Yadviga Semikolenova is the World Bank's Energy Global Practice Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa region. She oversees a lending portfolio of $4 billion as well as advisory and analytical engagements in client countries that span low income, middle income, and fragile, conflict, and violence settings. Throughout her career at the World Bank, the primary focus of Yadviga’s work has been advancing energy sector reforms, moving forward the energy access agenda and implementation of complex infrastructure projects. She has held various positions at the World Bank in the Europe and Central Asia Region and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), with her most recent assignment being Lead Energy Specialist and Infrastructure Program Leader for Nigeria in Western and Central Africa. She has worked on a range of energy activities in Albania, Southern Caucasus countries, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Rwanda, and has led regional engagements in Africa. Prior to joining the World Bank, she was an Assistant Professor at the Colorado School of Mines. She has an MA in Economic Theory from Kyiv School of Economics and Kyiv Mohyla Academy and a PhD in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh.