Thandie Mwape

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA)

Thandie Mwape Villadsen is a Zambian National with global experience in international and development affairs spanning 20 years in Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas with the United Nations and Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. She is Head of Office for OCHA Indonesia and ASEAN Liaison Office. Previously she serve as the Humanitarian Diplomacy Coordinator (Africa Region) for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and leading policy work on climate change and ecosystem management. Thandie has a strong track record in brokering dialogues and partnerships with water as a central theme - e.g., connecting long-term water dialogues to the humanitarian field and in bankable water projects; engaging local communities, women & youth in adaptation initiatives; leading research on responsible investments, and leading high level advocacy engaging governments, private sector, academia and community voices on integrated approaches to building resilience and sustainable development. 

Thandie has a passion to see societal change driven by local people at the fore front of climate change/environmental degradation impacts. She is also founding member of the UNEP-led Network of African Women Environmentalists (NAWE).

Thandie holds two Master degrees - MA Global Diplomacy with University of London/ SOAS; MA Leading Innovation and Change from York St John University in England. She has an advanced certificate in International Humanitarian Law with Harvard University and earlier trained as a Journalist at Evelyn Hone College in Zambia.