Shehnaaz’s portfolio includes oversight of SSN’s finance, delivery, and operations hubs; she is the Director responsible for CDKN, VCA, CLEAN, ARA and GA LLA, amongst other projects. Shehnaaz is Chair of the Global Resilience Partnership Board, a Global Innovation Fund Climate Advisory Board member, on the Global Transitions Programme Committee and on the Race to Resilience Measurement Advisory Group. She has deep theoretical and practical expertise in delivering complex programmes addressing climate change within the African context. Social justice and equity are at the foundation of what informs Shehnaaz’s approach to programme design and local and global interventions. Prior to joining SSN, Shehnaaz was a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. She holds a BSc, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering. She has the dubious honour of being the first female of colour to obtain a doctorate in Chemical Engineering in South Africa.
Carl’s management portfolio at SSN includes responsibility for contracts, risk and compliance. He leads SSN’s DecarbBoost programme on Mobilising Investment for NDC implementation, as well as a research grant targeting innovation in Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution. Carl previously led SSN’s work as Executing Entity of the Adaptation Fund’s Small Grants Facility in SA, and was the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) Director for the African region. Prior to joining SSN, he championed the implementation of the award-winning Kuyasa Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, the first CDM project in Africa (and the first Gold Standard project in the world), through which he developed an interest in thermal and energy efficiency in low-income housing. Carl started his development career working in human rights and good governance. He spent 6 years with Lawyers for Human Rights in SA, working on rural access to justice before moving to Kenya, where he designed and managed a large-scale civic education programme and did consulting work in the region. Carl holds a BA.LLB degree from the University of Cape Town and is an attorney admitted to practice in the High Court of South Africa.
Since 2013, Robi has been the Ethiopia Country Head for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). Robi is an environmental management specialist, with experience in environmental and social impact assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, climate finance, and sustainable industrial development, having previously worked for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the World Bank in East Africa. He has been the consultant on climate finance to the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Government of Zambia. He also led Ethiopia’s climate finance access programme, supporting the Country’s Ministry of Finance with its direct access accreditation and proposals development processes to the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund. Robi, who is currently studying in the doctoral programme for professionals at the University College London’s (UCL) School of Technology, Energy and Public Policy (STEaPP) in the UK, holds a BSc. from the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, MSc. from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, and a post-graduate diploma from Concordia University in Canada.
Suzanne leads the Climate Services Practice Area at SSN. She is currently the Principal Investigator for the CLARE Research for Impact Hub. Previously, Suzanne headed the coordination unit for the Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) programme, led on Partnerships and UNFCCC engagement for the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), and was Head of Country Engagement for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). Prior to joining SSN, Suzanne worked for the British High Commission in South Africa, where she led their bilateral engagement with South Africa on climate change and energy. Prior to that, she freelanced for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, covering mostly UNFCCC climate negotiations. Suzanne holds a PhD in climatology from the University of Cape Town
Josh’s SSN portfolio covers human resources, staff wellbeing and knowledge management, in addition to providing oversight for the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA), the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA), and African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) programmes. He has extensive experience as a Knowledge management and communications specialist, media researcher and a journalism educator. Josh has worked for a range of international non-governmental organisations in the fields of sustainable development, gender, and environmental and social justice. Between 2010 and 2016, he taught an MPhil module in Media, Democracy and Development at the University of Stellenbosch Journalism department and serves on the editorial board of the Global Media Journal – Africa. A Kenyan national, Josh holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science and French, and a Masters degree in Communication and Development Studies.
Phatsimo provides research and technical support on issues of climate finance, including work on private sector finance and international climate fund processes. She has managed an IKI funded project providing support to the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), and is currently working on the Aligning Financial Flows (AFF) and the Operationalising Just Transitions in Africa (OJTA) Programmes. In addition, Phatsimo is leading the Africa Regional Resilience Hub of the COP Resilience Hub. Her previous work includes water-infrastructure related projects, e.g. the Climate Resilience Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF) assessing the climate finance readiness of water institutions, and the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership (SACFP). Her interests lie in sustainable development in the African context, understanding the complexities of just transitions, and policy that supports the identification, design and integration of innovative, locally-led solutions that address climate and development challenges, and drive equitable climate action. Charlotte holds an undergraduate degree in Economics, and a Master’s Degree in Applied Development Economics from the University of Cape Town.
Richard Sherman is the substantive lead on SSN’s climate finance programme. Richard is a member of the South African delegation to the UNFCCC and also serves as one of the African Group lead coordinators on climate finance negotiations. He served as adviser on the South African Co-Chair’s team during the formulation of the Governing Instrument of the Green Climate Fund. He also served as the lead adviser to the first developing country Co-Chair from South Africa during the time of the development of the business model framework of the Fund in 2013, and again in 2016. He has also been one of the African representatives on the Standing Committee of Finance, between 2014 and 2018, that is mandated to oversee coherence between the funds under the financial mechanism of the Convention. Outside of climate finance, Richard enjoys walking his dog.
Clare is the Contracts Office Manager at SSN. She oversees the contracting process and manages the contractual relationships for all SSN programmes. Outside of SSN, she is involved in publishing a monthly tax law journal for The Taxpayer and various other titles for Cederberg Publishers. Clare holds a BA in English; History of Art, an LLB, and an LLM in Taxation.
Andrew leads the finance hub at SSN. He is a qualified South African Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce degree (majoring in Accounting and Information Systems) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, both from the University of Cape Town. Andrew has lived and worked extensively overseas, first in London for three years and then in Grand Cayman for six years. Andrew worked in Financial Services for a large part of his overseas sojourn. Upon returning to South Africa, Andrew worked first as a Business Consultant and then as a General Manager before realising he would like to work in an organisation that benefits the world and joined SSN. When not working, Andrew spends his time pursuing sporting activities and enjoying time with his family, dogs and friends. Andrew also acts as The Treasurer for a local tennis club.
Shanice Mohanlal is a Junior Project Manager at SouthSouthNorth. She is part of the team for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme and the Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) programme. She is interested in learning more about climate change adaptation and finance, in addition to ecosystem resilience. Shanice loves all things furry and enjoys cooking and reading in her spare time.
Blaise is the Delivery and Operations Hub Lead at SSN, and works on a number of SSN’s projects that interface with the financing of activities taken to address climate change. He works to foster collaborative relationships with other organisations working on matters relating to climate finance and takes an interest in SSN’s overarching organisational strategy. Blaise holds a BComm Law (Hons.) and a Masters in Development Finance. His research interests focus on the use of venture capital to drive clean-technology entrepreneurship in Southern Africa. In his spare time, Blaise ponders about how to have a more purposeful impact within the climate change field given the remaining working days until 2030 and 2050 respectively.
Lumka is the office receptionist at SSN and has been on the office management team since 2019. She supports SSN with front desk administration and assists in office event preparation. She is also responsible for maintaining the office inventory and filing. Lumka’s excellent organisational skills make her perfect for this multi-tasking job. She is always ready and willing to help with a smile and always makes a plan. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a book.
Emma is the Knowledge and Communications Lead working on the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). She coordinates knowledge and outreach activities at the global level and within Africa. Emma holds a BA Geography degree from the University of Exeter and a Master’s in Climate Change and Development from the University of Cape Town. Prior to starting at SSN, Emma worked in the UK, Uganda and Sierra Leone on projects related to climate finance, energy, advocacy and eco-tourism. In her spare time, Emma can be found playing music or attempting to bend it like Beckham on the football pitch.
Priyanka works as a Junior Project Manager & Research Assistant for Aligning Financial Flows (AFF) and Operationalising Just Transitions in Africa (OJTA). She provides her team with project management and research support in this role. Priyanka has an academic background in international relations, philosophy and history and graduated from Stellenbosch University with a Masters’s degree (cum laude) in Political Science. Priyanka enjoys understanding how the digital landscape affects real-world policies and opportunities; thus, her thesis focused on the ‘Popular Geopolitics’ of climate change.
Lisa McNamara is a Programme Manager at SSN, with expertise in knowledge management and urban resilience. She is the Knowledge Networks Coordinator for the global Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme, where she is responsible for providing tailored and useful climate knowledge to developing countries to support action on climate change. Lisa was previously the Africa lead of CDKN’s knowledge management programme (2011-2014) and later oversaw the delivery of CDKN’s country programmes and technical assistance projects in Kenya and Rwanda (2014-2017). Previously Lisa worked at the Environmental Management Department at the City of Johannesburg, where she focussed on city-level adaptation planning as well as sustainable energy in low-income housing. She holds a BA Honours in Development Studies and a MSc in Environmental Studies.
Ncumisa is a Digital Manager in SSN’s Knowledge Management Hub. She graduated from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology with a Journalism degree, a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Communications Management, and has a Diploma Certificate in Environmental Education. Prior to joining SSN, Ncumisa served as a Communications Manager for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and as a Communications and Social Media Coordinator for Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute (SAFCEI). Her hobbies include long journeys to the outskirts and researching environmental humanities and climate justice.
Julio is a Research Officer for Future Climate For Africa, overseeing small research projects and leading on a pilot project for Rwanda’s climate and environment fund (FONERWA) to help integrate climate considerations into fund operations. He also provides support to the WISER Transform project, contributing towards a guidance manual on co-production approaches. Julio’s past work has focused on agricultural adaptation to climate change for a range of vulnerable cropping systems in South Africa and Rwanda, with a particular interest in viticulture and coffee. Julio holds a BSc in Environmental & Geographical Science as well as a BSc Honours and MSc in Atmospheric Science from the University of Cape Town. Julio is an enthusiastic hiker, having taken on over 2000km of the pacific crest trail as well as a number of high mountain peaks in Africa and America.
Karen is the Knowledge Management and Communications Manager on the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) Programme. The VCA programme aims to support local civil society and underrepresented groups to take on a central role as creators, facilitators and advocates of innovative climate solutions. Before joining VCA, Karen was a KM and Comms officer on the SSN KM Hub. She also was the project coordinator for the Kuyasa Clean Development Mechanism project and project manager for the Hopefield Home Improvement project.
Lee-Ann is responsible for the financial management of several SSN projects. She has over 15 years experience in financial management in the Private Equity Investment, Property and Import and Export industries in South Africa. Lee-Ann holds a Diploma in Project Management from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Diploma in Bookkeeping and Practical Accounting including HR and Payroll.
Petersen is a Software Engineer at SSN. He holds a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UCT. With a background in Full-Stack Web Development and Software Test Analysis, his journey reflects a dedication to continuous learning and a results-driven mindset. At SSN, he leverages his skills to tackle complex challenges and contribute to developing cutting-edge software solutions. Beyond technology, he enjoys long-distance running and improving his photography skills.
Lorraine is a Project Manager with a background in grantmaking, operations, procurement, due diligence and systems development. I am currently a Project Manager responsible for procurement and due diligence for the SMEP Programme co-managed by SouthSouthNorth. Prior Lorraine has held various positions within SouthSouthNorth including Operations Project Manager for the Community Adaptation Small Grants Facility (SGF); Knowledge Management and Events Coordinator for the MAPS Programme that facilitated collaboration between South Africa and select Latin American countries to establish the evidence base for long-term mitigation scenarios; and Project Coordinator for the Sustainable Settlements Facility project, that explored financing mechanisms for scaling up energy efficiency interventions for low-income public housing. Lorraine holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management.
Samson is the Technical Programme Manager & Lead Researcher on Aligning Financial Flows with the Paris Agreement in Africa. He also coordinates the project on Financing the Just Energy Transition in Africa. Previously, Samson managed the Mobilising Investment for NDC Implementation programme, conducted technical research for the Southern African Renewable Energy Investment and Growth (SOARING) programme and coordinated the technical implementation of the Africa LEDS Partnership. His interests lie in sustainable finance, low-carbon development, environmental social and corporate governance (ESG), just energy transitions and applied research. He holds two Master’s Degrees in Applied Economics and Energy Development Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He has received several specialised pieces of training in establishing Best Practices for reforming and regulating power sectors, including financing, contracting and mitigating risk for private power investment in Africa. Samson enjoys working out and participating in sporting activities in his spare time.
Alexa is a Project Manager working on the FCDO funded Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme. The programme aims to generate cutting edge scientific evidence that can improve existing knowledge of the environmental health and socio-economic impacts of selected manufacturing sectors across target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Prior to SSN, Alexa completed her Masters of City and Regional Planning at UCT, worked in the FinTech industry, and spent a few months travelling. She also holds a BSc in Environmental and Geographical Science from UCT. Outside of work, she enjoys the outdoors and values time spent with family and friends.
Fatima is the HR Lead and manages all functions of Human Resources within the organisation. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and has many years of extensive experience within human resources and the NPO sector. She is passionate about working with people and being part of an organisation that can make a difference in the world. She enjoys long road trips and spending time with her family.
Zizipho is a project manager in the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN), where she coordinates the programme’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. In addition to CDKN, Zizi is the Project Coordinator for the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) and the Justice in a Changing Climate Project. Zizi holds a Masters’s in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape. Her research was on the relationship between food insecurity and climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. She also has an academic background in environmental, social justice and psychology with research focused on food security and climate change. She has been active in several global forums as a youth representative – including the Global Landscapes Forum and the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Youth Forum
Roy is the learning coordinator for the CLARE Research for Impact Hub and the project coordinator for the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) and the Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access (GGEEA) project. Prior to this he worked with the SSN Climate Services Hub (CSH) as a research officer for the Future Climate For Africa (FCFA) programme and WISER TRANSFORM project. He has a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Cape Town. Before joining SSN, Roy was involved in various research projects at the University of Cape Town, most notable the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) project.
Xoliswa is an administrator for the Research for Impact Hub and supports the SABTR project. She was introduced to SSN as a project-funded MSc student by the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership programme(SACFP) and then went on to support the final phase of SACFP. Her research background is in aquatic health, alien and invasive species, energy access and climate change in the agricultural sector. She recently obtained her master’s degree in climate change (with a thesis that sought for opportunities to unlock climate finance in the agricultural sector, specifically for emerging farmers building climate resilience through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices). Outside of work, she enjoys being active and attending music festivals.
Diana is the Communications Officer for the Adaptation Research Alliance. She has a MSc in International Development from the University of Bath, UK. Her experience is in improving communications and managing content to support the work of non-profit organisations. Diana is a professional translator with more than 14 years’ experience working with the Portuguese, French and English languages and specialising in the international development sector. She’s passionate about using her knowledge of languages to contribute to sustainability and climate resilience.
Jali is SSN’s Caretaker and Maintenance Manager and has been part of the team since 2015. His responsibilities include maintenance and security. His green fingers make him perfect for caring for our plants and garden. He has a great recycling system and can repair, clean and paint just about anything.
Melaney is the Events & Logistics Coordinator for SouthSouthNorth, coordinating all virtual and in-person events for projects housed within SSN. Melaney has spent over 10 years working in the Ecotourism and Community Development sectors where she managed Poverty Alleviation Projects, coordinated Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes and developed ecotourism products for National Parks in the Southern and Eastern Cape. She has a passion for ecotourism and community development and a special interest in sustainable travel.
Brian is a Research & Project Manager on the Aligning Finance Flows with the Paris Agreement in Africa programme (AFF). He has a broad career background in corporate and development banking across Eastern and Southern Africa. He is keenly curious about pathways to the green economy that foster empowerment opportunities for the global south. Climate finance that sustainably supports a Just Transition is another area of interest. Brian has an MCom in Economic Development from the University of Cape Town as well as an MSc in Finance from the University of Strathclyde. He enjoys hiking and outdoor adventures, has pastry baking goals and has made reading about transformational global moments a staple.
Donald Barclay is the Programme Lead for the Climate, Environment and Nature (CLEAN) Helpdesk and Project Lead of the Climate Mainstreaming Technical Assistance Facility (Netherlands). He has experience as a Project Manager and Lead in SouthSouthNorth’s (SSN) Climate Services Hub and has a proven track record of managing multiple projects and programmes simultaneously. He has extensive experience in supporting, designing, and implementing UK and Netherlands-funded programmes.
Sihle works as a Project Manager for the Africa LEDS Partnership (AfLP) secretariat. She has a Bachelor of Technology in Operations Management from the University of Johannesburg, as well as a Project Management certificate from the University of Stellenbosch. She previously worked as an operations intern at JP Morgan (SA). She has also worked as an Operations intern, where she supported SSN’s financial and operational activities for projects.
Lesego is a Project Administrator for the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA). She obtained a BSocsci in Anthropology and Environmental and Geographical Science in 2016 and an Honours degree in Anthropology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2018. She has experience as a sales assistant, as well as an undergraduate senior administrator at UCT. Lesego is passionate about the connection and relationship between nature and democracy, indigenous and pre-colonial knowledge systems, and local environmentalism(s) of the South. She hopes to contribute to work that focuses on bringing awareness to and protecting local and indigenous knowledge systems and promoting ideals and practices that encourage working with nature and climate change rather than trying to control it. In her spare time, Lesego enjoys engaging in conversations, cooking, reading, watching films and series, and learning more about the universe.
Amanda is a CDKN Country Coordinator – Africa under the Climate and Development Knowledge Network’s (CDKN) Country Engagement in Africa programme, heading up Knowledge Basis Projects (KBPs) in Namibia and Ghana while also providing project management support for CDKN’s country work in Kenya and Ethiopia. She is an experienced policy researcher and analyst, having worked in both the governmental and non-governmental space in policy and strategy, food security, gender equality, and climate-compatible development with a particular focus on rural women. Prior to joining CDKN, she worked in the Policy and Strategy Directorate in the Department of the Premier, Western Cape Government. Before that, she worked as a researcher and a Senior Writer at My Vote Counts and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group. She enjoys hiking, travelling, and trying out different restaurants in her spare time.
Ameil is interested in understanding the multi-disciplinary intersection of resilience in the governance of social-ecological systems. Ameil is currently the Thematic Finance Lead for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). His work focuses on understanding the system transformations required across scales to build an inclusive development and finance architecture that can drive resources to the ground for local adaptation and resilience action. Prior to this, Ameil worked as the Policy Officer for the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), as the Mobilising Finance Coordinator for the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF), and as a climate finance technical advisor at SouthSouthNorth. He has worked across multiple sectors and stakeholder groups on understanding how to mobilise finance, build equitable partnerships, create enabling policy and regulatory environments, and how to collectively advance ambition on transformative and inclusive resilience action. Ameil holds an MSc in Ecological Economics from the University of Edinburgh, and a BSc (Honours) in Marine Biology and Applied Biology from the University of Cape Town. In his spare time, you will find him aquaculturing coral and nerding out on the complexities and wonders of nature.
Charlotte is the Global Engagement and Learning lead for SSN in the Voices for Just Climate Action alliance, which aims to support local civil society to amplify their voices in climate decision-making. She has 10 years of experience working in climate and development. She has an MPhil from the African Centre for Cities and is pursuing her PhD focused on knowledge intermediaries working with local farmers and fishers. Her interests include knowledge brokering, climate justice and sustainable food systems. Previously, she worked as the Africa Country Engagement Manager for CDKN and at ICLEI Africa, managing research and engagement projects. You’ll find her swimming or free-diving along the Cape Peninsula in her spare time.
Feeri-el is responsible for bookkeeping at SSN. Previously from a 16-year career as a Project Manager for end-user software, as well as doing bookkeeping on a consultancy basis, she then moved into the manufacturing industry and then moved to SSN. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, road trips and getaways.
Michelle is the Programme Manager for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, a southern-led programme that supports decision-makers to design and deliver climate compatible development. Prior to this she was the Executive Secretary of the Africa LEDS Partnership; a partnership of institutions, governments and practitioners working to advance low emission development strategies. Within SSN she co-leads the Climate, Development and Implementation Hub. Previously Michelle was the Programme Manager for the MAPS programme, a six-year partnership between four Latin American countries that spearheaded an innovative stakeholder-driven process to plan for low-carbon development. Michelle has also worked on the financing and development of sustainable energy projects in southern Africa, including the development of the Sustainable Settlements Facility. Michelle holds an Honours Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Masters Degree in Environmental Humanities at the University of Cape Town. Her research interest is technical assistance practice between the North and Africa in Low Carbon Development.
Amanda supports the SMEP Programme with Technical Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement, where she also assists with communication and monitoring and evaluation aspects. She is a sustainability practitioner with diverse experience gained in a range of sectors and roles. After an early career in infrastructure planning and environmental impact assessment, a curiosity about the driving role of finance behind sustainability challenges her to the financial sector. With pioneering colleagues, Amanda co-designed and implemented the first socially responsible investment fund in South Africa in 2000. Amanda has worked for several years in the climate finance sector including advisory work for the private equity sector on IFC compliance and more recently has run several green economy incubation programmes for SMMEs
Mnoneleli is a Contracts Administrator in the CCRM Hub. Before that, he was in the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme as a Project Administrator, where he discovered his flair for organisation and administration. Mnoneleli enjoys playing online games, watching sports and relaxing with family and friends in his spare time.
Tiffany is a Project Manager at SouthSouthNorth working with the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) programme which aims to support local civil society and underrepresented groups to take on a central role as creators, facilitators and advocates of innovative climate solutions. Tiffany is particularly interested in tackling everyday development issues, specifically in the realms of environmental justice, social cohesion and equity. She previously worked in local government with civil society organisations and public institutions to strengthen international partnerships for sustainable development. She is currently completing her MPhil Degree in Environment, Society and Sustainability through the University of Cape Town.
André assists the CFO with his day-to-day responsibilities and is also responsible for the financial management of several of SSN’s projects. He is currently completing his CIMA to obtain a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation and has 9 years work experience in finance. André enjoys entertaining friends with dinner parties, being surrounded by nature and creating art.
Claudia is the Office and Internal Events Lead. She is efficient and organised and excels at maintaining the wellness and functionality of the office environment. Her responsibilities include building maintenance, handling all internal events, and logistics. Dedicated to fostering a productive and positive workplace, Claudia ensures smooth operations and a supportive atmosphere for all team members. Outside of work, Claudia enjoys walking and going to the gym and is very involved at her son’s school.
Gaspar is IT administrator at SSN. He graduated from Boston College of Cape Town with a networking system diploma. He has prior experience as an IT coordinator and in IT field services. He is pursuing certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and Fortigate since he has a strong affinity for cloud and—on-premises servers.
Kate is a Project Manager working on the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership programme. Previously, she worked as a researcher at the University of Cape Town’s African Climate and Development Initiative, where she contributed to research on the impacts of climate change on small-scale agriculture on the continent. Her areas of interest include transformative adaptation, conservation and food security, with an emphasis on justice. She has a background in ecology and holds an MSc in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town.
Olivia is SSN’s Knowledge Management (KM) Hub Lead. She has a BSc (Eng) in Chemical Engineering (with Honours) and an MSc in Conservation Biology (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town. She started her career working as a communications intern in the City of Cape Town’s Sustainable Energy Markets Department, after which she moved into waste management to find sustainable waste solutions, and finally explored the design industry as a Project Manager at Aloe Creatives before joining SSN. She has always had a passion for effective communication and supporting sustainable development, as well as being creative, which has led her to this position at SSN. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active, reading, spending quality time with her friends and looking after her plant-babies.
Alex is SSN’s Operations Officer, providing support to various programmes and hubs while enthusiastically bringing a broad technical base to the Ops Team. He has a background in engineering and enjoys applying his problem-solving skills to challenges of all shapes and sizes. In the past, Alex has led R&D work for eco-tech in Vietnam, rebuilt and sailed yachts across oceans, and dabbled in various maker-space projects. He currently spends his time-solving boulder problems or making his own problems (read apps, electronic devices and jam) at home.
Nadia is the Ecosystem-based Adaptation Thematic Lead for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). She has over 15 years of experience working at the interface between research, policy and practice. Her work seeks to identify where windows of opportunity exist for shifting systems towards more equitable and resilient development trajectories by addressing issues linked to structural inequalities and power asymmetries linked to natural resource governance.
Nadia also holds a senior researcher position at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions (CST) at Stellenbosch University, where she lectures and supervises post-graduate students. Nadia is currently a coordinating lead author in the IPBES Nexus Assessment and has a Medical science Honours specialising in Environmental Toxicology, an MSc in Wild Animal Biology and a transdisciplinary PhD in Conservation Ecology. You will find her near water or trying to get better at pottery when not behind a screen.
Faith Gara is a Junior Project Manager in the FCDO-funded Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme. She is a PhD Candidate (Environmental Humanities South) at the University of Cape Town. Faith is an environmental anthropologist with an MPhil in Environmental Humanities (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town and a BA Honours in Development Studies from UNISA. Her PhD research titled, The socio-techno-eco-material processes of contamination in the False Bay Critical Zone, forms part of a larger project: “Critical Zones Africa: South and East Studies (CzASE Studies)”, which aims to explore politically sustainable avenues towards environmental governance, built on the lived realities of residents. Faith is also a Canon Collins Scholar, passionate about socially engaged scholarship and exploring avenues towards social inclusion and just transitions. Outside work, Faith enjoys tending to her garden and being outdoors.
Elzette works as a Technical Project and Relations Manager for the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme. As an experienced urban planner, aspiring researcher, and ocean enthusiast, Elzette recognises the relational nature of complex social systems, design and the importance of interrogating the relationship between people and nature to bring about much-needed sustainable change.
Elzette’s professional experience is varied, ranging from spatial planning, policy writing, project management, public consultation, stakeholder engagement, land use development, specialist input into environmental management processes, capacity building, and sustainability related research. A recently completed Masters degree in Sustainable Development at the Sustainability Institute (University of Stellenbosch) complements her urban work. She has since collaborated with other experts on sustainability-related projects and lectured part-time at various institutions on topics such as sustainable cities and environmental resource management.
When not at her desk, you will find her making the most of living in Cape Town, either running in the mountains or enjoying ocean watersports.
Aimée works as a Project Manager and Research Assistant on various climate finance and just transition-related work and is actively involved in the Aligning Financial Flows (AFF) and Operationalising Just Transitions in Africa (OJTA) projects. Additionally, Aimée has been involved:
Before SSN, she was involved in research at the African Climate and Development Initiative, focusing on nature-based solutions to climate change.
Aimée has a broad academic background with an Honours degree in Psychology and an MPhil Degree in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Cape Town and is interested in a transdisciplinary approach to the ‘wicked problems’ that climate change poses to society. Specific areas of interest include exploring innovative climate finance opportunities for the Global South’s transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient economies, just transitions and equity, and championing applied research tailored to the specific needs of the Global South.
David is the Software Architect working in the Operations team at SSN. He designs systems and develops web applications to optimise SSNs’ many different programmes and activities. David’s attention to detail, combined with big-picture thinking, makes him a very versatile problem-solver. David studied Electro-Mechanical Engineering at UCT and worked in the construction industry prior to joining SSN. His hobbies include kite surfing, teaching people how to kite surf, and talking about kite surfing.
Ammaar is the operations coordinator for CDKN and deals with finance as well as ops. He occasionally supports VCA and ARA with recons and reporting. He is an engineer with a mixture of experience stemming from Toyota Automotive Manufacturing, Web development freelancing, and other pursuits. He has a background in Mechanical Engineering and is solutions-oriented, adaptive and inquisitive. His goals are to learn, add value, and impact at SSN.” In his spare, he loves painting, playing guitar and coding.”
Gaopalelwe Moroane is the Communications Manager for the CLEAN Helpdesk. Prior to that, she worked as a Communications Coordinator for the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN) programme within SSN. She has almost 10 years of experience in Corporate Communication in the public sector in South Africa. In her downtime, Gaopalelwe enjoys spending time with friends, visiting art exhibitions and attending music shows.
Kate is a Communications and Project Coordinator for several SSN’s projects. She is a qualified scientific researcher with over a decade of experience in science communication, cross-institutional engagement, content creation, training and facilitation. She enjoys working in what she refers to as the “middle space” between core research and user application. Kate’s focus includes interpreting technical details, developing and implementing effective science communication projects and strategies, and understanding target audiences’ needs with the goal of high user impact and application. She holds a BSc in Science and a MSc in Zoology. Kate enjoys spending time with her family and young boys in her spare time.
Matthew is a Junior Budget Analyst for the Programme Finance Hub of SouthSouthNorth. With a bachelor of commerce degree, he aimed to align his passion for society and the climate with his financial skills. He joined SSN as an intern and worked for DecarBOOST and the Adaptation Research Alliance before moving to the ProgFin Hub. Matthew enjoys spending time in the outdoors rock climbing and hiking with friends and family.
Emily joined SSN in early 2023 as an Operations Analyst. She holds a Masters degree in Environmental Economics and Climate Change from the London School of Economics, and a BCom Honours from Stellenbosch. At SSN, she is the liaison between the Operations Hub and the various programmes, and works on developing systems that balance people, technology and process. She enjoys plotting gifts and pranks (both are her love languages), learning new crafts and languages, and hopes to take her cat’s Instagram page viral.
Sameer is an IT Coordinator at SSN; prior to that, he was an intern. He is qualified as an IT System Support Technician, which has given him a great foundation within his field which he hopes will continue to grow. He is interested in climate change and aims to understand it broadly. Sameer is passionate about aviation and is pursuing his Drone Pilot’s Licence, seeking a Private Pilot’s License soon.
Lucia is the Learning Lead for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network at SouthSouthNorth, leading reflection processes to gather lessons learned around knowledge brokering and locally-led adaptation. Previously, Lucia coordinated the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions project at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She also worked in the United Nations Environment Programme regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean, coordinating a project on integrated coastal management in Central America; with the Africa team at the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat in Switzerland; and in Mozambique, creating awareness on the impacts of hydropower dams and promoting integrated water resources management of the Zambezi River. She has an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Environmental Sciences from UCT and a master’s in environmental planning from the University of British Columbia.
Nina is a project assistant for the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP) and Growing Government Engagement in Energy Access programme (GGE-EA). She holds a B.A. Honours degree in Geography from the University of the Western Cape. Nina wants to play her part in creating realistic goals to establish a sustainable society. She believes that achieving these goals will improve the environmental health issues we are currently experiencing and people’s livelihoods. In her personal time, she enjoys gardening, trying to grow an avocado tree, and spending time with her family.
Jamie is the Communications Assistant for the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP). Jamie holds a BSocSci Honours degree in Environmental and Geographical Sciences from the University of Cape Town with a strong focus on Environmental Policy and Practice. Her interests include environmental conservation and protection. She feels strongly about establishing mechanisms, such as policies and legislation, to protect indigenous peoples and the environment. In her spare time, she pursues her passion for baking.
Grace is the Project Manager for the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) Research for Impact (R4I) Hub. She is completing her doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh on political ecology, food and water sovereignty, and invasive socio-ecologies with an emphasis on promoting sustainable livelihoods in the Western Cape. She completed her MSc Africa and International Development at the University of Edinburgh, LLB at the University of Stirling, and MA (Hons) International Relations at the University of St Andrews. She previously worked in donor management and NGO development in the context of Malawi, and is passionate about engaging documentary photography, photovoice and other artsbased methodologies to engage critical debates and actions around complex climate justice challenges. When not behind a screen, you can usually find her growing veggies in her farm allotment, or in the mountains identifying and photographing indigenous plants.
Zahrah works as a communications assistant in the CDKN program, working on design projects, social media, analytics and event logistics. Zahrah holds a Social Science degree in environmental and geographical science and Industrial sociology from The University of Cape Town. She is an active member of the International Association for Impact Assessments South Africa (IAIASA) student branch. Additionally, Zahrah is passionate about youth empowerment and actively supports youth engagement efforts. She attended and contributed to the Global Landscape Forum conference and the Local Landscape Leadership Workshop in Nairobi, hosted by GLF and CDKN.
She hopes to develop her career further with CDKN and SSN and continue advocating for climate change solutions. She enjoys developing her graphic design and media skills and working on projects for local small businesses in her free time. She also enjoys the beach and spending time in nature.
Kweku is the Senior Partnership and Fund Engagement Lead at the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), bringing with him over a decade dedicated to advancing global efforts in development practice (ESG, ICTD/IS, Just Energy Transition and Climate Change. He has played pivotal roles in advocating, promoting, and formulating environmental and climate change policies at national and sub-national levels across the African continent. His background is deeply anchored in promoting and translating climate adaptation and resilience research knowledge into practical impacts for policy action, funders, civil society organization to ahead improved livelihood among the poorest in society.
Amongst others, his leadership has been instrumental in overseeing Climate change and Renewable Energy projects spanning multiple geographies, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and the Philippines. Kweku holds a BSc in Sociology and Political Science, an MBA in Management Information Systems, and an MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Ghana.
Ntombi supports SSN with housekeeping. She is a diligent young woman with a passion for cleanliness and knowledge. Her love for helping others is palpable as she eagerly assists our colleagues in any way she can. Outside of work, Ntombi enjoys the simple pleasures of life. Whether curled up on the couch watching TV or spending quality time with loved ones, her infectious enthusiasm for life is ever-present. With a heart full of kindness and a mind hungry for knowledge, she embodies the perfect blend of ambition and compassion.
Sinovuyo is a junior project manager in the CDKN programme. She is an Agricultural Economist whose academic focus is sustainably maximising profitability in agricultural production by analysing factors affecting the distribution of natural resources and the profitability of agricultural producers. She also holds a certificate from Wageningen University and Research in Climate Change Adaptation in Food Security and Natural Resource Management. Before joining SSN, Sinovuyo was a Climate Change Adaptation Project Manager, coordinating the Southern African Adaptation Network (AN). In this role, she played a key part in managing the Network’s programmes and activities to ensure smooth operation. Outside of work, she’s a bibliophile who enjoys writing, occasionally drawing, and running.
Prince is a legal officer at SSN and supports the Contracts and Risk Management (CRM) hub with all things agreements and legal compliance. He holds a BA and LLB from Wits University and an LLM from the University of Cape Town. As an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Prince has extensive experience negotiating, drafting, and reviewing commercial agreements and advising organisations on legal compliance. In his downtime, Prince loves staying active.
Mannakazi is a Junior Project Manager for the Netherlands Climate Mainstreaming Facility (CMF), where she provides support in implementing and coordinating technical assistance activities. She is an Environmental Scientist with experience in environmental education, science and innovation policy development and project management. She is passionate about the circular economy concept and its potential to drive climate action. She is also an advocate for environmental stewardship and community development. Outside work, she loves art, reading, and participating in charitable causes.
Emma is the Helpdesk Manager for the CLEAN Helpdesk programme. She is responsible for managing the programme’s technical assistance processes and roster of experts. Emma holds a Bachelor of Social Science, majoring in Law and Sociology, and a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of Cape Town. Her professional experience has focused on providing research, technical and coordination support to various climate adaptation projects in Africa. She is passionate about contextually appropriate and holistic approaches to climate finance and action, particularly in the context of the global South. In her free time, she enjoys a cold dip, doing something creative and watching true crime documentaries.
Staci joined SSN as a Junior Project Manager on the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme. She has a background in Biodiversity and Ecology, and completed her MSc Botany at Stellenbosch University, specialising in alien invasive plants and their relationships with soil microbes. She has over two years’ professional experience within various sectors, including agriculture, climate resilience, energy planning, water security, biodiversity and biodiversity finance. As a seasoned project coordinator and researcher, and biodiversity enthusiast, Staci’s interests lie in ecology, the interactions between climate change and biodiversity, and how these influence, and can be leveraged for, the resilience of ecosystems and the communities that rely on them. When not at her desk, you can often find Staci hiking, surfing, or basking in the sun on any of Cape Town’s idyllic beaches.
Nhlanhla is the Helpdesk Officer for the CLEAN Helpdesk. He is responsible for supporting and coordinating the delivery of technical assistance to the UK government. Nhlanhla holds a BSc Honours in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is an experienced climate change professional with experience in government and international development organisations. In his previous roles, he supported the coordination and management of projects that drive climate policy research, development and implementation to achieve NDC targets. He is an avid football fan and enjoys spending his spare time watching football.
Dr Tyler has over twenty years of experience in the energy and climate space, bringing the lenses of complexity and complex systems, economics and finance to the complex challenges she encounters. Specific areas of expertise include energy and climate mitigation policymaking, carbon pricing and budgeting, power sector modelling for policy, climate finance, corporate and investor carbon strategies, and national low carbon transition planning. Whilst South Africa is Emily’s home and work focus, she has an appreciation for the international context of domestic climate and energy policymaking through her regular engagement in international partnerships, and work experience in the EU, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. Finding the interplay between practice and reflection particularly rich, Emily has worked to retain both her consulting and academic presence throughout her career. Emily has worked predominantly as a consultant, to local and international civil society, the private sector, government and academia, both independently and in consulting firms, think-tanks and not-for-profit institutions.
Emily is currently working with the team at Meridian Economics, a Cape Town based think tank in the energy and climate space, and holds an Honorary Research Associate position at the University of Cape Town’s African Climate and Development Institute. Emily is frequently engaged in transdisciplinary research initiatives relating to her field and publishes regularly in both domestic and international journals.
Yacob is an Associate of the SSN NPC. He is a Professor of Energy and Development Policy at the University College London; and held an academic post at the Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey, UK. He is a founding member of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he worked as Senior Climate & Energy Specialist (2010-2013).
He has 25 years of research, teaching and advisory experience specialising on the links between energy infrastructure provision and human welfare. His research is focused on three interconnected areas: energy systems and development; energy systems and climate change; and political economy of low carbon development. He served as a Coordinating Lead Author of the Energy Systems chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report (Working Group III on Mitigation), lead author in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5oC, and currently lead author in the IPCC 6th Assessment Report. He recently led the chapter on Energy Transitions in UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report (2019). Yacob Mulugetta is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
Ronald is an Associate of the SSN NPC. He is a professional focusing on sustainability management and mainstreaming sustainable development in the public sector. Ron has worked on multiple innovative cutting edge programmatic interventions related to mainstreaming climate compatible development (CCD), climate change into development planning in sub-Saharan Africa, climate resilient infrastructure, energy and water infrastructure (incl. food-energy-water nexus), promoting applied research and dialogue between policy and science stakeholders, long-term adaptation planning, climate finance and decision-making. He also works on projects relating to resource efficiency and optimisation, sustainable public procurement, green jobs, green and inclusive economy. He holds a Masters in Sustainable Development, Planning and Management from the University of Stellenbosch and various IAC business management related qualifications.
Peta is an Associate of the SSN NPC. She has a degree in Sociology from the University of Essex and a Master of Science in Social Administration and Social Work Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Peta worked in the field of psychiatric social work in the United Kingdom before returning to South Africa in 1996 to work in the development sector.
Peta joined Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) in March 2008. She provides overall management and leadership to the organisation and has worked on a range of climate change and energy projects. This has included research, facilitation, capacity building, data analysis and policy development within all three spheres of government. She has written papers, contributed to publications and given talks on sustainable energy and climate change.
Zaheer Fakir is an Associate of the SSN NPC. He has more than 27 years of experience in the world of international politics, trade, finance and development issues. He currently serves as the Chief Policy Adviser on International Governance and Resource Mobilization within the Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa. This portfolio includes bilateral relations and multilateral environmental agreements, international conventions, donor coordination, resource mobilization and management, liaising with foreign governments, the African Ministerial Conference of Environment, African Union, G20, World Bank, UN and other international organizations. Zaheer serves as the South African Operational Focal point for the Global Environment Facility, a Board member the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds as well as a founding member and former Co-Chair and Board member of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Zaheer has served as GCF Co-Chair twice (2013 – 2014 & 2016 – 2017) and as a GCF Board member from 2013 to 2018.
Zaheer has been at the forefront of negotiations on a number of major multilateral outcomes most notably the Governing Instrument of the GCF and its operationalization, the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 and the Katowice Climate Change Conference. Prior to joining the Department of Environmental Affairs, Zaheer worked for the Department of Trade and Industry in the field of international trade and investment.