The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) announced today it has elected Ugandan native, Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya, to serve as its new President. Sebunya vowed to advance a clear policy agenda for wildlife as part of Africaโs future, ensuring the continentโs blueprint for development and growth includes space and protections for Africaโs natural heritage.
โI am excited to be stepping into the role of president at a time when Africaโs economies are surging, and when important decisions are being made as to how Africa should manage its natural resources responsibly and with accountability,โ said Sebunya before adding, โThe continent is undergoing a profound change, and we must help to guide this change so it benefits Africaโs people and wildlife.โ
Sebunya began his career serving as a Project Manager with WaterAid and as a Relief Program Officer with Oxfam UK. Beginning with his post as the Associate Director for the United States Peace Corps in Uganda, Sebunyaโs career began to focus more on conservation. He later served as a Country Program Coordinator with the World Conservation Unionโnow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)โand as a Senior Policy and Planning Advisor for Conservation International.
In 2006, Sebunya moved to Washington, DC, and became AWFโs Director of Programs. He developed and implemented a legislative program to engage US lawmakers on issues affecting conservation and development in Africa. In 2013, he became Chief of Party for the USAID/Uganda Biodiversity Program before transitioning to AWFโs president.
Sebunya received his Bachelorโs degree in Social and Political Science from Ugandaโs Makerere University and a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Resource Management and Policy from Londonโs Imperial College. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Law, Policy and Diplomacy from Tufts Universityโs The Fletcher School.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- โI am excited to be stepping into the role of president at a time when Africa's economies are surging, and when important decisions are being made as to how Africa should manage its natural resources responsibly and with accountability,โ said Sebunya before adding, โThe continent is undergoing a profound change, and we must help to guide this change so it benefits Africa's people and wildlife.
- He later served as a Country Program Coordinator with the World Conservation Unionโnow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)โand as a Senior Policy and Planning Advisor for Conservation International.
- Sebunya vowed to advance a clear policy agenda for wildlife as part of Africa's future, ensuring the continent's blueprint for development and growth includes space and protections for Africa's natural heritage.