News

By Captain Patrick Kikwaya, IRA

The University of Dar es Salaam don, Professor Pius Zebhe Yanda, has been appointed as a member of the advisory board for evaluation of Norway’s efforts on climate and environment in development cooperation. 

According to the communication on this appointment which was availed to Prof. Yanda early September 2023, this advisory board of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) is a group that provides strategic guidance and recommendations on evaluation of climate and environment in Norwegian development cooperation.

“The group will advise on what aspects to evaluate and how to conduct evaluations effectively, aiming to enhance the accountability, efficiency, and impact of these aid programs”, stated the appointment information which was signed by Dr. Tove Heggli Sagmo, Senior Adviser at the NORAD Department for Evaluation.

NORAD operates as a professional body under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Norway. On Norway's climate and forestry initiatives, NORAD falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD).

Prof Yanda will work along with other six members namely Juha Illari Uitto (Director of the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the Global Environment Facility since 2014); Solveig Aamodt (Senior researcher and political scientist focusing on climate policy processes in large developing countries); and Nils Anders Røkke (Executive Vice President Sustainability at SINTEF and the President of EERA (the European Energy Research Alliance).

Other members include Michael Wells (Independent consultant in environmental conservation and sustainable economic development, mainly in developing and emerging countries); Alejandro Parellada (Senior advisor to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA); and Siri Ellen Hallstrøm Eriksen  (Professor working at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) at the Department of Public Health Science).

A distinguished expert in climate change

Prof. Yanda is a distinguished expert in climate change at UDSM. During his tenure at the University that has spanned over 36 years, Professor Yanda has not only served as an academic but has also held various academic and administrative positions. He is renowned for his leadership in multidisciplinary international research projects and programmes related to natural resource management, environmental issues, and climate change.

In recognition of his academic excellence, Prof. Yanda was appointed to the position of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Professorial Chair in Environment and Climate Change in 2010. He has also served as the Director of the UDSM Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) for six years. He spearheaded the founding of the UDSM Centre for Climate Change Studies (CCCS) in 2011 and served as its first Director.

At the international realm, Professor Yanda made significant contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He then served as Vice Chair for Working Group II within the IPCC for seven years from 2016 to 2023. In this capacity, he oversaw the scientific assessments conducted by thousands of scientists from various continents.

Prof. Joel Nobert Kirway, UDSM-IRA Director congratulated Prof. Yanda on the appointment and for consistently upholding the reputation of both the University and IRA.

He said that Prof. Yanda deserved this position for he has vast experience and has coordinated several Africa-wide initiatives focused on research and capacity building, collaborating with numerous academic institutions in Africa and beyond.