Monipher Musasa

Growing up in a community that lived outside a protected area Monipher has, from a young age, learnt to appreciate the rich biodiversity of her country, Malawi, which led her to pursue a career in conservation.

Monipher has considerable experience in conservation policy, having worked for the government of Malawi in its implementation of programmes and initiatives that fulfil its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). She is an experienced coordinator and negotiator, having negotiated for several years on CBD and its protocols for Malawi, and she has extensive knowledge on linking best practices learnt from national level implementation into international policy negotiations.

In addition to leading IFAW’s engagement in the CBD, Monipher's role involves advocating IFAW's positions to African governments across the range of international conventions and agreements that fall within the remit of IFAW’s International Policy programme, and supporting IFAW’s engagement with African regional forums.

She holds a Master of Philosophy in Conservation Leadership from University of Cambridge in the UK, with special interests in integration of conservation and development, local community property rights to land and natural resources (ownership, control, access and use), ecosystem valuations and economic and social incentives for conservation for the poor and vulnerable sections of society.