About
Pipal works with successful companies to develop and extend their businesses and to start new projects. We also work with under-performing companies and institutions to improve their viability. We identify and resolve corporate and project financing requirements and work on improving their management capabilities. Pipal also takes a lead in developing private sector led infrastructure projects in East Africa, has a deep expertise with Public-Private
Partnerships, impact investments having a major focus on energy (renewable and energy efficiency) and agricultural ventures.
Pipal works closely with most of the financial institutions which are active in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa Africa. These include:
- Local commercial banks and private equity funds;
- Multi- and bi-lateral financial institutions such as: DEG, European Union, World Bank, IFC, KfW, AfDB, Proparco;
- Impact investors GDI
- Development agencies: Rockefeller Foundation, AGRA, USAID.
Current and recent projects are spread across a broad range of economic sectors: including renewable energy, private and public agricultural commodities production, storage and processing, coastal ports concessions and private container installations, horticulture, manufacturing, food and beverages, financial services, utilities (in particular, water and power) to name a few.
Pipal also supports project proposal development, and faciliating strategic change and effective implementation of large scale projects through structuring and facilitating relevant change events while improving leadership and team skills. Recent clients inlude BMGF, CABI, USAID, One CGIAR giving Pipal a deep understanding of current agricultural and environmental issues..
Pipal Ltd supports and funds various community projects and deserving individuals who go on to become independent and successful.
The Team
Farid Mohamed is a highly accomplished project finance specialist and former structural and offshore engineer with over 40 years of international experience spanning Europe, Latin America, South East Asia, and more than 30 years across Eastern and Southern Africa. His work currently concentrates on advising private sector companies in Eastern and Southern Africa on setting up and structuring projects and arranging financing. Increasing emphasis is on energy systems and other infrastructure. Farid is a regular consultant for numerous institutions such as the EU, KfW/DEG, the World Bank, IFC on a wide range of infrastructure and financing issues, and has included training World Bank managers on Project Finance. Because he speaks from real hands on experience of successful project implementation in Africa, Farid is a regular presenter and panellist at African and International Energy and Finance Conferences.
Farid began his career as a civil and structural engineer and holds a Master of Science in Offshore Structures as well as an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management. His early professional foundation was built in the North Sea oil and gas sector—one of the world’s most demanding engineering environments—where he spent a decade designing and installing offshore production facilities, including significant roles with Shell UK Exploration & Production.
A Vision for Africa - In 1994, after years working in Europe and the UK financial markets, Farid returned to Kenya with a clear mission: to create and deliver financing solutions for transformative African projects. This led to the founding of Pipal Ltd, which has grown into a respected advisory and project development firm serving governments, development finance institutions, and private investors. His work has shaped major renewable energy initiatives, large infrastructure PPPs, regional transmission projects, and financing solutions across Africa’s power, water, transport, and industrial sectors. Under his leadership, Pipal Ltd has built a broad project portfolio in:
- Energy and power systems
- Transport and logistics
- Agriculture and agri‑processing
- Water and environmental infrastructure
- Manufacturing and industrial development
- Financial sector and investment programs
His leadership has supported strategic initiatives involving thousands of megawatts of renewable power and major cross‑border interconnection projects. Farid’s work extends beyond advisory—he has actively developed new projects, including grain storage systems, geothermal energy solutions, industrial park energy infrastructure, biomass‑to‑energy systems, agricultural value‑chain financing mechanisms, and water sector investment programs.
His insights have been sought in developing:
- Private equity and renewable energy investment funds
- National transport funding policies
- Creditworthiness models for utilities
- Climate‑aligned energy financing frameworks
- PPP models for ports, transport corridors, water utilities, and municipal services
Farid holds several board‑level positions in the financial sector, including:
- Board Director, Prime Bank Ltd (Chair of Credit Committee, Debt Committee)
- Board Director, Britam Asset Management Ltd
He has also served on multiple investment committees for regional impact funds and private equity initiatives.
Throughout his career, Farid Mohamed has remained committed to building sustainable, investable, and impactful projects that strengthen African economies and improve quality of life. His unique blend of engineering expertise, financial structuring skills, and regional development insight has made him one of the most respected figures in Africa’s infrastructure and project finance landscape.
Sue Canney Davison PhD has over 30 years expertise in international management and has worked with many large American, European and East Asian multinationals and business schools.
She was a visiting research fellow at the London Business School for two years from where she received her doctorate and completed research on international teams. She has worked with inter-governmental, public and private international organisations based in Africa to improve their leadership, strategic delivery and project teams.
Sue has designed and facilitated strategic face to face and on-line workshops and large scale international fori; often focusing on large scale project launch and realignment, diversity, sustainable resource use, and innovation.
Sue has been a research assistant in the department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology at the University of Johannesburg for 6 years and she has a current project focus on community led management of and benefit from sustainable natural resources. Her facilitation of personal exploration can be found at www.regenerativeessence.com