Nomvula Mokonyane

South African environmental engineer pioneering climate resilience strategies in developing nations

Nomvula Mokonyane, a South African civil engineer, has revolutionized water management and climate adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa. As former Minister of Water and Sanitation (2014-2021), she spearheaded projects like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II, providing 220 million m³ of water annually to drought-prone regions. Her 2020 initiative Rainwater Harvesting for Rural Resilience established 500+ community systems in KwaZulu-Natal, serving 250,000 people.

Mokonyane co-founded the African Climate Action Network in 2018, connecting 12 countries to share early warning systems for extreme weather. Her 2022 book Climate Justice: Equitable Adaptation Strategies proposes innovative financing models for green infrastructure in low-income regions. As UN special envoy (2023-), she brokered agreements at COP28 to allocate $3.5B for African climate tech startups.

Innovative policies include the Climate-Smart Agriculture Framework (2021), boosting crop yields by 40% in Limpopo province through drought-resistant seed banks. Mokonyane's 2024 TEDx talk Water is Life: Building Climate Resilience in Africa highlighted decentralized water solutions. She mentors 300+ young engineers via the Mokonyane Innovation Fellowship, focusing on female leaders in engineering.

Her 2025 collaboration with MIT created low-cost solar desalination units now deployed in Namibia and Kenya. Mokonyane's work is profiled in National Geographic's 2023 documentary Africa's Water Warriors, showing her team's efforts in flood-prone Mozambique. Recently appointed to the World Bank's Climate Investment Fund board, her vision continues shaping global sustainability policies.