Christian Desrosiers

2014 - 2015

Alumni

Legatum Fellow

From:

United States of America

Sector:

Energy/Utilities

Location:

Somalia

Degree:

MCP, Department of Urban Studies and Planning

Qorax Energy builds new businesses and invests in existing high-growth businesses in inefficient energy markets. It also works closely with local higher education institutions to identify critical energy access issues and to build capacity for market research and business development. Renewable energy is attractive to consumers in emerging markets because it is relatively less expensive than traditional energy generation technologies due to underdeveloped infrastructures. The venture operates in Somalia and is expanding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Christian worked in Somalia before co-founding Qorax Energy. During his time there, he observed high energy prices and a lack of local organizations offering education or access to renewable technologies. With an interest in developing a solution that is accessible to consumers, Christian made local partnerships the center of Qorax’s business model.

After graduating from college, he taught at a secondary school for low-income students in Indonesia on a Fulbright for a year. He also used this time to report on the eruption of Mount Merapi and from conflict areas in Aceh, Indonesia and Rakhine State, Myanmar. He later moved to northwest Somalia, where he worked at a local university, with the Ministry of National Planning & Development, and also with political asylum seekers from Ethiopia. These experiences provided him with practical experience in the complexities of development challenges.

Christian earned his Bachelor’s in English from Amherst College. He is a Master in City Planning candidate in the International Development Group at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning.