I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Theodore Menelik-Mfuni as  Special Technical Advisor to the Executive Director of CAFOR in the Secretariat of CAFOR in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Regional Representative and Head of the CAFOR Regional Office for the Central Africa Region based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Professor Menelik-Mfuni’s appointment has been effective as of July 1st, 2023, for two years. As my Special Technical Advisor, Prof. Theodore Menelik-Mfuni will work closely with me in the Secretariat of CAFOR to provide professional guidance, set standards, and ensure rigor, quality, and timeliness in producing technical documents and reports submitted to the CAFOR governance entities, partner agencies, and institutions.

The CAFOR Regional Office for the Central Africa Region is the second of seven regional offices that CAFOR has opened and the first in the Africa Region. Other Regional offices will follow in Nairobi, Kenya for East Africa, Lilongwe, Malawi for Southern Africa, Abuja, Nigeria for West Africa, Rabat, Morocco for North Africa, and New York, USA for the Americas and the African Diaspora.

As the Regional Representative and Head of the CAFOR Regional Office for the Central Africa Region, Prof. Menelik-Mfuni will help CAFOR promote collaboration among African Union member countries in the Central Africa Region with the CAFOR Secretariat team in the delivery of different programmatic activities to build synergy and increase effectiveness and efficiency. He will also manage the region’s financial and human resources planning to implement CAFOR programmatic activities in Central Africa. He will also coordinate with key stakeholders and sponsors in the planning and organization of CAFOR dialogue forums, Roundtables, Ministerial conferences, and critical events involving multi-lateral institutions, development agencies, and the African Union. Prof. Menelik will also work closely with the countries in the region to support and strengthen existing national, regional, and international networks.

Professor Menelik-Mfuni brings to CAFOR an ability to provide practical assistance to CAFOR’s mission in general and its operations in Central Africa in particular. He has demonstrable experience in effective business development, engagement, and working to promote business and educational links and partnerships in Cambridge, the United Kingdom, and various African countries. Prof. Theodore Menelik-Mfuni gives expert advice on many aspects of education, fundraising, and other income-generating opportunities. His diverse life and work experiences will add value to developing education and training in Africa and CAFOR by developing long-term policy thinking and contributing to the organization’s policy planning and related research. His team spirit, ability to communicate with people of all levels, and different language skills will also be a plus for CAFOR.

Professor Menelik-Mfuni was born in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) to Congolese parents and lived in Cambridge (UK) with his son and daughter. He holds a BA from Birkbeck College (International Studies), an M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Housing and Social Policy from DMU (Leceister). He also has over 25 years of working and teaching experience in the UK and other countries overseas.

Please join me in congratulating Prof. Theodore Menelik-Mfuni, and let us all wish him well in his new position.

Dr. Lawalley Cole

Executive Director, CAFOR