Milagre Nuvunga

I am a Mozambican citizen, born and brought up in Mozambique, and trained as a forester. After 15 years in government in positions that included Director of Forestry Research and National Director for Forestry and Wildlife in Mozambique, I worked internationally for 10 years, including with the UN in New York, supporting forestry work in African and Latin American countries, and the Ford Foundation, working on environment and community development issues in Eastern Africa. I moved back to Mozambique in 2008 as co-founder of the MICAIA family of institutions (comprising a Mozambican foundation and a social enterprise, as well as a UK based charity run by a volunteer board), where I serve as Executive Director of MICAIA Foundation.

My main professional interest is the development of approaches to strengthening community control over land and the natural resources that support local livelihoods, and ensuring women’s powerful participation in decision making, as well as engagement in gainful activities.

I am currently exploring governance arrangements that will bring communities and other actors (government/private sector) to adopt sustainable landscape development principles and inclusive business approaches, seeking a balance between conservation and local development objectives.

Interesting fact: I was the first female national director for forestry and wildlife in Africa.