Welcome to Terra.talk, the official podcast of international climate school ⁠⁠Terra.do.⁠⁠ Shannon and Jae keep the energy conversation going for the second straight week with Richard Hammond, an energy access consultant from Accra, Ghana.

Richard most recently served as the Energy Access Lead for the USAID Empower West Africa Program at Tetra Tech, spearheading energy access initiatives across 18 countries, targeting 2 million connections via solar home systems and mini-grids before the program was terminated due to changes in the U.S. Administration's objectives (hint hint: we talk about this in the episode). Before this, Richard worked as an Off-Grid Energy Specialist for Deloitte, supporting the West Africa Energy Program by facilitating strategic partnerships and business strategies for off-grid solar companies. He also led the USAID Power Africa Off-grid Program in Ghana and Liberia, achieving over 80,000 energy access connections.

Richard's core competencies include business development, renewable energy financing, strategic partnerships, program management, and policy advocacy. He has led cross-functional teams, forged strategic partnerships, and scaled off-grid solar initiatives for health, agriculture, and SMEs. In addition to his full-time roles, Richard has provided consultancy services for organizations like ASI ( FCDO Green Cities and Infrastructure program ), RTI International, and the African Enterprise Challenge Fund. His advisory roles have involved market research, business strategy development, and technical support for renewable energy projects across Africa. Richard is now exploring new opportunities within the renewable energy sector or broader development space, committed to addressing energy poverty and promoting sustainable development in Africa.

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• Fill out our ⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠ to help us improve the podcast in future seasons.
• Richard is also a singer/songwriter! Check out his channel at RhammsMusic or at the link in the episode description.

Season 1 of Terra.talk drops every Tuesday from May 27 to July 8, 2025. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Terra.do or its partners.

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