The SADC TFCAs Network Steering Committee welcomes the recent appointment of Ms. Kudakwashe (Kuda) Chigodo as the Team Leader, SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas Facilities project at the IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office. Kuda took office early June 2020, hitting the ground running to ensure the implementation of the functions of the Project Executing Agency of the SADC TFCA Financing Facility and Capacity Facilities will be fast-tracked. More information on the facilities can be found here.

The Team Leader has vast experiences and skills. Before joining IUCN, Kuda was Project Coordinator for CAMPFIRE Association’s component of a UNDP-GEF 6 project on Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe. Previously she served as a member of Zimbabwe’s TFCA Unit, with Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and subsequently as TFCA Coordinator, responsible for coordination of the National TFCA Programme, which included KAZA, Great Limpopo, Greater Mapungubwe, Chimanimani, ZIMOZA and Lower Zambezi - Mana Pools TFCAs. In her capacity as National TFCA Coordinator, she was also a member of the SADC TFCA Network Steering Committee. Kuda brings in a wealth of experience in transfrontier conservation areas, conservation of biodiversity, programme management, project coordination, community based natural resources management and stakeholder engagement. During her time in the TFCA Unit, Kuda contributed to a number of transboundary initiatives in the SADC region including integrated development planning, development of cross border tourism, marketing of SADC TFCA initiatives, joint ranger training and management of various TFCA institutional frameworks.

 Kuda will be initially be working remotely from Zimbabwe, but will be relocating to the IUCN Office in Pretoria once the COVID-19 related restrictions have been lifted. She can be reached under: Kudakwashe.Chigodo @ IUCN.org