Dr. Albino Jopela is a Mozambican-born heritage scholar and committed Pan-Africanist currently serving as the third Executive Director of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) since 2023. In this strategic leadership role, he oversees the only UNESCO Category 2 Centre in Africa explicitly mandated to support the implementation of the 1972 World Heritage Convention on the continent and to help achieve the objectives of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and UNESCO’s Priority Africa, particularly through World Heritage capacity-building and financing.

Dr. Jopela has held several prominent positions in the heritage sector, including Chairperson of the Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists (ASAPA), Co-Chair for Africa and the Middle East of the Climate Heritage Network (CHN), and Advisor to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on World Heritage matters. He is also a Research Fellow at Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique) and the University of Cape Town (South Africa). With numerous publications in high-impact academic journals on heritage formation, conservation, and management, Dr. Jopela has significantly contributed to advancing scholarly discourse and influencing policy frameworks that centre African perspectives in heritage governance. He helps to position heritage not only as a cultural imperative but also as a driver for sustainable development, social cohesion, and climate resilience in Africa.

At the helm of AWHF, Dr. Jopela has worked to strengthen the implementation of the World Heritage Convention in Africa by mobilising increased investment in capacity-building, fostering inclusive and innovative partnerships, and ensuring the timely and cost-effective delivery of the AWHF Strategic Plan (2022–2027) in alignment with UNESCO’s Operational Strategy for Priority Africa (2022–2029). Through close collaboration with African States Parties, the international community, and various stakeholders, the Fund has supported the inscription of 11 new African properties on the World Heritage List since 2023—representing 39% of the target set under UNESCO’s Strategy for World Heritage in Africa (2022–2029). AWHF’s interventions have also contributed to the removal of two African sites from the List of World Heritage in Danger, reducing Africa’s share on the Danger List from 39% to 32%, and achieving 20% of the strategy’s target.

Through targeted capacity-building initiatives and grant funding, AWHF has strengthened government institutions and empowered heritage professionals and community members—including youth and women—with the knowledge and tools for sustainable heritage management. These efforts have improved community livelihoods and contributed to a better quality of life in and around World Heritage sites across the continent. Under Dr. Jopela’s stewardship, AWHF will continue its mission of empowering African States Parties and communities to sustainably safeguard and leverage their heritage as a source of identity, resilience, and inclusive development across Africa.

Veronica Maduna serves as the Head of Partnership Development at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), where she leads the Fund’s strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and communication efforts. In this role, she is responsible for strengthening the Fund’s visibility, sustainability, and impact across the continent by cultivating relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, from African governments and UNESCO delegations to international development partners, private sector sponsors, and local communities.

Her work is critical to advancing AWHF’s mission to preserve and promote Africa’s cultural and natural heritage. By aligning fundraising, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement strategies with the Fund’s strategic goals, she ensures that conservation efforts are adequately resourced and that heritage initiatives contribute meaningfully to sustainable development. Veronica is a firm advocate for inclusive heritage practices, community participation, and youth empowerment, and she continuously works to position heritage as a powerful driver of social cohesion and economic opportunity across Africa.

Under her leadership, AWHF has successfully launched several high-impact campaigns and secured strategic funding partnerships that have supported site inscriptions, removed sites from the World Heritage in Danger List, and enabled innovative capacity-building programmes. She takes particular pride in seeing the tangible results of this work, whether through empowered youth, strengthened site management, or communities benefiting from heritage-led development.

Within AWHF, Veronica collaborates closely with the Programmes, Finance, and Administration teams to ensure alignment between partnership strategies and the Fund’s operational and conservation priorities. Her integrated, cross-functional approach ensures that all initiatives, from donor briefings and policy dialogues to campaign launches, are grounded in evidence, aligned with conservation needs, and driven by measurable impact.

As AWHF approaches its 20th anniversary, Veronica is focused on expanding the Fund’s donor base, deepening existing partnerships, and launching major advocacy and fundraising initiatives that highlight the impact of two decades of heritage conservation in Africa. She envisions this milestone as an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements but also to galvanize renewed investment and commitment to protecting Africa’s heritage. For her, African heritage is not just about preservation; it is a legacy, a responsibility, and a source of pride that must be safeguarded and elevated on the global stage.

Bridget Dube serves as the Partnerships Officer: Fundraising at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), where she supports the implementation of the Fund’s strategic objective to promote sustainable growth for local communities living in and around World Heritage sites. Her work focuses on resource mobilization, donor engagement, and the development of community-focused programmes that position heritage as a driver for socio-economic development.

Through capacity-building initiatives for youth and heritage practitioners, Bridget helps strengthen African expertise and ensure that conservation efforts are inclusive, locally rooted, and sustainable. Her integrated approach to project implementation and fundraising contributes to the long-term impact and resilience of Africa’s World Heritage.

Rodney Bunhiko serves as a Programme Specialist at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), where he is responsible for the development and implementation of the Fund’s programmes and projects. His work supports the strategic objectives of the Fund by contributing to the effective implementation of the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention in Africa, with a focus on the conservation, management, and sustainable development of World Heritage sites.

Rodney plays a key role in mobilising both technical and financial resources to support States Parties, and he provides expert technical assistance in heritage management. His responsibilities include supporting the development of nomination dossiers, facilitating capacity-building initiatives, and coordinating project activities that strengthen site governance and resilience.

He works closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including government institutions, communities, and heritage professionals to promote inclusive and impactful heritage conservation practices. Internally, Rodney collaborates with the Partnerships and Administration teams to ensure strategic alignment and smooth project delivery.

Rodney is particularly passionate about empowering States Parties to safeguard their heritage and integrate it into national development agendas. He is also a strong advocate for sustainable heritage-based tourism to enhance local livelihoods, raise awareness, and ensure long-term site stewardship.

As AWHF approaches its 20th anniversary, Rodney aims to contribute to a stronger network of heritage professionals across the continent, and to the enhanced visibility of site and the capacity of African States to identify, nominate, manage, and sustainably develop World Heritage sites in line with international standards and local priorities.

Precious Mothiba serves as the Partnerships Officer: Communications at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), where she coordinates the Fund’s strategic communications, media relations, and stakeholder engagement efforts. She champions the Fund’s mission to promote and protect Africa’s cultural and natural heritage.

Precious plays a central role in shaping compelling narratives that highlight the transformative power of heritage conservation in advancing sustainable development, community empowerment, and cultural pride. Through targeted campaigns, media outreach, and the development of high-impact content, she enhances the Fund’s visibility across Africa and globally.

Her work supports the mobilization of partners and donors by communicating the Fund’s impact and priorities, including increasing African representation on the World Heritage List and safeguarding heritage sites at risk. She also collaborates across departments to align messaging, promote programme milestones, and ensure consistent branding in all outreach initiatives.

As AWHF approaches its 20th anniversary, Precious is committed to amplifying the Fund’s legacy and future vision, showcasing success stories, strengthening partnerships, and inspiring greater investment in Africa’s heritage.

Tsholofelo Legae serves as the Finance Officer at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), where she is responsible for managing and monitoring the Fund’s financial operations to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Her role is vital in enabling AWHF to achieve its mission of conserving and promoting Africa’s World Heritage by ensuring financial resources are prudently allocated to heritage initiatives across the continent.

With a strong commitment to robust financial systems and internal controls, Tsholofelo supports the Fund’s long-term stability and its ability to implement the World Heritage Convention effectively. She works closely with service providers, partners, and donors to uphold financial compliance and reporting standards, thereby fostering trust and strengthening partnerships.

Tsholofelo is deeply passionate about transparent financial practices and takes pride in contributing to unqualified audit outcomes. She actively collaborates with other departments at AWHF to support strategic planning, budget implementation, and project reviews—ensuring that financial integrity underpins every aspect of the Fund’s work.

As Administrative Assistant at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), Prisca Lete plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the Fund’s daily activities. She provides key administrative and logistical support across departments, enabling teams to effectively deliver on AWHF’s mission to conserve and promote Africa’s World Heritage.

Her responsibilities span coordinating meetings and events, managing internal and external communication, supporting procurement and travel logistics, and maintaining accurate documentation. Prisca also assists the Director’s office with diary management, stakeholder liaison, and preparing official documents.

Collaborating closely with Programmes, Partnerships, Finance, and Legal teams, she ensures streamlined workflows and timely execution of activities. Passionate about efficiency and teamwork, Prisca is proud to contribute to a mission-driven organization. As AWHF approaches its 20th anniversary, she remains committed to supporting its legacy through strong operational support.

Tebogo Makgati serves as the Programmes Assistant at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), where he plays a key role in supporting the planning, coordination, and implementation of capacity-building programmes and conservation initiatives across the continent. His responsibilities include managing the AWHF grant system, supporting stakeholder engagement, and ensuring the efficient delivery of technical and logistical assistance for workshops and projects.

Tebogo’s work is central to translating AWHF’s strategic vision into action. By reviewing project proposals, managing grant documentation, and evaluating technical reports, he ensures that resources are directed where they are needed most—especially at sites facing urgent conservation challenges. His efforts contribute directly to preserving Africa’s rich heritage and supporting sustainable development for communities living in and around World Heritage sites.

Collaborating with government departments, national institutions, and partners, Tebogo fosters alignment and cooperation that strengthen Africa’s position within the global heritage landscape. Passionate about organizing impactful workshops and improving the visibility of World Heritage, he is committed to expanding the Fund’s reach and effectiveness.

As AWHF approaches its 20th anniversary, Tebogo is focused on enhancing grant impact, supporting new nominations, and contributing to legacy documentation that will highlight two decades of progress—laying the groundwork for even greater achievements in the years ahead.

Alina Plattes is the Partnerships Intern at the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), participating in the AWHF and Flanders Department of Foreign Affairs Partnership Internship Programme. In this role, she supports a wide range of activities that enhance the Fund’s visibility, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to its fundraising efforts.

Her responsibilities include assisting with communications through social media, the AWHF website, and press materials, drafting newsletters, brochures, and fundraising proposals, and conducting donor research across corporate, foundation, and diaspora sectors. Alina also supports the coordination of major fundraising events and the development of media strategies to promote the Fund’s work across the continent.

Alina brings a deep sense of curiosity and commitment to her role, with a strong eagerness to learn more about Africa’s diverse and extraordinary heritage. She is proud to contribute meaningfully to the implementation of AWHF’s mission to safeguard and protect African World Heritage Sites. Working across departments, she values the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while helping to prepare for AWHF’s 20th anniversary celebrations in 2026. Her passion, adaptability, and drive make her a valuable part of the AWHF team.