climate policy in Thailand via the IMPROVE Project. Previously, Bhuchis held a position as researcher at the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD), Ministry of Commerce.

📍 Thailand

Bob Wesonga (he/him)

Bob is an e-mobility researcher and project manager based in Kenya, currently serving as a Research Associate at the Africa E-Mobility Alliance (AfEMA). With a degree in civil engineering, he specializes in electric mobility systems, transport investment and policy landscapes, and data-driven transport planning.

📍 Kenya

Claudio Mena Cavieres (he/him)

Claudio is the leader of the electromobility and vehicle standards team at Centro Movilidad Sostenible, where he supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies aimed at the decarbonization of transport throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

📍 Chile

Japheth Kipkirui (he/him)

Japheth is an electric mobility coordinator at World Resources Institute (Africa), where he provides project and technical expertise to sustainable transport initiatives advancing electric mobility across the region. His work focuses on the systems and enabling conditions spanning people, finance, policy, climate, and infrastructure that drive the electrification of transport. Japheth holds degrees in electrical engineering and sustainable energy transitions.

📍 Kenya

Kemal Fardianto (he/him)

Kemal is a senior transport associate at ITDP Indonesia, where he helps shape low-carbon transportation and e-mobility policies that support cleaner, more accessible, and more livable cities. With degrees in civil engineering and urban railway planning, Kemal’s work focuses on aligning transportation with climate, economic, and urban development objectives.

📍 Indonesia

Lavrez Chaudhary (he/him)

Lavrez is a project manager at Purpose, where he focuses on supporting projects that are accelerating the shift to clean energy and electric mobility. Previously, he had years of grassroots experience with both government and non-government organizations. With an advanced degree in social work, Lavrez has applied theories and participatory tools of social change to address issues from clean energy and mobility to climate change and poverty.

📍 India

Luh Saraswati Pandyaningrum (she/her)
Luh is a sustainable mobility consultant at the UNEP Sustainable Mobility Unit, where she supports global initiatives to advance sustainable transportation policies, with a particular focus on gender-responsive electric mobility and zero-emission last-mile delivery. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Luh has degrees in architecture, urban planning, and policy design.

📍Indonesia and Kenya

Paloma Martins (she/her)

Paloma is a freight transport decarbonization analyst at World Resources Institute (Brazil), where she develops research and projects to advance low- and zero-emission freight solutions in Brazil through data analysis, policy assessment, and stakeholder engagement. Paloma holds degrees in environmental management and project management.

📍Brazil

Tenele Patiant Ndlovu (she/her)

Tenele is a project manager for zero-emission buses at C40 Cities, where she oversees delivery and implementation of the zero-emission buses program, contributing to the global transition to zero-emission buses in various C40 cities. Based in Pretoria, Tenele previously worked as an intern at South Africa’s National Department of Environmental Affairs (now the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and later joined the Climate Support Program at GIZ South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini office.

📍South Africa

Thyla-Jay (TJ) Quickfall (she/her)

Thyla-Jay is a program manager for the new market strategy at EV100, Climate Group initiative, where she focuses on advancing corporate climate leadership in emerging markets, particularly in Kenya, South Africa, and Indonesia. Thyla-Jay has a background in science, environmental policy, international development, and working with subnational governments in Africa.

📍South Africa & the UK

Vitória Mendes (she/her)

Vitória is a content strategist at Apply Brasil, where she develops narrative storytelling and campaigns that broaden the reach of transformative agendas in Brazil, including the transition to clean energy and zero-emission transportation. Vitória holds degrees in journalism and sustainable development in emerging markets.

📍 Brazil

Accelerating zero-emission transportation for all

The fellowship program is part of the Leapfrogging Partnership initiative of the Drive Electric Campaign, which aims to supercharge electric transportation by supporting partners across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.