Delegation Members
Gaia Education, as an UNFCCC observer organisation, has been allocated 3 delegate spaces for ourselves and our partners for each of the two weeks of COP27.
Week 1 (6-13 November)
Caroline Makasa, Acting Director General of The SDG Center for Africa
Caroline Makasa, is the Acting Director General at The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A). Prior to Joining the SDGC/A, Caroline worked in the area of international trade promotion for many years. She started her career at the Export Board of Zambia as a market research officer in April 1999. This included conducting detailed market surveys, organising trade missions and buyer to seller meetings. Notably she led business delegations to numerous global trade fairs and exhibitions.
She later served as a Senior Market Development Specialist at the Zambia Development Agency where she played a pivotal role in enhancing regional trade and Sustainable development. Furthermore, she also previously worked on projects such as the European Union Mining Sector Diversification Programme, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Trade Capacity Building Framework Programme and the World Bank Governance Partnership Facility Programme in Zambia and Uganda.
Caroline holds a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Development from the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Namibia, and a Diploma in Environmental Management from Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands.
Dr. Hamdino Ahmed, Agriculture Advisor, The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A), Kigali, Rwanda.
Dr. Hamdino M.I. Ahmed is a B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. Graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture of Mansoura University, Egypt.
Dr. Hamdino's professional career began in 1994 as an assistant research at Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. Since that year, he has served in different positions at the same institute to currently advance to senior researcher.
Dr. Hamdino successfully attended a wide range of training courses and academic events on national and international levels, with excellent results as a visiting scientist to various countries outside Egypt. Dr. Hamdino has gained a very good experience as a consultant for international technical cooperation projects. Dr. Ahmed authored and co-authored a large number of publications and presentations in horticultural and other research fields.
Dr. Hamdino is a dynamic, highly motivated individual and self-oriented professional with 27 years of experience in Agriculture, horticulture, vegetable crop production, vegetable varieties and seed systems. Possesses excellent managerial, interpersonal skills and the ability to create the best that is of a requirement to any given organization and attentive to details with a practical approach to problem solving thus enjoys being part of a successful and productive team that thrives in highly pressured and challenging working environments.
Veronica Otuko Dzeagu, Chief Technical Officer, All Africa Students’ Union
Ms. Veronica Dzeagu is currently the Chief Technical Officer of the All-Africa Students Union, an umbrella organization for all African students from the basic level to higher learning institutions. Her experience spans project management, policy advocacy on educational and other social justice issues, and engaging diverse stakeholders across various sectors at national and sub-national levels. She has worked with various government institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders at local, national, and international levels to influence policies, practices, and attitudes to ensure quality basic education for all children without discrimination. The values of transparency, accountability, and integrity reflect very highly in her approach to work. She has an Executive Master in Development Policies and Practices from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) and a Master in International Relations from the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD).
Week 2 (14-18 November)
Tim Clarke, Gaia Education trustee, Ex-EU Ambassador to the African Union
Tim has worked in a wide variety of positions for European institutions over three decades, rising to the rank of EU Ambassador for eight of those years. Through this work he developed a passion for a range of issues, such as community-led development; the fight against injustice and inequality and for the dignity of the most vulnerable; for women’s, girls’ and children’s rights; for environmental conservation; for mitigation of the impact of climate change; for food security; for conflict prevention and mitigation; for culture and inter-cultural dialogue; for good governance and democracy-building; and for eco-innovation and eco-development. He is now officially retired yet currently pursuing pro bono work in support of several of the above issues.
Fasil Bogale, Chief Financial Officer and Africa Lead, Gaia Education
BIO: Fasil is a chartered accountant (ACMA, CGMA) and founding partner of Community Focused Accountancy. Fasil decided to leave a successful career in London working for a renowned asset management firm, European Credit Management, in search of a way to provide financial advice to community-based organisations in Scotland. Fasil has been serving as Treasurer of Gaia Education since 2015 and, more specifically, he manages the finances of GE projects in the Global South.
Dr. Hamdino Ahmed, Agriculture Advisor, The Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A), Kigali, Rwanda.
Dr. Hamdino M.I. Ahmed is a B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. Graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture of Mansoura University, Egypt.
Dr. Hamdino's professional career began in 1994 as an assistant research at Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt. Since that year, he has served in different positions at the same institute to currently advance to senior researcher.
Dr. Hamdino successfully attended a wide range of training courses and academic events on national and international levels, with excellent results as a visiting scientist to various countries outside Egypt. Dr. Hamdino has gained a very good experience as a consultant for international technical cooperation projects. Dr. Ahmed authored and co-authored a large number of publications and presentations in horticultural and other research fields.
Dr. Hamdino is a dynamic, highly motivated individual and self-oriented professional with 27 years of experience in Agriculture, horticulture, vegetable crop production, vegetable varieties and seed systems. Possesses excellent managerial, interpersonal skills and the ability to create the best that is of a requirement to any given organization and attentive to details with a practical approach to problem solving thus enjoys being part of a successful and productive team that thrives in highly pressured and challenging working environments.