Mr. Misael Kokwe has more than 20 years of work experience in the fields ranging from agriculture, natural resources management, climate change and environmental conservation interventions interface with livelihoods focusing on rural development in Southern Africa and Zambia in particular. I have provided technical (field level) and managerial advisory services including those related to a number of funding mechanisms for the promotion of sustainable good agricultural practices, sustainable natural resources management and climate change within the context of improving the food security, climate resilience, incomes and ultimately the livelihoods of communities in a diverse range of ecosystems (e.g. agro-ecosystems, forests, wetlands and wildlife ranges) and livelihood settings. I have provided support in the development and implementation of accompanying initiatives in support of capacity building and field level mainstreaming of sustainable agriculture, natural resources management, and climate change resilience into community actions, sectoral and national planning processes and documents.
I’m innovative with good analytical and writing skills. I’m proficient in the project cycle, from identification, design and formulation to management and evaluation. I have led the participatory planning process for a number of major rural development projects. I have worked as an advisor and coordinator of big programmes at southern Africa regional level and Zambian national level related to agriculture, environment climate change and natural resources management. Iam a competent trainer and capacity-builder with a good understanding of how cross-cutting and key social and natural variables affect local development.
I have provided technical and managerial, advisory and coordination functions for many stakeholders: local communities, NGOs Governments and International Organizations in developing and demonstrating approaches and measures for agricultural research and extension, developing and testing of natural resource based enterprise models; Climate Smart agriculture theories of change and management analysis and development and testing of sustainable ecosystems management regimes..
I have an appreciation of the opportunities and constraints of different actors and institutions – how local livelihoods, agriculture and related natural resource and climate change issues play out at policy, local government and community level. Recently, I have been engaged in evidence collection and analysing adaptation options for the Zambian agro-ecological regions, policy implications and building the capacity of government staff from a range of economic sectors through the facilitation of training sessions for agricultural extension staff and policy dialogue on adaptation to climate change in Zambia. I have been engaged in leading roles in developing a number of climate change related adaptation work in support of, for example the REDD+ strategy for Zambia, the Zambian NDC and the development of the Second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP, 2016-2025) for Zambia.