Mr. Alex Simalabwi is an international development professional who brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has extensive expertise in water resources management, climate change adaptation, economic development, finance, investment strategy design and public policy.
Mr. Simalabwi holds a Master’s Degree from the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Wales, a Master of Science in IWRM from the University of Zimbabwe and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Zambia.
He brings a wealth of international development experience that includes expert engagements with UNFCCC, UNDP, World Bank, private sector consulting and several international organisations such as IUCN, IWMI and CDKN. He has worked closely with the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) and the African Union on Pan Africa Water Security and Climate Change Agenda.
Mr. Alex Simalabwi Co-Chaired the World Bank Expert Group for the Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience (PPCR), which is part of the Bank’s $8.3 billion Climate Investment Fund (CIFs). He also advised the Bank on the PPCR fund for 34 developing countries. He initiated and designed the Global Water, Climate and Development Program (WACDEP) at Global Water Partnership Headquarters in Sweden and oversaw the expansion of the WACDEP to 60 countries spanning five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America (Caribbean and Latin America respectively).
Mr. Alex Simalabwi has worked with more than 20 countries in Africa, to develop investment plans on integration of water into economic national development. He was the lead author of the report “Water Security for Development in Africa' and coordinated the development of the AMCOW/African Union Strategic Framework for Water Security and Climate Resilient Development.
He has worked at all levels; country, regional, and global, building a career that started in his home country, Zambia, where he supported the water reforms that led to the creation of 10 water companies across the Country as well as in private sector as a consulting engineer. He was first active with GWP at country level in 2004 when he was appointed by GWP Southern Africa in a project manager role for the IWRM/Water Efficiency plans, before moving to the global secretariat in Stockholm, Sweden. While based at the Global Water Partnership HQ in Stockholm, he also worked as the Network Officer for GWP Caribbean, Eastern Africa, and Southern Africa, in addition to his many roles as Global Coordinator for the Water Climate Development Programme.
Speaking on the 2017 network theme “The Change Agenda”, Simalabwi has noted that there is an opportunity for the GWP network to drive the change that we hope to see at local level in alignment to SDGs, the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) Regional Strategic Action Plan IV, the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and the Africa Water Vision 2025. GWP is changing and this new position gives me the opportunity to be at the frontier of change, in a place I am familiar with and close to many great partners I can count on for support. I look forward to work and serve the more than 300 partners in the region.” He said
Mr. Simalabwi brings a wide perspective to the position which is vital for the region and continent in continuity to addressing critical development challenges in Water Security and Climate Change. His rich experience in the Climate Change agenda thus makes him a candidate to head the GWPSA as GWPSA’s Executive Secretary, Head of WACDEP Coordination Unit and GWP’s Global Lead on Climate Resilience.
The transition from Ms. Beukman to Mr. Simalabwi has been smooth and effective. Ruth noted in an interview with GWP last year that “Alex is bright and strategic, with a tremendous drive that will take both GWP Southern Africa and GWP Africa to new heights.”
Announcing the appointment, GWPSA Chair, Dr Eng. Kuiri F Tjipangandjara on behalf of the Board wholeheartedly welcomed Mr Simalabwi to the GWPSA Team. Dr Tjipangandjara emphasized that given Mr Simalabwi’s experience of the African Continent, Southern Africa in particular, and the challenges in improving water security in the Region, he will be an invaluable asset. Further, on behalf of the Board, he pledged to give Mr Simalabwi all the support and guidance necessary for him to settle in and succeed in his new position.