• Our Staff

    Here is the TRADE Programme Management Unit

    Dr. Babra Ntapara is a distinguished development professional with over 12 years of expertise in livelihoods enhancement, rural transformation, and economic empowerment. She brings to the TRADE Programme a proven track record in value chain development, market analysis, and strategic project management, having successfully led initiatives that uplift rural communities through both international and local NGOs as well as government institutions. Her academic credentials include a PhD in Livelihoods (International & Rural Development), a Master’s in Climate Change & Development, and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. This strong foundation, combined with her hands-on experience, equips her to design and deliver inclusive, sustainable, and impactful development solutions. Renowned for her ability to build strong stakeholder partnerships and tailor interventions to community needs, Dr. Ntapara has consistently driven projects that open market opportunities and improve rural livelihoods. Her passion for development, coupled with her critical thinking and innovative problem-solving, positions her as a key contributor to TRADE’s mission and the broader Malawi 2063 agenda.

    Dr. Babra Ntapara

    National Programme Coordinator

    Charles Chinangwa is an accomplished Economist with over ten years of progressive experience in designing, managing, and leading results‑based programmes across government, donor‑funded, and research environments. He holds a Master of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, and has established a proven track record in developing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems, integrating Results and Impact Management frameworks, leading baseline and evaluation studies, and translating complex data into actionable insights for policy and programme decision‑making. Charles has consistently demonstrated strong leadership in strategic planning, stakeholder coordination, budget and performance management, and donor reporting. His professional expertise extends across international, national, and district levels, where he has strengthened development planning, accountability, and the delivery of measurable results. Fluent in English and Chichewa, with working knowledge of French, Swahili, and Zulu, Charles brings both technical expertise and cross‑cultural communication skills to his work, positioning him as a valuable contributor to inclusive and results‑oriented development initiatives.

    Charles Chinangwa

    Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist.

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    Stella Nyirenda

    Finance Management Specialist.

     

    Alinafe Malisawa, MCIPS is a chartered Procurement and Supply Chain leader with extensive experience in procurement, supply chain, grants, and project management. She served as the President of the Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply (MIPS, 2020–2022; 2024–2025) and currently serves as Procurement and Contracts Specialist for the Malawi Government’s flagship TRADE Programme, co-funded by IFAD and OFID. Her past roles include Head of Procurement at the National AIDS Commission (2021–2024) and the Parliament of Malawi (2017–2020). In 2022, she received the Pan African Woman of Substance in Procurement and Supply Chain Award. She has also served on the Malawi Central Medical Stores Board Technical Committee and is a Board Member of Good News Ministries Church. Alinafe holds an MSc in Supply Chain Management (University of Bolton) and a BA in Public Administration (University of Malawi).

    Alinafe Malisawa

    Procurement and Contracts Specialist

    Davison Mandege is a seasoned Civil Engineer and a professional infrastructure projects management expert with over 20 years of comprehensive experience in Malawi and Southern Africa. He has successfully championed the delivery of multimillion-dollar donor funded commercial and social infrastructure projects in the transport, agriculture/irrigation, water supply, housing, and energy sectors. He has demonstrated a distinguished ability in designing and implementation of some IFAD funded Government infrastructure projects in Malawi, Zambia and Lesotho. In the energy sector in Malawi, Davison managed supervision of a 60MW Solar Power Plant installation infrastructure works project by JCM Power Ltd from Canada connecting to the ESCOM power grid at Nanjoka in Salima district. Davison Mandege brings to TRADE Programme the accrued core expertise in the end-to-end project life cycle: from feasibility studies, project appraisal, and detailed design to budgeting, procurement, and contracts management. Adept at managing complex stakeholder relationships with Government Ministries, International Donors (i.e. IFAD, OFID, AfDB), and service providers, Davison leverages on a wealth of knowledge and skills to TRADE Programme to successfully implementing sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure for acceleration of agricultural commercialization. He holds an MSc in Project Management (University of Bolton) and a BSc Civil Engineering (University of Malawi). Professionally, he is a registered graduate engineer number 637 with Malawi Board of Engineers/ Malawi Engineering Institution and a FIDIC projects management and an ILO trained (Turin, Italy) works procurement practitioner.

    Davison Mandenge

    Infrastructure Specialist.

    Linda Magombo‑Munthali is a distinguished agribusiness and value chain specialist with over 20 years of experience advancing agricultural transformation across Malawi and Southern Africa. At the TRADE Programme, she spearheads initiatives that foster inclusive business models and expand market opportunities for smallholder farmers, women, and youth. Her leadership bridges government, private sector, and development partners to deliver innovative financing solutions, strengthen farmer organizations, and drive the sustainable commercialization of key commodities. Renowned for her ability to translate strategy into action, Linda aligns policy with practice, mentors agribusiness teams, and forges partnerships that generate lasting impact. Passionate about inclusive growth, she champions evidence‑based approaches that enable the smallholder subsector to thrive—empowering communities to prosper and shaping resilient agricultural systems for the future.

    Linda Magombo Munthali

    Agribusiness and Value Chains Specialist

    Amos Lupi Simwela is a seasoned Environment and Climate Change Expert with over 13 years of practical experience in coordinating and implementing interventions in Environment and Natural Resources Management, Livelihoods, and Climate Change Resilience. He holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development from Tongji University in Shanghai, China (2019), and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (Upper Second Class) from Mzuzu University in Malawi (2010). Driven by a passion for improving the livelihoods of vulnerable rural communities, Amos has dedicated his career to advancing sustainable development and resilience-building initiatives. He currently serves as the Environment and Climate Change Specialist for the TRADE Programme, where he continues to apply his expertise in fostering impactful, community-centered solutions.

    Amos Lupi Simwela

    Environment and climate Change Specialist.

    Charles Changalala is a Commodity Specialist for Groundnuts and Sunflower under the TRADE Programme with 10+ years of progressive experience in agricultural commercialization. A graduate of Bunda College of Agriculture (now LUANAR) with a BSc in Agriculture, Charles specialize in strengthening inclusive value chains and enhancing smallholder farmer participation in structured markets. Charles's work focuses on building sustainable public–private partnerships that connect Farmer Business Organizations, processors, off‑takers, and input suppliers. With a proven track record of driving commercialization of groundnuts and sunflower, Charles is committed to fostering collaboration, improving farmer livelihoods, and advancing rural transformation.

    Charles Changalala

    Commodity Specialist (Sunflower & Groundnuts).

    Emmanuel Mponya is an accomplished agricultural development specialist with over 22 years of leadership in agribusiness, food security, livestock production, and rural development in Malawi. He holds a Master of Global Food and Agricultural Business from the University of Adelaide, a Postgraduate Certificate in Agribusiness (Value Chain Thinking in Sub‑Saharan Africa) from the University of Queensland, and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Bunda College of Agriculture. Currently, Emmanuel serves as the Commodity Specialist for Livestock under the IFAD‑financed TRADE Programme in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. In this role, he provides strategic direction for national livestock value chains and market systems, ensuring competitiveness, sustainability, and commercialization that benefit smallholder farmers. His career spans leadership positions in government, international development institutions, and NGOs. He has served as Head of Programme at the Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM), Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS), and Farmers Forum for Trade and Social Justice (FAFOTRAJ), overseeing humanitarian and community development portfolios. He also worked as Programme Manager for Commercial Agribusiness for Sustainable Horticulture at the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) and as Programme Officer for Rural Development and Food Security with the European Union Delegation to Malawi. Across these roles, Emmanuel has demonstrated expertise in programme leadership, donor coordination, policy engagement, institutional capacity building, and livestock‑based rural development. His career reflects a deep commitment to leveraging agriculture as a catalyst for sustainable livelihoods, rural resilience, and inclusive economic growth for rural communities in Malawi.

    Emmanuel Mponya

    Commodity Specialist (Livestock).

     

    Annie Matiti is an accomplished agriculture and rural development professional with over 22 years of experience advancing sustainable livelihoods and community resilience. She holds an MSc in Rural Development and Extension and a BSc in Agriculture Extension from Bunda College, grounding her expertise in both technical and strategic dimensions of rural transformation. Annie has served in diverse leadership and technical roles, including CS-Soybean Lead for the TRADE Programme, Programme Manager for Rural Livelihoods at Yamba Malawi, and Crops and Extension Officer with the Ministry of Agriculture. Throughout her career, she has championed farmer empowerment, agricultural innovation, and inclusive development, consistently driving impact across Malawi’s agriculture sector.

    Annie Matiti

    Commodity Specialist (Soy Bean).

     

    Arthur Ngwende is an agricultural and economic specialist with over 13 years of experience supporting agricultural commercialisation and market system development in Malawi. He serves as Commodity Specialist – Honey, where he leads strategic interventions to strengthen private sector engagement, enhance farmer–market linkages, and promote inclusive growth across the value chain. Arthur has previously held technical and policy advisory roles with the Centre for Research & Consultancy, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Imani Development, the Agricultural Commodity Exchange for Africa (ACE), and the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC), contributing to innovations in forward contracting, commodity platform development, and applied research for programme design. He holds a Master of Science in Agriculture and Applied Economics and a Bachelor of Business Administration, and brings a strong results-oriented and partnership-driven approach to advancing smallholder commercialisation under the TRADE Programme.

    Arthur Ngwende

    Commodity Specialist (Honey)

     

    Sekani Kateta is a seasoned agricultural development professional with more than 15 years of experience in value chain development, market access, and smallholder commercialization. His career has been dedicated to advancing initiatives that strengthen seed systems, agribusiness development, rural finance, farmer organizations, and climate change resilience, efforts aimed at transforming livelihoods while addressing rural poverty, food insecurity, and vulnerability. Over the years, Sekani has collaborated extensively with government institutions, NGOs, donor agencies, and the private sector to design and implement impactful agricultural programmes that deliver sustainable solutions for rural communities. Currently, he serves as a Commodity Specialist with the Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) Programme, where he leads interventions in the potato value chain. His work focuses on enhancing productivity, increasing farmer incomes, and building resilience among smallholder farmers through inclusive, market-oriented approaches. Sekani holds a Master of Science in Agronomy and a Bachelor of Science in Crop Science, both from the University of Malawi, underscoring his strong academic foundation and technical expertise in agricultural development.

    Sekani Kateta

    Commodity Specialist (Potato)

     

    Oscar is a multidisciplinary professional with over 12 years of experience driving inclusive rural development and socio‑economic transformation through diverse projects and initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Agribusiness, equipping him with both technical expertise and strategic business acumen. A Certified Monitoring and Evaluation Professional and strategist with a Professional Strategic Management Certificate, Oscar is currently advancing his skills in Public Administration to integrate public policy and analysis into his work. His professional focus spans Knowledge Management, Corporate Communications, and Social Behavior Change Communication, where he has successfully designed M&E systems, visibility policies, and digital innovation strategies that amplify impact and strengthen institutional learning.

    Oscar Roy Ulili

    Knowledge Management and Communications Officer

    Ms. Ekari Jimusole serves as the Gender and Social Inclusion Officer for the TRADE Programme. She holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies (2021) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science (2013), both from the University of Malawi. With over a decade of experience in gender and social inclusion programming and development research, Ms. Jimusole provides strategic leadership for the programme’s GESI agenda. She ensures that interventions are not only technically sound but also socially equitable and transformative, operationalizing IFAD’s and the Government of Malawi’s commitments to gender equality, youth empowerment, and disability inclusion across all programme components. Her work guarantees that vulnerable groups—particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities—gain meaningful access to, control over, and benefits from productive resources, financial services, income opportunities, market linkages, and enabling value chain infrastructure. She also oversees the design and implementation of targeted GESI interventions, supports capacity building for implementing partners, and ensures rigorous monitoring of inclusion indicators. Through her leadership, TRADE is positioned as a model for inclusive agricultural transformation in Malawi, advancing national development priorities and aligning with IFAD’s Strategic Framework.

    Ekari Jimusole

    Gender and Social Inclusion Officer

     

    Fred is a Civil Engineer with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering and an MBA in Project Management. He brings extensive experience in donor‑funded and large‑scale infrastructure projects across Malawi and India, with proven expertise in road, bridge, building, and institutional infrastructure under IFAD and World Bank programmes. He possesses strong capabilities in project planning, contract administration, supervision, and stakeholder coordination, complemented by advanced proficiency in modern engineering and project management tools such as Primavera, MS Project, AutoCAD, STAAD.Pro, and ETABS. His professional approach is defined by a commitment to quality, sustainability, and strict compliance with international standards. A results‑driven leader with excellent communication and problem‑solving skills, Fred is dedicated to delivering high‑impact infrastructure solutions that advance sustainable development.

    Fred Balakasi

    Field Engineer

    Isaac Bright Chirombo is an accomplished Finance Professional with a Master of Business Administration in Financial Management and a Bachelor of Applied Accounting, Audit, and Information Systems. He brings over 25 years of extensive experience in accounting and financial management across donor‑funded organizations, private institutions, and parastatals. He has a proven track record in financial reporting, budgeting, auditing, taxation, and administration, complemented by strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. Recognized as a collaborative team player, fast learner, and adaptive leader, Isaac consistently delivers results in complex financial environments. Beyond his finance profession, Isaac also serves as a Pastor at Pentecost International Christian Centre and is actively engaged as an entrepreneur and farmer—reflecting his commitment to community service, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods.

    Isaac Bright Chirombo

    Accountant

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    Brain Jingini

    Procurement and Contracts Officer

    Peter Nahuwo is a dedicated Data Management Officer with over 15 years of progressive experience supporting community development initiatives across diverse sectors. His expertise lies in strengthening data systems, streamlining information flows, and enabling evidence‑based decision‑making to enhance programme performance and inform policy development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), an Advanced Diploma in ICT, and a Certificate in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). This solid academic foundation, combined with extensive field‑based project experience, provides him with a strong blend of technical proficiency, analytical capability, and practical insight. Peter has successfully designed, managed, and optimized data processes that underpin high‑quality programme implementation, reporting, and learning. He is deeply committed to leveraging data as a tool for driving meaningful, sustainable development impact and ensuring that communities benefit from informed, results‑oriented interventions.

    Peter Lucius Nahuwo

    Data Management Officer

    Mary is a Registered Graduate Engineer with the Malawi Engineering Institution, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (Honours). She has built a strong technical foundation through hands‑on experience across diverse sectors, demonstrating multi‑sector proficiency in highway, railway, and rural infrastructure projects. Her career reflects technical versatility and proven expertise in end‑to‑end project delivery—spanning feasibility studies, design, procurement, contract administration, and on‑site supervision. Currently serving as Regional Engineer for the Southern Region under a major IFAD/OFID‑funded programme, Mary applies her comprehensive expertise in a strategic leadership role. She manages a substantial segment of a USD 50 million infrastructure portfolio, ensuring strict alignment with development objectives and fiduciary standards. Her approach is distinguished by advanced contract and compliance management, leveraging certified proficiency in FIDIC contracts and IFAD’s SECAP guidelines to embed social, environmental, and climate considerations into project execution. Equally, her strategic stakeholder leadership is pivotal—engaging communities, contractors, government ministries, and international donors to build consensus and deliver sustainable, resilient infrastructure.

    Mary Manjanja

    Field Engineer

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    Tamanda Mabaso

    Field Engineer

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    Mwayi Magombo

    Regional Environment and Climate Change Officer

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    Funny Nkhunda Likwemba

    Accountant

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    Beatrice Kabango

    Administrative Officer / PA

    Shida Kambalame Brasho is an accomplished development professional with more than 18 years of expertise in programme coordination and agricultural development. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, complemented by a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies. In her current role as District Coordinator for the Kasungu Cluster under the TRADE Programme, Shida provides strategic leadership in advancing value-chain commercialization, strengthening farmer cooperatives, and fostering inclusive, market-oriented agriculture. Her work is dedicated to enhancing smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and driving sustainable rural transformation.

    Shida Kambalame

    District Coordinator

    Patricia Nyongopa is an accomplished professional in agriculture and rural development with over a decade of experience. She holds an MSc in International Development from La Trobe University in Australia and a BSc in Agriculture Extension from Bunda College, providing a strong academic foundation for her expertise. Her career spans diverse leadership and technical roles, including Cluster Coordinator for the TRADE Programme, Zonal Coordinator for UNICEF Malawi, and Field Monitor with the United Nations World Food Programme. In each position, Patricia has demonstrated a consistent ability to translate development goals into tangible results. Passionate about inclusive growth, she has championed initiatives that amplify community voices, strengthen rural livelihoods, and drive sustainable impact across Malawi’s development sector.

    Patricia Nyongopa

    District Coordinator

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    Ellard Tung'ande

    Head Driver/ Office assistant

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    Michael Njirazafa

    Driver/ Office assistant

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