Environmental Sciences Profiles
Bertha Mary Ndhlovu is an Environmental Management and climate change expert with overall training and experience in Agriculture, Nutrition and gender mainstreaming.
She is a recipient of the South Korean Scholarship to study a Master of Science in Forestry and Environmental Policy at the University of Yeungnam and a holder of a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management.
Bertha gained her expertise and skills in the aforementioned fields having worked as an Agriculture Extension Officer for over Seven years with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Environment in Kasungu, Malawi. Miss Bertha has also been equipped with training from various renowned institutions like the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute in Arusha and Tanzania Forestry Service in Morogoro, Tanzania. She uses her skills and expertise in Conservation Management for community transformation obtained from Nyika and Serengeti National Parks respectively. The knowledge and skills acquired at University of Yeungnam have further enhanced the understanding and confidence in the field.
Miss Bertha has a strong adherence to positive change and livelihood development among the ultra poor. Her education background and work experience has equipped her with abilities to strive in any work environment and deliver above expectations. She relates well with people from various backgrounds as well as levels of society.
Monica Mazuwa (Mrs Kagwira was born on Likoma Island, Malawi, in 1976. She received her BSc. Degree in Fisheries Science from Mzuzu University, Malawi in 2014, and her MSc. degree in Fisheries from the same University, in December of 2020.
In 2001, she joined the Malawi Department of Fisheries after a briefly working with a publicly owned company named Maldeco Fisheries as a Fisheries Technical Assistant. This was following a successful completion of a Fisheries Management Certificate in the year 2000, from the Fisheries Training College in Mangochi.
In the year 2007, she became a District Fisheries Officer for Chikwawa District following another successful completion of a Diploma Training at the Fisheries College in Mangochi. Since January 2014, she has been working as an Officer-In-Charge of the Monitoring, Control and Surveillance – law enforcement unit at Namiasi in Mangochi District as well assisting with the District activities. She has been at the helm of overseeing that laws governing the smooth operations of fishing activities for Lake Malawi and other water bodies in the country are adhered to. Making arrangements for close seasons, arrangements for licensing, minimum take able sizes for designated species, minimum mesh sizes for fishing gears, allowable fishing methods, as well as enforcing laws for adherence to these laws.
She is the only female technician in the Inspectorate section. She is aiming to fight Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated IUU in the Fisheries section and she is geared to improve fish production for Malawians
Pilirani Gwen Chisembe is a young scientist who holds a Bachelor and Master’s degrees in animal science from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). Pilirani has more than 4 years of experience working with smallholder farmers and in conducting scientific and social research. Over the years, Pilirani has gained substantial experience in project planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation through active involvement in various projects with LUANAR, World Vision Malawi, Malawi National Statistical Office, and DMT Consult. Currently, Pilirani is working on an AgriTech start-up called Chiweto which offers digital solutions for smallholder farmers and organizations that work with smallholder farmers.
To be part of the scientific community that makes huge impacts around the globe more especially in the livestock, and food science and technology sectors has been Pilirani’s goal ever since she started her career.
Pilirani has managed to contribute to the research community in a number of ways such as participation in scientific workshops, conferences, research studies and publication. For instance, through research, she formulated a ration using available local ingredients for dairy goats in order to increase milk yield during her undergraduate studies. Pilirani also evaluated the performance of Muscovy ducks raised under the integrated production systems of duck-rice-Azolla and specifically analyzed their growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality and you can read more on this via this link (http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd32/7/pilir32110.html).
Pilirani’s next milestone is obtaining a doctorate degree where she will be focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as a stepping stone towards her goal of competently providing the necessary solutions for AMR challenges to ensure food (livestock and livestock products) safety without compromise on livestock productivity.
Medellina Joanna Mbeye is an Environmental and Social safeguards specialist with extensive knowledge and hands on experience in the monitoring projects to check compliance with environmental legislations, safeguards instruments preparation, safeguards documents review and provisions of technical guidance on implementation of environmental and social mitigation measures in the both national and donor funded projects. In addition, she is capable of leading projects for local government as well as large multi-national companies. She is proficient with various types of environmental software and equipment. Is a holder of Masters in Gender and Development and a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science. She is working with Environmental Affairs Department as an Environmental Inspector, based in Lilongwe.