Biography: Sarah Pima is the Executive Director of the Human Dignity and Environmental Care Foundation (HUDEFO), a Tanzanian non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability, climate resilience, the blue economy and inclusive community development. She provides strategic leadership in designing and implementing programs that promote sustainable waste management, agroecology, circular and blue economy approaches, environmental conservation and climate-resilient livelihoods. Through HUDEFO, she works closely with government, youth, women, children, local communities and coastal communities to strengthen environmental engagement, enhance adaptive capacity and foster inclusive sustainable development.
With over nine years of professional experience in the environmental and climate change sector, Sarah has extensive expertise in climate policy, environmental governance, advocacy, facilitation and programme implementation. She has collaborated with government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, academia and the private sector to support the development and implementation of policies and initiatives that advance climate action, sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity conservation and resilient communities. Her work emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration, capacity-building and evidence-based approaches to achieving sustainable development goals.
At the international level, Sarah serves as a Gender Negotiator within the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She is also a member of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) under the UNFCCC, where she contributes to global efforts to strengthen climate capacity-building, promote gender-responsive climate policies, and enhance inclusive participation in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Her technical expertise includes climate waste management and circular economy, ocean conservation, capacity development, gender and climate change, environmental governance, and the blue economy, enabling her to connect local priorities with regional and global climate policy processes.
Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies and Masters in Project Management. She has further strengthened her leadership and technical expertise through specialized training in climate change, environmental governance, leadership, negotiation, and sustainable development from national and international universities and professional institutions. She is committed to advancing equitable, inclusive and transformative climate solutions that empower local communities and contribute to achieving global climate and sustainable development objectives.