Jimmiel J. Mandima

Dr. Jimmiel J. Mandima has worked in wildlife conservation for close to 30 years, spending most of this time in the field working with governments, civil society, local communities and private sector stakeholders at national, regional and continental levels in sub-Saharan Africa to implement landscape conservation programs. He thereafter worked on the nexus of government relations and strategic partnerships in Washington DC. A firm believer in advancing African voices, Jimmiel was an active member of the GEF Civil Society Organizations (CSO) focused on capacity building for IPLCs to ensure free prior and informed consent was mandatory for environmental and social safeguards.

Today, Jimmiel serves as IFAW’s Vice President for Global Programs, leading the organization’s Conservation and Rescue program efforts across 40 countries collaborating with diverse stakeholders around the world. He is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and its Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group.

Jimmiel holds a Bachelor of Science Hons in Biological Sciences from the University of Zimbabwe, and is an alumnus of the University of Eastern Finland where he completed his Master’s in Applied Zoology and PhD in Biology & Environmental Sciences.