Alex Simalabwi

Alex Simalabwi is an international development professional with expertise in water resources management, climate change adaptation, economic development, finance, investment strategy design and public policy. Alex is the Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa-Africa Coordination, Director of the Africa Water Investment Programme and Global Head of Climate Resilience at the Global Water PartnershipGWP Southern Africa - GWPwhich supports governments to meet their water security targets, build climate resilience and sustainable development. In his role as Executive Secretary, Alex works closely with Tanzania's Former President H.E Jakaya Kikwete who also chairs the GWPSA-Africa Coordination Board. As Director of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) which aims to mobilise $30 billion annually until 2030 to close the water investment gap in Africa,Home - Africa Water Investment Program (aipwater.org) Alex works closely with the AIP International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa which comprises of current and former Heads of States and global leaders and is co-chaired by the President of Senegal & former Chairperson of the African Union, H.E Macky Sall; Former Prime Minister of Netherlands H. E Mark Rutte, President of Namibia, H.E Hage Gaingob, and former President of Tanzania, H.E Jakaya Kikwete.
==Education==
Alex holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, a Master's in Business Administration (M.B.A), International Business and Strategy from the University of Wales and a Master's Degree in Integrated Water Resources Management from the University of Zimbabwe. Alex also studied Climate Diplomacy at the United Nations Training Institute and Research (UNITAR) and obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Zambia.(7) Education | Alex Simalabwi | LinkedIn
==Career==
GWP Southern Africa under Alex's leadership is currently working with African Union's development arm, AUDA NEPAD through the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme to support African countries develop their Water Investment Programmes and close the water investment gap in Africa. Alex has led the teams that supported Zambia and Zanzibar develop and launch their programmes.
In his current role, Alex leads the Africa Region of the Global Water Partnership in high-level public policy engagements and advocacy on climate-resilient water investments for water security on the continent. He also leads the organization's global agenda on climate resilience where he's driven GWP's largest programme, the Global Water Development ProgrammeGlobal Water, Climate and Development Programme - GWP which sought to mobilize over $1.5 billion in water investments. The programme targeted sixty countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Caribbean.
In 2015, Alex co-chaired the World Bank Expert Group for the $1.2 billion Pilot Program for Climate Resilience which supported developing countries in integrating climate resilience into development planning. In the same year, he worked as UNDP country specialist for national adaptation plans where he supported over 25 countries to incorporate climate resilience in their national development plans.
From 2008-2010, Alex managed GWP's Africa flagship Programme on development on infrastructure and water management strategies which was aimed at advancing regional integration, trade, strengthen intersectoral cooperation in water management, energy, agriculture, transport systems, build climate resilience and support economic growth and poverty reduction. From 2001 to 2003, he worked with BLZ Consulting Engineers in Zambia as Civil Engineer responsible for Design of Water Infrastructure and Sanitation Systems.
He also previously worked as Regional Water Program Coordinator- Eastern and Southern Africa at the International Union for Conservation and Nature- IUCN.
==Media Coverage==
Alex is a leading news source on water and climate resilience issues including being interviewed on the topics by leading media houses such as the BBCAfrica - BBC News and Al Jazeera.Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera Alex has written widely and published op-eds with leading media houses including South Africa's Mail and Guardian. One of his articles on the water crisis in Africa was published in more than ten publications globally including in the Project Syndicate.Righting the Injustice of Africa's Water Crisis by Alex Simalabwi - Project Syndicate (project-syndicate.org) Alex has also appeared on various television news shows discussing water and climate. Among his interviews have been on Newzroom AfrikaClean water access headache for Africa - Bing video and TVC News Nigeria.(272) COP 26 | Biggest Users Fail To Sign Up To Ending Coal Usage - Official - YouTube Alex has been a reliable voice on water and climate change, contributing to discussions around these topics with African and global partners such as the United Nations, World Bank, African Union and Southern Africa Development Community among others.
Category:Finance
Category:Public policy
Category:Climate change adaptation
Category:South African people