Selma Lendelvo

Principal Investigator

Selma holds a PhD in Conservation Biology from the University of Namibia. She is a senior Researcher and Director of the Centre for Grants Management and Resource Mobilisation at the University of Namibia. She has been extensively involved in research with UNAM over the past two decades, mainly focusing in the field of sustainable natural resources management and climate change across Namibia and abroad.

Mechtilde Pinto

Researcher and PhD student

Mecthilde Pinto recently completed her Master degree in Tourism studies at the University of Namibia. As an upcoming academic and researcher – her broad research focus areas and interests are in natural resource management, community-based conservation and tourism, as well as cross-cutting issues related to environmental management and climate change. She is developing skills in academia and project management. Her experience includes several research projects including community based-conservation and impact of Covid-19; ditch plastic and circular plastic economy; water provision and hygiene in informal settlements; and Gender and Climate Change. 

Desderius Haufiku

Researcher and PhD student

Desderius Haufiku is a public health specialist currently serving as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Namibia (UNAM). He holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and is pursuing a PhD in Public Health. With over eight years of research experience, Desderius has dedicated his career to understanding and addressing non-communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, climate change and health, and indigenous knowledge with a special focus on traditional medicine.

Tandi Liwayi

Researcher and Masters Student

Tandi Litwayi is a Masters student (at the University of Namibia) with a background in Geographic Information Science (GIS), Environmental Studies and Geography. As an early career researcher, her focus and interest is on land cover and land use change, climate change adaptation, drought variability, community resilience and disaster preparedness in arid and semi-arid environments. 

Likeleli Katjirua

Researcher

Likeleli Katjirua is a Research Assistant at the University of Namibia and a Master’s candidate in Integrated Water Resource Management. With a background in geography and environmental sciences, she has contributed to research projects focused on sustainability, climate change and green economy transformation. Her experience has supported both research and administrative operations. Passionate about environmental protection and sustainable development, she actively engages in regional climate initiatives and policy discussions.

Michael Shipepe David

Researcher

Michael Shipepe David is a spatial engineer by profession and currently a PhD candidate at the University of Namibia. His doctoral research focuses on the Circular Value Chain of Microgrids Systems: Challenges and Opportunities. Michael’s recent work and publications span key thematic areas, including Environmental and Social Safeguards, Water Management, Spatial Planning, and Institutional Capacity Assessments. In addition to his academic pursuits, Michael is actively developing advanced competencies in Project Management, Sustainable Financing, and Value Chain Analysis, supporting his commitment to driving integrated and sustainable infrastructure solutions across Africa and the globe at large.

Fhulufhelo Ramphaga

Student intern

Fhulufhelo is in her final year as Computer Science student at UNAM. She is chairperson of the UNAM Research and Innovation Society which focuses of introducing and exposing undergraduate students to research from their first year. For CORD, her tasks for the project include preparing gadgets for data collection, data entry and processing and other administrative duties.

Robert Festus

Researcher

He is a committed and detail-oriented field supervisor and enumerator with hands-on experience in data collection, community assessments, and team supervision. Over the past few years, he worked on multiple research and survey projects under the University of Namibia’s Centre for Grants Management and Resource Mobilization, contributing to meaningful studies that inform policy, humanitarian action, and public development programs. In several of these projects, Robert served as a Team Supervisor, overseeing field teams, coordinating logistics, and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of collected data. He brings strong interpersonal skills, adaptability in the field, and a passion for contributing to research that impacts communities. He is open to opportunities in data collection, community outreach, research coordination, or field operations.

Joyce Shipale

Project Administrator

Joyce has been working with the 4As consortium since its inception. She provides administrative and budgetary support to the team.

Gert van Rooy

Principal Investigator

Prof. Gert van Rooy was an Associated Research Professor at the University of Namibia and served as head of department for the Social Sciences Division at the Multidisciplinary Research Centre. He earned his Honours Bachelor of Arts at the University of the Western Cape in 1989, followed by a master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Leeds, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Namibia. He worked on various research projects in public health, education, disability & vulnerability and Disaster Risk Management. Notable projects include the GeoHealthAccess, a socio-economic survey in NamParks, a baseline survey for individuals with disabilities, a socio-economic report for Bwabwata, and an evaluation of the Food Bank program in the Khomas Region. Prof. van Rooy published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on topics such as barriers to education, health service access for individuals with disabilities, and disaster risk reduction in Namibia. His work garnered widespread recognition while impacting both academia and practical application in his fields of research. He received several accolades, including the Meritorious Award for best academic performance and a Long Service Award for 20 years of service in 2017. Prof. van Rooy also participated in numerous national and international conferences, contributing to social development and policy-making in Namibia and the wider Southern African region.

Zauisomue Erlich

Researcher

Mr. Zauisomue Erlich is a Master of Science candidate in GIS at the University of Namibia with over 18 years of experience in spatial sciences, GIS, and related technologies. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in GIS and Environmental Modelling from the University of Hull (UK) and a Bachelor’s degree in Applied GIS and Industrial Psychology from the University of Namibia. Mr. Erlich consults for the Namibia Red Cross Society and Benguela Current Commission on digital spatial modelling and economic valuation platforms. His work focuses on the development of GIS tools and remote sensing applications for environmental science, particularly within African contexts. He co-invented a method that integrates indigenous knowledge with scientific GIS procedures and has contributed to over five publications. His research interests include extreme weather forecasting, kilometer-scale modeling, and the use of Early Warning Systems to mitigate climate change impacts. Mr. Erlich is also skilled in R programming, geospatial software development, and statistical analysis for climate and environmental applications.