​Dr Emmanuel Sulle
Director, Arusha Climate & Environmental Research Centre (ACER)​

Prof Sulle is an Assistant Professor and Director of Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre. He is well-known as a leading scholar on agrarian studies in Africa and a contributor to the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa. He holds a PhD in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa and master’s degree in public policy majoring in Environmental Policy from University of Maryland, United States. Emmanuel has won various awards for his academic excellence, including Harvard University Doctoral Student Fellowship and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) Doctoral Grant. He holds a global faculty position at the University of Cologne, Germany and is a visiting scientist at Simon Fraser University, Canada.

Prior to joining AKU, Emmanuel worked as a researcher at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), University of the Western Cape, where he led diverse groups of researchers on numerous complex studies in more than seven countries in Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern Africa. These include large projects on women’s land rights with field research teams in seven countries, and development corridors in four countries in Eastern and Southern Africa. These multi-country and multi-disciplinary research experiences have helped him to develop considerable leadership skills in managing research projects in different contexts and with diverse groups. His current research interests include climate change, environment, sustainable agriculture, policy analysis, green economy, land tenure and agrarian transformation in Africa.

As an academic who was born, raised, researched and now works in Tanzania, Sulle is confident that he has the necessary expertise, skills and capabilities to help mobilise communities, scholars and other stakeholders to achieve AKU-ACER’s vision and mission. 

Dr Carl Amrhein

Professor Emeritus and Strategic Advisor

Dr Carl Amrhein was AKU’s Provost and Vice President, Academic from October 8, 2017, to June 30, 2024. He also served as Provost and Vice President Academic for the University of Alberta for 11 years. Geographer and Urban Planner by training,​ Dr Carl Amrhein's academic career began four decades ago where he worked in various capacities for different universities including University of Kentucky, University of Toronto, Peking University, and Zhejiang University. Apart from academic career, Dr Amrhein has been extensively involved in leading various efforts for integrated health system in the Province of Alberta and served as the Deputy Minister of Health in the Government of Alberta, the senior public servant in the provincial health system. Dr Amrhein has various recognitions of excellence including Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany in 2011, Eagle Feather to honor his contributions in advancing the role of Traditional Knowledge of the First Nations in university programming in 2014. Also, in 2014 he was awarded the Alberta Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Public Administration. AKU-ACER is proud to have Professor Emeritus Carl Amrhein continue to support the centre’s mission which he himself championed during his tenure as the AKU Provost.  

Miriam Kugele

Global Senior Manager, Office of Environment and Sustainability & Lecturer, Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Miriam Kugele provides strategic direction and leadership to the Aga Khan University’s (AKU) environment and sustainability efforts and net zero goal. She led the consultative development of AKU’s first Decarbonization Plan, oversees its ongoing implementation, and provides innovative opportunities. She also contributes to AKU’s environmental education goals, including as a lecturer in the AKU Faculty of Arts and Sciences, advising on ‘living labs’ for research and education, and leading an annual student competition for climate ideation. Ms. Kugele’s prior experience spans 15+ years in the fields of climate change and international development with UNEP, GIZ, ADB, and IUCN, and she holds a Master’s Degree (awarded Distinction) in Nature, Society, and Environmental Policy from the University of Oxford, UK, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in both Geography and Anthropology from Simon Fraser University in Canada.

Dr. Bashir Adelodun

Dr. Adelodun holds a PhD in Agricultural Civil Engineering from Kyungpook National University in South Korea, MEng degree in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and BEng degree in Agricultural Engineering, both from University of Ilorin, Nigeria, with a specialization in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. After his PhD, Bashir worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Science & Technology, Kyungpook National University, South Korea, where he pioneered and coordinated research on Sustainable Agrifood Systems. Bashir has worked on a number of projects and has been actively involved in several research collaborations culminating in his diverse experience and multidisciplinary expertise in food systems, waste management, environmental management, water resources management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income settings. He also worked as a lecturer with the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, University of Ilorin. He has a wealth of experience in impacting, mentoring, and inspiring students with the requisite skills and knowledge to engage in impactful research on sustainable food systems, water resources management, and environmental management to address complex and challenging societal problems. Dr. Bashir's research interests include food systems sustainability and resilience; resource-use efficiency and circular economy; water-food-environment nexus; waste management; water resources management; water, sanitation, and hygiene; environmental pollution assessment; modeling and life cycle assessment of agricultural systems, and econometric and spatial analyses.

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​Murad Jivan
Director, Site & Facilities Operation​

Murad joined AKU in 2009 as University-wide Director, Materials Management based in Karachi, Pakistan responsible for the supply chain management for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and East Africa. At the end of 2012, Murad relocated to AKU Arusha, Tanzania as Director of Site and Facilities Operation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire, UK. With more than 35 years working for various automotive industries in Supply Chain Management, Murad is responsible for all Arusha sites related operations and infrastructure including site security, the plant tree nursery, reforestation program, greening initiatives, farming activities, community engagement, site upgrades and maintenance, working very closely with the project team. 

​Joseph Gambay
Environmental Sustainability Researcher & Coordinator

With extensive background in environmental sciences, Joseph conducts and coordinates research and project activities in climate change, environmental science and natural resources management. In his previous works, Joseph was deeply involved in managing various projects related to tourism industry sustainability and skills development, nature conservation, agriculture, and sustainable development. Joseph has BSc in wildlife management from Sokoine University of Agriculture & MSc in conservation biology from Norwegian University of Science & Technology. His research interest focusses on nature-based solutions for climate change adaptations, natural resources management, biodiversity conservation outside protected areas, conservation agriculture, environmental management and sustainability.

Azmina Jivan
Special Projects Implementor​

Azmina moved to AKU Pakistan with Murad in 2009. She worked as a volunteer at AKU and also with others NGOs in Karachi. Azmina is currently a TKN volunteer with AKU in Arusha as a Special Projects Implementor and supports various special events in logistics, travel, hospitality, and looks after all the rental properties, the Community Outreach Centre, Football field, Staff Kitchen, sales of produce from the demo plots and a host of community engagement programs. Azmina holds a Diploma in Travel and Tourism. She provides a host of value-added services to AKU with her extensive experience.   

Fredy Wilfred Kivuyo 
Value Chain Assistant

Freddy is a multitask person with knowledge on farming, village saving and loans associations, event’s organizer, and community development projects. He has a diploma in community development from Community Development Training Institute in Monduli District. Among other things, he is responsible for the agricultural value chain within the AKU Arusha campus specifically on farming as a business, regenerative agriculture, permaculture, poultry, and dairy keeping. Fredy has immense interest in agriculture. 

Msuke Mtoka
Administration Officer

Joined AKU in February 2023 as an Administration Officer to the Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre, running the office administration activities. Msuke holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Dar es Salaam. His passion is to see AKU-ACER responds to surrounding community quest for knowledge on climate change and community resilience.   

Simon Benjamin
Accountant

Simon is an accountant with a bachelor's degree in Accountancy from the Institute of Finance Management (IFM), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as well as ordinary diploma in Banking and Finance at (IFM). He keeps systematic records of financial transactions and information to assist users to understand organization’s activities and analysis. He is the custodian of and compliance to the government financial rules and regulations.

Kathrin Krausa, PhD

Dr. Krausa is an entomologist with research interests in the communication behavior of social insects, namely stingless bees, ants, and termites. During her undergraduate studies, she worked on the biodiversity of insects, mostly bees. Following undergraduate training at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, she started to work on stingless bees in South Africa, supported by the German Academic Exchange Service. She obtained a doctorate at the same University, supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. This was followed by a post-doc at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya, financed through the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Dr. Krausa joined Aga Khan University as a Visiting Scientist.  Her current research focuses on the study of sustainable meliponicultural practices and the usage of non-apis pollinators for sustainable agriculture.

Japhace Poncian, PhD

Head, Department of History, Political Science and Development Studies & Senior Lecturer, Mkwawa University College of Education.

Japhace Poncian provides leadership to a growing academic department with about 25 academic staff members at Mkwawa University College of Education. He is an award-winning researcher engaged in research projects in renewable energy, critical minerals and energy transitions and resource nationalism in Eastern and Southern Africa. His research has been published in leading academic journals including Energy Policy, Energy Research & Social Science, Resources Policy, Extractive Industries and Society, Review of African Political Economy, Southern African Studies, and Political Geography. He has over 14 years’ experience working in higher learning institutions as a lecturer and researcher. He holds a PhD in Politics from the University of Newcastle, Australia, an MA in Global Development and Africa from UK’s University of Leeds and a Bachelor of Arts with Education degree from the University of Dar es Salaam.