International Development Advisors
About us
Headwaters brings together decades of experience in project development, finance, programme management and operational delivery across emerging markets. The firm works with partners across the world to structure and advance complex water, power, healthcare and infrastructure projects, with particular expertise in utilising export credit agencies such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the US International Development Finance Corporation. Through its work across the US, UK and Africa, Headwaters supports clients from strategy through execution, helping turn ambitious infrastructure and development priorities into practical, financeable and deliverable projects.
Before establishing Headwaters, Rick spent over 39 years with ECC, where he held a range of leadership positions including Vice President, Regional Director, Program Manager, Senior Project Manager, Project Safety Manager and Project Quality Control Manager. Over more than two decades as Vice President, he worked with partners across the world to utilise export credit agencies such as the Export Import Bank of the United States and the US International Development Finance Corporation. These partnerships helped advance complex water, power, healthcare and infrastructure projects in emerging markets.
Earlier in his career, Rick supported major reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan on programmes exceeding 1.3 billion dollars for the US Department of Defense. His background also includes significant work in environmental emergency response with the US Environmental Protection Agency, where he learned to integrate multi disciplinary teams and operate within incident command systems during public health and environmental crises.
Alice Nduruka serves as Executive Administrator for Accounting, Administrative and Marketing Services at Headwaters US LLC, where she anchors the firm’s Nairobi office. In this role, she manages day-to-day operations across finance, administration and marketing, supporting Headwaters and key clients across the US, UK and Africa. Alice brings over a decade of experience in Human Resource Management and Project Management, with a background spanning program delivery, employee development, team training and operational leadership.
A Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP), she has led HR functions and managed operations across multiple organisations. As Headwaters expands its presence across Kenya, Tanzania, the DRC and Zambia, Alice plays a central role in translating strategy into effective execution on the ground.
Today, through Headwaters US LLC, Rick continues to focus on developing strategies that connect private sector innovation with government support, lowering project risk and enabling companies to enter new markets with confidence. His work remains rooted in a simple belief: that bringing the right people together can turn ideas into impact.