Skip to content Empowering high-impact leaders to drive clean cooking transformation
Driving clean cooking progress from the heart of Kenya and Sierra Leone - how we partnered with Clean Cooking Alliance to find high-impact leaders to launch its first government-embedded Delivery Units.
- Location: Kenya and Sierra Leone
- Sector: International Development
- Services: Executive Search
ABOUT
Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) is a global non-profit organisation working to make clean cooking accessible to the 2.1 billion people who live without it.
Clean cooking is a critical yet often overlooked pillar of clean energy access, global health, and climate action. It improves health, protects the environment, empowers women, and supports sustainable development.
To accelerate progress, CCA launched the Delivery Units Network - small, high-performing teams embedded within governments to drive policy, unlock resources, and institutionalise clean cooking as a national priority.
THE CHALLENGE
CCA needed to appoint two senior leaders to establish and lead the first Delivery Units in Kenya and Sierra Leone.
These roles were pivotal: positioned at the centre of government, they required exceptional political acumen, the ability to influence across ministries, and a deep understanding of climate, sustainability, and energy transitions.
The challenge was compounded by the novelty of the Delivery Unit model, the scarcity of talent with both technical expertise and diplomatic skills, and the urgency to deliver results quickly.
Failure to secure the right leaders risked stalling transformative initiative at a critical moment for clean energy access.
Millar Cameron connected us with outstanding local talent in two African markets - individuals we likely would never have discovered on our own. Their deep understanding of the leadership landscape across mission-driven institutions and sectors was invaluable. The process was seamless from start to finish, and the quality of candidates was excellent. We would gladly work with them again.
OUR APPROACH
Millar Cameron partnered with CCA to design and execute a rigorous, insight-driven search. We began with a detailed briefing and market analysis to shape the role profiles and compensation benchmarks. Our strategy combined targeted headhunting, referrals, and soft referencing, supported by deep organisation mapping across more than 70 organisations. We identified approximately 100 prospective candidates per role, ensuring broad coverage and diversity.
Diversity and inclusion were central to our process: both shortlists achieved a 60:40 female-to male ratio. Beyond technical competencies, we assessed behaviours critical for success - stakeholder influence, resilience, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity. Throughout, we provided CCA with market intelligence on talent availability, employer brand perception, and compensation trends, strengthening their understanding of the talent landscape.
THE OUTCOME
Within four months, we successfully appointed Heads of the Delivery Units in both Kenya and Sierra Leone. Each leader brings exceptional experience in government engagement, climate policy, and international advocacy, uniquely positioning them to drive systemic impact from the heart of government.
Beyond the hires, our work delivered significant added value: enhanced employer branding, actionable market insights, and a clearer view of the leadership talent pool in Africa’s clean energy sector.
GET IN TOUCH WITH MILLAR CAMERON
If you would like to find out more about our specific expertise, or talk to a member of our team about your next senior hire, please contact us.
