Nafi Chinery

Africa Director Natural Resource Governance Institute

Nafi Chinery is an accomplished and visionary leader with over 25 years of experience driving transformative change in Africa’s oil, gas, and mining sectors. As the Africa Director at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), Nafi spearheads innovative strategies to shape an inclusive, equitable, and accountable energy transition that aligns with Africa’s unique realities and sustainable development goals. 
A recognised authority in energy transition, transition minerals governance, and resource revenue management, Nafi works at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and capacity building. She leads NRGI’s Africa program, collaborating with governments, regional institutions, civil society organizations, and communities to foster transparency, accountability, and social justice in managing natural resources. Her work amplifies African voices in global energy transition dialogues and empowers stakeholders to leverage the continent’s resource wealth for long-term prosperity. 
Nafi serves on the steering committees of the Ghana Open Extractive Program and the Open Government Partnership, providing strategic oversight and fostering initiatives that promote transparency and accountability in resource governance. She is also an advisory team member of PPA Watch, where she contributes her expertise to enhance public procurement accountability. She is the board chair of the Institute of Energy Securities in Ghana, guiding its mission to strengthen energy policy and security in Ghana. 
Nafi’s academic and professional achievements underscore her interdisciplinary expertise. She holds a master’s degree in social development and Sustainable Livelihoods from the University of Reading (UK), a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), and an Executive Certificate in Oil, Gas, and Mining Governance from the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford (UK).