Orange Corners Africa

Carmen Kurvers is a Coordinator for the KEY (Knowledge Empowers You) Human Capital Development program at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, focusing on vocational education and training. Her work encompasses inclusive education design, curriculum development aligned with labor market needs, and private sector partnerships to connect educational institutions with industry demands. Her experience spans gender equality and refugee integration within vocational education systems across multiple regions.

Erik Parigger is an interim Team Manager of Public & Private Sector Development at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), where he also coordinates Orange Corners, an entrepreneurship support programme established by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His professional interests span youth leadership, social impact, entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, international development, and conflict studies.

Kars Gerrits is a Programme Coordinator for the Orange Corners Innovation Fund at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), where he works on improving access to finance in Africa and the Middle East. He has experience in project and team management in intercultural settings, with a background in business development and international development initiatives.

Maarten Wensveen is a Team Manager at Netherlands Enterprise Agency with 20 years of private sector experience at ABN AMRO Bank and extensive international development work across Africa and Asia. In roles including Country Director and Director of Programmes, he has managed budgets exceeding USD 20 million and led international teams of over 100 staff through complex projects and challenging operational environments. He holds an MBA.

Milou Derks is a Senior Program Advisor at Orange Corners, where she oversees entrepreneurship support programs in Burundi and Egypt. She also serves as a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Utrecht University School of Economics and works as Research Coordinator at Orange Corners, conducting research that informs policy, academic work, and program implementation in low- and middle-income countries.

Rachel van der Pol is a Senior Programme Advisor at Orange Corners & Orange Corners Innovation Fund under the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, where she oversees incubation and acceleration programmes in Algeria and Côte d'Ivoire and manages the Innovation Fund across Africa and the Middle East. Over seven years, she has designed and managed programmes focused on access to finance, youth entrepreneurship, and ecosystem strengthening for early-stage ventures in Sub-Saharan Africa, working with entrepreneurial support organizations, fund managers, and business angels. Her experience spans private sector development and the deployment of technical assistance and catalytic capital in emerging and fragile markets.

Raïsa van Eijndhoven is a Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Advisor at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, where she supports the Orange Corners start-up program in Africa and the Middle East. Her professional background spans international development, EU law and policy research, and legal practice, with focus areas including social sustainability, entrepreneurship, and international economic development.

Ramiro Gomes Monteiro works as a Youth Entrepreneurship & Employment Advisor for Orange Corners Sudan & Jordan at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl), focusing on social entrepreneurship ecosystems. He has designed and coordinated training programs and events for social enterprises and innovation initiatives, and has co-founded several ventures including Perron West and the Food Garden Overvecht. His experience includes organizing workshops and events on topics including the SDGs and social entrepreneurship for EU and government organizations, as well as project management and research work across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.