Sharing and Learning for Water Governance in South Africa

Zakiyya holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Town and Regional Planning from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Prior to joining ICLEI Africa, she gained experience as an Urban Planning and Project Packaging Assistant in the Urban Catalytic Investment Department at the City of Cape Town. Zakiyya has experience as a Research Assistant at CPUT and in the Development Planning Intelligence Management and Research Directorate within the Western Cape Government Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. She has a passion for sustainable development, co-creation, research and innovation.

Palesa is a climate and development professional with three years of experience at the intersection of climate adaptation, gender, social inclusion and urban sustainability. She holds
an Honours degree in Environmental and Geographical Science from the University of Cape Town, where she graduated with distinction. Palesa applies a transdisciplinary, rights-based approach to research, advocacy and implementation, and has led GESI-integrated project delivery, M&E frameworks and capacity-building initiatives. Grounded in environmental and social justice, she is able to translate complex data into actionable, community-driven strategies that bridge science, policy and practice to co-create equitable, resilient and locally grounded solutions across African urban contexts.

Luka holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental and Geographical Science and Master of City and Regional Planning Degree from the University of Cape Town, with a research focus on the relationship between the Kuils River Corridor and surrounding urban fabric. He seeks to apply his multidisciplinary background, experience in public policy, analytical approach and passion for communication to systemically and sustainably integrate socio-ecological systems for greater equity and resilience.

Paul is fascinated by the multi-layered relationships that give each city its unique flavour. With his Sustainable Development MPhil and current doctoral research, Paul uses urban metabolism, resource nexus and political ecology as lenses for shaping sustainable, inclusive cities. At ICLEI, he supports local governments to apply systems perspectives to food, water, energy and nature, and facilitates the development of policies and plans appropriate to contexts of change and uncertainty.