Meet the new members of the Shared Interest Foundation team

Shared Interest Foundation has recorded substantial growth in recent years, reflected in the significant expansion of its project portfolio.

Foundation Manager, Kodzo Korkortsi, said:

“This growth has necessitated strengthening organisational capacity to manage an increasing number of projects, mobilise additional funding, deepen strategic partnerships and sustain the delivery of high-impact interventions.”

As part of this growth, we are delighted to share the news that Shared Interest Foundation has welcomed two new team members.

Meet Judith

Based in Kampala, Uganda, Judith Mugero serves as the Foundation’s new Project Officer in the region, extending reach and deepening impact whilst facilitating projects on the ground. Over the last decade, Shared Interest Foundation has supported 2,710 farmers and artisans through nine projects in Uganda.

Judith holds a Master's Degree in Management Studies from the Uganda Management Institute, with a special interest in Monitoring and Evaluation and a background in Development Studies.

“With over a decade of experience leading and managing community-based development projects across East Africa, I was naturally drawn to Shared Interest Foundation’s strong focus on strengthening business and agricultural skills, while supporting the growth of sustainable enterprises,” Judith told us.

In her free time, Judith enjoys mentoring young people, volunteering at her local church and immersing herself in a good book or podcast.

“I also have a soft spot for fair trade coffee and beautifully crafted artisan products, they tell stories of dedication, culture, and resilience,” Judith shared with us.

Judith notes that the Foundation’s commitment to improving livelihoods, reducing poverty, and empowering women and young people strongly resonates with her professional journey and personal values.

“I was particularly inspired by the Foundation’s practical approach to building long-term capacity and resilience within producer organisations, rather than short-term interventions,” she told us.

Reflecting on her first month in the role, Judith shared:

“One of the highlights of my first month was conducting field visits to meet our delivery partners in Uganda. It was incredibly rewarding to see first-hand the initiatives and enterprises being established, and to witness the tangible impact these projects are already having on producers’ lives.

“I also really valued the induction sessions with the regional lending teams, which provided deeper insight into how Shared Interest’s wider ecosystem works to support fair and inclusive finance.”

Looking to the future, Judith is looking forward to driving the successful delivery of projects across East Africa, and contributing to the continued growth of the Foundation’s portfolio.

“I’m particularly excited about cultivating high-value partnerships, providing strong technical support to delivery partners and developing compelling funding proposals and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks which demonstrate impact,” she told us.

“I’m also eager to deepen my understanding of Fairtrade and continue learning how ethical finance and enterprise development can work together to create sustainable change.”

Meet Emma

From our Head Office in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Emma Claridge joins the Shared Interest Foundation team as Grants and Trusts Fundraiser.

Having recently graduated from Newcastle University with a Master’s Degree in International Development and Education, Emma’s academic focus encompassed the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and current global efforts towards their achievement.

“One highlight from my course was my dissertation, in which I travelled to India to carry out my own research into the factors which promote engagement in education for young girls experiencing poverty.”

As an undergraduate, Emma studied Modern Languages, which opened the door to a year abroad, in which she lived, studied and worked in Seville in Spain and Rio de Janiero in Brazil.

Emma shared with us:

“I particularly enjoyed seeing Brazil’s famous annual carnival and visiting some of its neighbouring countries in South America including Colombia, Peru and Argentina,” 

A combination of studies, living abroad and travelling with friends solidified Emma’s intent to pursue a career in the International Development sector.

Reflecting on her responsibilities as Grants and Trusts Fundraiser, Emma said: 

“The role allows me to continue to learn about global development while working on projects that prioritise enterprise, empowering women and youth and climate resilience, all of which were topics I previously studied. In addition, I can continue to use my language skills in Spanish and French to support the work of the Foundation and build relationships with our partners.”

In the first month of her role, Emma has connected with the team in-person and virtually, immersed herself in the Foundation’s current projects and contributed to the development of new project pages on the Shared Interest website.

“One of my favourite moments so far has been observing, via Microsoft Teams, our soilless farming project in Burkina Faso. Having previously learnt about the depth of inequality and poverty facing the nation, it was inspiring to see our action and long-term impact in sustainable enterprise.

“Another personal highlight was winning the Greggs pub quiz with some of the team members from the Newcastle office. All of the team have been so friendly and welcoming and I look forward to spending more time with them, both in and out the office.”

Looking ahead, Emma said: 

“I am looking forward to seeing projects develop from start to finish, and seeing initial proposals and their grant applications flourish in practice.”

Building a fairer world, together

Reflecting on the appointment of Judith and Emma, Foundation Manager, Kodzo Korkortsi, said:

“With this enhanced capacity, we look ahead to an exciting new phase, focused on delivering even greater impact and results for the Foundation.”

The work of Shared Interest Foundation remains focused on improving livelihoods through enterprise development, building the climate resilience of producer groups and empowering women and young people.

In 2025, with the support of 1,878 donors and eight grant-makers, we delivered 14 projects in seven countries across Africa and Latin America, working with 15 local partners. You can see a full list of our current and completed projects by visiting ‘Our Projects’.

Our impacts are made possible through the generosity of donations. If you would like to support the work of the Foundation, you can donate or leave a legacy as a member of Shared Interest Society.