Meet the Team
Leo Niskanen
Regional Head, Biodiversity Conservation, IUCN ESARO (Eastern and Southern Africa)
Technical Advisor to the TFCA Financing Facility
Leo Niskanen is Regional Head – Biodiversity Conservation for IUCN in Eastern and Southern Africa. Leo oversees a diverse portfolio of biodiversity conservation projects in East and Southern Africa, including the SADC TFCA Financing Facilities. He leads a multi-cultural and multidisciplinary team of conservation professionals across the region. Leo has 30 years of experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, development and humanitarian aid for the UN, NGOs and the private sector. Leo was involved in the earliest stages of development and establishment of the SADC TFCA FF and has been actively leading cross-regional learning and efforts to promote and catalyse transfrontier conservation across the region, including in Eastern Africa. Areas of interest and technical expertise include: integrated, cross-sectoral and holistic solutions to human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, wildlife translocation and reintroduction, effective and equitable management and governance of protected and conserved areas, control and management of invasive alien species, and development of landscape/seascape level approaches for ecosystem resilience.
Technical Advisor to the TFCA Financing Facility
Leo Niskanen is Regional Head – Biodiversity Conservation for IUCN in Eastern and Southern Africa. Leo oversees a diverse portfolio of biodiversity conservation projects in East and Southern Africa, including the SADC TFCA Financing Facilities. He leads a multi-cultural and multidisciplinary team of conservation professionals across the region. Leo has 30 years of experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, development and humanitarian aid for the UN, NGOs and the private sector. Leo was involved in the earliest stages of development and establishment of the SADC TFCA FF and has been actively leading cross-regional learning and efforts to promote and catalyse transfrontier conservation across the region, including in Eastern Africa. Areas of interest and technical expertise include: integrated, cross-sectoral and holistic solutions to human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, wildlife translocation and reintroduction, effective and equitable management and governance of protected and conserved areas, control and management of invasive alien species, and development of landscape/seascape level approaches for ecosystem resilience.
Kudakwashe Chigodo
Team Leader, SADC TFCA Financing Facility
Kuda joined IUCN with the SADC TFCA Financing Facilities in June 2020. She has worked in the academia and conservation sector for 18 years, with more than 15 years’ experience with transboundary natural resources management experience in the Southern African region. Before joining the SADC TFCA FF, Kuda worked briefly with a UNDP-GEF 6 project on Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management in the Mid-to-Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe. For 10 years she worked for Zimbabwe’s TFCA Unit, with Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, responsible for implementation of the TFCAs Programme, which included KAZA, Great Limpopo, Greater Mapungubwe, Chimanimani, ZIMOZA and Lower Zambezi - Mana Pools TFCAs – similar experience has now been extended to the rest of the SADC TFCAs. Kuda brings in a wealth of experience in establishment and development of TFCAs, protected area management, community based natural resources management, programme management, stakeholder engagement and managing partnerships. During her time in the TFCA Unit, Kuda contributed to several transboundary initiatives in the SADC region including integrated development planning, development of cross border tourism, marketing of SADC TFCA initiatives, joint ranger training programmes and management of various TFCA institutional frameworks. Kuda has a Master of Science in Tourism from Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe.
“I am happy to be part of the team that is contributing to setting up this ambitious Regional Financing mechanism that can contribute to conservation of shared natural resources and unlocking benefits for the people living in TFCAs.”
Kuda joined IUCN with the SADC TFCA Financing Facilities in June 2020. She has worked in the academia and conservation sector for 18 years, with more than 15 years’ experience with transboundary natural resources management experience in the Southern African region. Before joining the SADC TFCA FF, Kuda worked briefly with a UNDP-GEF 6 project on Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management in the Mid-to-Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe. For 10 years she worked for Zimbabwe’s TFCA Unit, with Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, responsible for implementation of the TFCAs Programme, which included KAZA, Great Limpopo, Greater Mapungubwe, Chimanimani, ZIMOZA and Lower Zambezi - Mana Pools TFCAs – similar experience has now been extended to the rest of the SADC TFCAs. Kuda brings in a wealth of experience in establishment and development of TFCAs, protected area management, community based natural resources management, programme management, stakeholder engagement and managing partnerships. During her time in the TFCA Unit, Kuda contributed to several transboundary initiatives in the SADC region including integrated development planning, development of cross border tourism, marketing of SADC TFCA initiatives, joint ranger training programmes and management of various TFCA institutional frameworks. Kuda has a Master of Science in Tourism from Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe.
“I am happy to be part of the team that is contributing to setting up this ambitious Regional Financing mechanism that can contribute to conservation of shared natural resources and unlocking benefits for the people living in TFCAs.”
Christine Mentzel
Regional Programme Manager, IUCN
Programme Manager, SADC TFCA Wildlife Managers and Rangers Training
Christine joins the SADC TFCA FF as the project manager for the SADC TFCA Wildlife Managers and Rangers Training Programme from March 2025. She brings strong strategic planning, diverse stakeholders networking and efficient project implementation skills into this role and is no stranger to TFCAs, as she has worked with SADC TFCAs on and off for the past 12 years, since she joined IUCN in 2012. Specifically through BIOPAMA, Christine has collaborated with the TFCA community since its inception in 2012 and has supported several TFCA initiatives, as well as providing grants for work within TFCAs amongst others.
Christine is a Biologist by training and has worked in the conservation and natural resource sector mostly in eastern and southern Africa for over 20 years, leading a variety of projects from carnivore research in Tanzania, to other species-specific and protected area conservation projects, including also a few years focussing on protected and conserved areas globally (South America, Indonesia, Vietnam and Eastern Europe). Most recently she managed the BIOPAMA programme, which focussed on improving management effectiveness and governance in protected and conserved areas in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries, in support of achieving Target 3 of the GBF. In particular, the work in BIOPAMA has focussed on supporting community-led conservation especially in important connectivity areas, which in southern and eastern Africa are often incorporated in the TFCAs.
Programme Manager, SADC TFCA Wildlife Managers and Rangers Training
Christine joins the SADC TFCA FF as the project manager for the SADC TFCA Wildlife Managers and Rangers Training Programme from March 2025. She brings strong strategic planning, diverse stakeholders networking and efficient project implementation skills into this role and is no stranger to TFCAs, as she has worked with SADC TFCAs on and off for the past 12 years, since she joined IUCN in 2012. Specifically through BIOPAMA, Christine has collaborated with the TFCA community since its inception in 2012 and has supported several TFCA initiatives, as well as providing grants for work within TFCAs amongst others.
Christine is a Biologist by training and has worked in the conservation and natural resource sector mostly in eastern and southern Africa for over 20 years, leading a variety of projects from carnivore research in Tanzania, to other species-specific and protected area conservation projects, including also a few years focussing on protected and conserved areas globally (South America, Indonesia, Vietnam and Eastern Europe). Most recently she managed the BIOPAMA programme, which focussed on improving management effectiveness and governance in protected and conserved areas in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries, in support of achieving Target 3 of the GBF. In particular, the work in BIOPAMA has focussed on supporting community-led conservation especially in important connectivity areas, which in southern and eastern Africa are often incorporated in the TFCAs.
Onkemetse Nteta
Senior Programme Officer - SADC TFCA Financing Facility
Onkemetse has over 14 years of experience in the conservation sector; with experience in work that supported threatened species conservation, protected areas establishment and expansion, and Community-Based Natural Resource Management. Most of his conservation experience has involved grant funding from multiple sources (Private donors, Conservation Trust Funds, and Multi-lateral funding), and project management – having previously worked for WWF South Africa. His academic qualifications: M-Tech: Nature Conservation, PGDIP: Business Administration, and MPhil Development Finance (Candidate 2025-2026). In addition, Onkemetse is a Kinship Conservation Fellow (2023).
Onkemetse has over 14 years of experience in the conservation sector; with experience in work that supported threatened species conservation, protected areas establishment and expansion, and Community-Based Natural Resource Management. Most of his conservation experience has involved grant funding from multiple sources (Private donors, Conservation Trust Funds, and Multi-lateral funding), and project management – having previously worked for WWF South Africa. His academic qualifications: M-Tech: Nature Conservation, PGDIP: Business Administration, and MPhil Development Finance (Candidate 2025-2026). In addition, Onkemetse is a Kinship Conservation Fellow (2023).
Kambili Chilufya
Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer - SADC TFCA Financing Facility
Kambili joined the SADC TFCA Financing Facility in January 2022 as an Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer. He has 15 years' experience in planning, managing and implementation of Environmental and Social Safeguards across a range of project activities. Prior to joining the TFCA FF, Kambili worked with Zambia's National Power Utility as Environmental Safeguards Specialist for the power Transmission and Distribution Project funded by the World Bank. He was responsible for application of World Bank Environmental and Social Standards and Zambian national standards in the assessment and management of Environmental and Social Risks, Community Health and Safety, impacts on Biological resources in and outside of protected areas, stakeholder engagement, and land Acquisition, physical and economic displacement. Kambili also worked as an Environmental Inspector for the Zambia Environmental Management Agency where he was responsible for Inspection and Compliance of development projects in sectors such as extractives industries, infrastructure, agriculture, water, Energy and Forestry across Zambia. He holds a BSc. Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Zambia and MSc. Sustainable Development Planning and Management from TU Dortmund.
Kambili joined the SADC TFCA Financing Facility in January 2022 as an Environmental and Social Safeguards Officer. He has 15 years' experience in planning, managing and implementation of Environmental and Social Safeguards across a range of project activities. Prior to joining the TFCA FF, Kambili worked with Zambia's National Power Utility as Environmental Safeguards Specialist for the power Transmission and Distribution Project funded by the World Bank. He was responsible for application of World Bank Environmental and Social Standards and Zambian national standards in the assessment and management of Environmental and Social Risks, Community Health and Safety, impacts on Biological resources in and outside of protected areas, stakeholder engagement, and land Acquisition, physical and economic displacement. Kambili also worked as an Environmental Inspector for the Zambia Environmental Management Agency where he was responsible for Inspection and Compliance of development projects in sectors such as extractives industries, infrastructure, agriculture, water, Energy and Forestry across Zambia. He holds a BSc. Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Zambia and MSc. Sustainable Development Planning and Management from TU Dortmund.
Arnold Dawa
Senior Grants and Finance Officer - SADC TFCA Financing Facility
Arnold Dawa is a seasoned finance professional with over a decade of experience in grants financial management, administration and compliance. He has worked extensively across Eastern and Southern Africa with leading international development organizations including Mercy Corps and DanChurchAid. Arnold has substantial experience managing funds from donors such as USAID, EU, SIDA, GEF, IKI, KfW, etc and in the process earning a strong reputation for driving financial excellence. Arnold combines strategic insight with hands-on expertise in financial management. His approach is grounded in both technical precision and a deep understanding of the development sector’s unique financial demands. He holds an MBA in Strategic Leadership from the University of Zimbabwe, a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Midlands State University and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).
Arnold Dawa is a seasoned finance professional with over a decade of experience in grants financial management, administration and compliance. He has worked extensively across Eastern and Southern Africa with leading international development organizations including Mercy Corps and DanChurchAid. Arnold has substantial experience managing funds from donors such as USAID, EU, SIDA, GEF, IKI, KfW, etc and in the process earning a strong reputation for driving financial excellence. Arnold combines strategic insight with hands-on expertise in financial management. His approach is grounded in both technical precision and a deep understanding of the development sector’s unique financial demands. He holds an MBA in Strategic Leadership from the University of Zimbabwe, a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Midlands State University and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).
Palesa Letsapa
Programme Administrator - SADC TFCA Financing Facility
Palesa Letsapa has 6 years of experience in grants and operations management in the natural resources and development sectors.
Drawing from a strong background in supporting impactful development initiatives across Africa and beyond, she has contributed significantly to the USAID-funded Resilient Waters Program in South Africa, where she played a key role in grant management and project implementation. Currently, as a Programme Administrator for the SADC TFCA Financing Facility with IUCN in South Africa, Palesa excels in project administration, events management, procurement, and operations, ensuring seamless program execution in multi-stakeholder environments.
Palesa holds a National Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, which support her strong organizational skills and comprehensive understanding of project operations
Palesa Letsapa has 6 years of experience in grants and operations management in the natural resources and development sectors.
Drawing from a strong background in supporting impactful development initiatives across Africa and beyond, she has contributed significantly to the USAID-funded Resilient Waters Program in South Africa, where she played a key role in grant management and project implementation. Currently, as a Programme Administrator for the SADC TFCA Financing Facility with IUCN in South Africa, Palesa excels in project administration, events management, procurement, and operations, ensuring seamless program execution in multi-stakeholder environments.
Palesa holds a National Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, which support her strong organizational skills and comprehensive understanding of project operations