Our Team

The international scope of ACGF's work, combined with deep local expertise, directly translates into the organization’s commitment to professionalism and diversity.

ACGF’s staff come from an array of nationalities and backgrounds. In our diversity, we remain committed to the shared values of professionalism, diligence, openness and continuous learning. Commitment to these values encourages ACGF’s team to grow both professionally and personally.

Bernd Leidner

Our business is all about people:
The staff in our very lean head office who create and support our structures, the colleagues in our subsidiary in Afghanistan who work so hard to achieve business volume and ensure portfolio quality, the employees of the partner financial institutions who we closely cooperate with and train and, foremost, the business owners and their employees who are at the center of what we do: Unlocking potential and facilitating growth, jobs and income.

It gives me great joy to shape this work and see its impact.

Bernd Leidner

Managing Partner

Dirk Josef Thiesen

Since more than 10 years, my personal and professional engagement is focussed on improving the living conditions of Afghan women, men and children by strengthening Afghan MSMEs being the backbone of Afghanistan’s economy. The impact created by ACGF has always encouraged me to move forward in our activities even in very challenging times. The highly diverse and professional team of ACGF and SCSA have enabled us to overcome all challenges in the past. I am therefore convinced that we can very substantially contribute to a future well-being of the Afghan people. 

Dirk Josef Thiesen

Managing Partner

Daniel Jobmann

ACGF contributes to long-term SME financing, employment creation and economic development in Afghanistan. Being part of ACGF’s charitable mission provides motivation to work hard for a good cause. I appreciate working in an international team in Germany and enjoy the know how exchange with all our colleagues in Afghanistan

Daniel Jobmann

Manager – Finance & Controlling

Jana Steverding

When I joined ACGF in 2020, I was deeply impressed about the commitment, experience, and technical know-how present in the organisation. Working at ACGF, I am daily challenged to deliver at the best of my abilities and feel to contribute to a greater cause – enhancing access to finance for MSMEs in Afghanistan, therefore supporting livelihoods and economic development in a challenging environment.

Jana Steverding

Head of Transaction Management  

Detulio Ailton Goncalves Fumo

Detulio Ailton Gonçalves Fumo

Guarantee Business Sales Manager (External)

Carmen Michaelis

Since having joined ACGF in 2017, I have constantly been presented with new responsibilities, challenges and opportunities to develop while working on inspiring projects with our Partner Institutions to implement best practice credit technology, to further institutional capacity and to induce MSME product development. I very much enjoy the diversity of my work and am proud to be part of a young and creative team that is dedicated to contribute to economic and social development in Afghanistan.

Carmen Michaelis

Head of Technical Assistance & Strategy

Stefano De Cristofaro

Working at ACGF has offered me the opportunity to have a concrete understanding of the complexity and richness of the Afghan culture and Afghan people. I am fully committed to support Afghan MSMEs through an increased access to finance, especially for the most vulnerable categories.

Stefano De Cristofaro

Head of Risk Management

Ursula Geertzen

ACGF is the first foundation I work for. I find the concept of helping people in Afghanistan to build a future by helping them help themselves very convincing. I didn’t have a clear idea of ​​how working for a foundation affects everyday work. Today I can say that “everyday work” is the completely misleading expression. I have never had such a diverse area of ​​responsibility and was required to deal with many new topics. From the very beginning I could count on the support of all my colleagues, have learned a lot since then and am sure that both will continue to be the case. Working at ACGF requires flexibility in terms of topics and priorities and challenges me anew every day. That’s the way I like it.

The situation in Afghanistan has changed fundamentally. What has not changed is the need for people to have a future for themselves and their families, and the support that ACGF can provide has become all the more important because of the changed situation. It still convinces me.

Ursula Geertzen

Head of Human Resources

Francisco Urdaneta

It is a privilege to be involved in creating solutions for a sector as critical as the MSMEs by improving their access to finance where each credit represents an opportunity to support a job and in a sense someone’s livelihood. The challenge is very demanding, but the reward is even greater.

Francisco Urdaneta

Head of Monitoring, Evaluation & Data Quality 

Maksimiliana Zabunova

Living in extensively multicultural environment in Berlin I am a passionate believer in building lasting relations between communities, cultures, and individuals through promoting cooperation, tolerance, openness, communication, and transparency. ACGF shares these values and gives me the opportunity to immerse into a unique culture and environment, and to witness a real positive impact on the development of a country experiencing turbulent changes, insecurity, and economic crisis. Working with my diverse, highly experienced, and motivated colleagues only makes the experience much more valuable.

Maksimiliana Zabunova

Compliance Officer

Janine Vogt

Having accompanied ACGF from its start, I saw the foundation growing and going through the changes the circumstances of the last years brought along. ACGF’s international team is working its way forward in a challenging environment, cooperating closely on all levels to keep the foundation and its goals thriving, aiming at the change for the better for Afghan livelihoods. Contrary to what had been expected in the very early beginning, ACGF’s contribution to the functioning of Afghan’s MSME has not become less important. Being part of the Compliance Department gives the opportunity to support all departments of ACGF. As a toothed wheel in ACGF’s demanding mission, I feel in the right place.

Janine Vogt

Senior Compliance Analyst

Robin Schiffler

I enjoy working at ACGF as we aim to make a difference for the better in this world. It fulfils me to employ my knowledge and skills in an organisation that promotes economic development in a country where people lack opportunities for a better future. While the purpose motivates me, I also embrace the variety of challenging tasks and interesting topics at hand as well as the environment of a diverse and young team.

Robin Schiffler

Matching Grants Analyst

Jabulani Mlalandle

As a finance professional, working at ACGF allows me to transfer my skills in a positive environment. The work we do at ACGF generally allows us to work towards a specific mission that directly, tangibly, and positively impacts the Afghan MSME economy. In addition to that, one of ACGF’s success factors is the strong belief in the diversity of the team which enables the company to remain committed to the shared values of professionalism, diligence, openness, and continuous learning. Commitment to these values encourages me to grow both professionally and personally.”

Jabulani Mlalandle

Senior Finance & Controlling Officer

Martina Johan-Mosi

Working at ACGF has given me a greater understanding of the importance in supporting MSMEs in an economically challenging country. Through the support of financing, business development and training, I find satisfaction in knowing we are helping people to realize their dreams and contribute to their economic development. ACGF is full of young and dedicated professionals with a diverse cultural background which makes working here interesting.

Martina Johan-Mosi

Senior Transaction Analyst

Ihsan Arian

Ihsan Arian

Finance & Controlling Officer

Verena Kauth

I feel privileged to be part of such a dedicated and diverse team that strives to create an impact for the Afghan population. Working for ACGF means constantly facing new realities on the ground and growing with the challenges this entails. Due to the small size of the organization and the constantly developing realities, responsibilities are very diverse and you have permanently the opportunity to learn something new.

Verena Kauth

Senior Technical Assistance Analyst

Lukas Geyer

As a project manager at ACGF, I have to wear different hats and work cross-functionally every day. First and foremost, I consider myself a professional cat herder, ensuring everybody stays focused on their tasks. And although cats usually have a mind of their own, they are also incredibly loyal. When I’m not busy tending to the members of the feline species, I enjoy creative writing and the freedom to explore weirdly specific corners of the human knowledge, which often lays the groundwork for exciting projects with our partners in Afghanistan

Lukas Geyer

Senior Technical Assistance Analyst

Sally Castillo

Working at ACGF has offered me the opportunity to collaborate with a highly professional and dedicated international team. It is a great satisfaction to contribute to ACGF’s mission to support the growth of the MSME sector in Afghanistan. I firmly believe that supporting MSMEs through access to finance has a positive impact on the development of a country and the well-being of the people.

Sally Castillo

Senior Risk Officer

Usman Sultani

Working with ACGF has offered me the opportunity to work again for my country, which does mean a lot. It gives me great joy to contribute to the growth of the MSME sector which enables job creation and economic development. Moreover, working with a very enthusiastic, diverse, dedicated and experienced team helps me to improve my knowledge, and also to share my experiences.

Usman Sultani

Guarantee Business Analyst

Idrees Haidarpoor

It is during the toughest times that one can see who truly stands with them and I experienced this when the Afghan government collapsed in August 2021. While many left Afghanistan and its people behind, ACGF stood alongside its partners and its staff and provided support. It still does and will continue to do so. As an Afghan, it is important for me to exploit my abilities and skills with an organization that contributes to the development of my country and ACGF is the one. I believe what we do at ACGF is of great value and has a meaningful impact on the financial sector of Afghanistan.

Idrees Haidarpoor

Guarantee Transaction Analyst

Naveed Nawabi

ACGF’s mandate is to support MSMEs in Afghanistan through risk-sharing instruments for financial institutions. ACGF’s support has proven to improve access to finance in the country. MSMEs play a key role in the development of a society. Therefore, it is a great honor being part of the ACGF team to continue to contribute from Germany to the developments of my country.”

Naveed Nawabi

 Guarantee Transaction Analyst

Waheed Hadeed

Diverse in background and perspective, cohesive in action, supportive in growth and development, we at ACGF constantly question the status quo, learn from experiences, and innovate. And above all, our efforts are assisting entrepreneurs who are most in need. I am delighted to be part of this endeavor.”

Waheed Hadeed

Monitoring, Evaluation & Data Quality Analyst

Kilian Kraatz

Ever since joining the team, I have been amazed by the diversity of the people working for ACGF. How the experiences and knowledge from different cultures, backgrounds and areas of expertise are seamlessly incorporated into a productive and efficient workflow. I’m happy to be able to use and improve my IT knowledge to assist with the important work done in this remarkable work environment.

Kilian Kraatz

Junior IT & Data Analyst

Telemachos Psarras

Telemachos Psarras

Administration Officer

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