Our Team
The Mwambao Team supports the learning and development of the network, communicates with and about the network, and implements supporting projects with network members & other coastal communities.
ALI THANI
CEO, co-founder
Ali has worked in the natural resources sector (forestry & fisheries) under Zanzibar Government for more than 10 years. He has has also worked for CARE International and WWF Tanzania for more than 12 years in Communication, Awareness and Training. Ali is from Zanzibar and for the last 7 years he’s worked in community-based coastal resource management. He is an excellent facilitator and an experienced practitioner of Participatory Video. He has a passion for education and a deep sense of community.
LORNA SLADE
Technical Advisor, co-founder
Raised in Kenya, Lorna has a long history of work in environmental conservation and development issues. She is a strong proponent of the community’s role and voice in management of natural resources and believes in the power of participatory video in making a difference. Trained as an ecologist and in PV methodology she is committed to building the Mwambao network.
Email: [email protected]
NAOMI MUISU
Finance Manager
Naomi has worked within various industries namely hotels, banking, construction, food and beverage as well as for NGOs. Previously she worked in administration and finance supporting roles for the above industries, and as chief custodian and teller.for a well known bank.
FATMA KHAMIS
Network Officer, Assistant Project Officer
Fatma is a native of Zanzibar who prior to joining Mwambao was a Government Forest Officer. Fatma has worked for many years as a community strengthening officer and gender focal person for CARE International under HIMA-REDD+ project, and she is keen to engage women in all development activities. She is exceptionally committed and capable, and particularly enjoys her work in the field, communicating with and bringing network members together to discuss common challenges. She now also plays a role in our ZANSASP programme (Zanzibar non-state actors support programme) as assistant project officer.
JUMA MOHAMED
Assistant Programme Manager
Juma is a passionate development and livelihood professional with over 7 years of experience in Credit and Business development. He recently graduated with an Msc. in Finance and Investment from Coventry University UK. With a background in sales, marketing, banking & finance Juma has worked in corporate banking and international development, managing private sector development programmes focusing on regional economic integration, access to finance and marketing research. Previously Juma worked as Client Relationship Officer at FINCA Tanzania, managing small group lending to SMEs, and for a renewable energy company, before moving into the banking industry working for Diamond Trust Bank and KCB Bank Tanzania Limited.
ALIY ABDURAHIM ALIY
Fisheries Co-Management Officer
Aliy Abdurahim Aliy is an expert in natural resources conservation and management, with more than 20 years of experience working with national parks/forests and community lands. With further experience working in the ecotourism sector, Aliy brings a diverse skill-set to the Mwambao team. He’s committed to knowledge and skill exchange as he believes that knowledge is flexible and is ever expanding, so long as you learn and let others learn from you.
RASHID ABDALLA
Assistant Accountant
Rashid is a core member of our accounts team, who has a friendly and willing nature. His previous experience before working with Mwambao includes working in administration and finance for ACRA International NGO.
ALI SAIDI
Pemba Project Officer
Formerly a fisheries officer, Ali has spent more than 20 years on fisheries issues and community work in Zanzibar. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about building the capacity of communities for local fisheries management. While supporting Mwambao for several years, he formally joined us in 2017 as our Project Officer in Pemba working to build the capacity of Pemba Channel Conservation Area.
HAMIDA
Always a cheerful friendly face, Hamida assists with keeping our office in a liveable state and joins in wherever she can.
JUMA FAKI
A valuable member of our office team, Juma worked for a seaweed export company for many years. He supports our team needs in Unguja and is very happy to assist with field work including weighing octopus!
GHARIB TWAHA
Chief Accountant
Gharib our chief accountant is also a member of the board. He helps us deal with the nuts and bolts of Mwambao finance and helps to keep us all on track.
HAJJ HAJJ
Co-founder (on temporary leave)
From the island of Pemba, Zanzibar, Hajj has a long commitment of protecting the environment. A man with many talents, his technical skills are invaluable in the team. A keen film-maker, researcher and PV trainer, his understanding of the challenges facing coastal peoples make him a core member of Mwambao. Hajj has taken a temporary leave of absence while spending some time abroad.
SHEHA HAMDAN
Currently Director of the The Department of Forestry and non-Renewable Natural Resources in Zanzibar, Sheha has extensive experience of coastal management issues having previously been Director of the Tanzanian Marine and Coastal Environmental Management Project.
BARAKA KALANGAHE
From Bagamoyo, Baraka has an extensive understanding of community-based coastal resource management. Past Project Director for TCMP-PWANI Project (Tanzania Coastal Management Project), he is an active advisor to the network.
DR. FLOWER MSUYA
Dr. Flower Ezekiel Msuya started as a Research Officer with Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute and is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences of the University of Dar es Salaam in Zanzibar. She studied the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of seaweed farming and pioneered the start of seaweed farming in southern Tanzania.Dr. Flower facilitates the Zanzibar Seaweed Cluster Initiative working with seaweed farmers in innovative farming.
JULITHA MWANGAMILO
Julitha has MSc in Aquatic Tropical Ecology and has worked for 15 years on Marine and Coastal issues. She has worked in the IMS as a research Associate from 1997 to 2000; Fisheries Department HQ as a Fisheries Officer from 2003 to 2004; and with WWF as a Project Executant for Strengthening Community’s Capacity for Fisheries Co-management (SCCAFCOM) covering 5 Districts of Rufiji, Mafia, Kilwa, Mtwara and Temeke from 2008 to 2012.
GHARIB TWAHA
After a number of years working as Mwambao’s accountant, Gharib recently became a Director of the Mwambao board. Originally from Pemba, Gharib’s years working with Mwambao have given him a deep understanding of our values and organisational structure.
GILL BRAULIK
Another recent addition to the Mwambao board, Gill is a marine mammal specialist with over 15 years of experience; she has conducted extensive research on river dolphins in Asia and is currently a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania. Her current work involves a national assessment of whales and dolphins along the entire 800km + Tanzanian coast using both visual and acoustic survey methods, with a focus on the west coast of Pemba Island.