Dr. Richard Munang

Dr. Richard Munang is the Africa Regional Climate Change Coordinator at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). He is responsible for guiding the actualization of UNEP’s climate resilient development strategy for Africa in a manner that ensures human wellbeing. He is leading a continental wide strategic and innovative approach to climate action implementation ensuring agro-industrialization is achieved and wealth opportunities created for the youth and women as well as climate aims of mitigation & adaptation are realized simultaneously with leading socioeconomic priorities of countries. He has won many awards including but not limited to: the first person to win the prestigious African Environmental Hero Award 2016, he is the 2016 winner of UNEP's recognition highest award, the Baobab staff awards for Programme Innovation. He has been involved in enhancing  skills retooling of youth through what is called Innovative volunteerism  which is a structured innovative approach to guide and inspire women and youth to turn their passion into profits through driving climate action enterprises. Dr. Munang pioneered the 1st UNEP Africa Adaptation Gap Report 1 & 2 which helped galvanize a coherent continental strategic climate policy position, resulting in the elevation of adaptation to a par with mitigation.  He has participated in a wide variety of research projects and has published over 500 articles in both international peer reviewed journal and magazines. He  is the author of the book –Making Africa work through the Power of Innovative Volunteerism. This book outlines practical policies that countries in Africa should take to accelerate climate action and sustainable agro-industrialization. Dr. Munang holds a PhD in Environmental Change & Policy from the University of Nottingham and an Executive Certificate in Climate Change and Energy Policy from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.