Next-gen leader paves the way for smarter environmental governance
Reinhold Mangundu (30) belongs to a new generation of Namibian leaders reshaping sustainable development and advocacy on the ground.
As chairperson of the Namibian Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), he drives an inclusive, forward-looking environmental agenda that connects conservation with community wellbeing and economic resilience.
Mangundu grew up in Okapya Village, where an interest in conservation and science took root early.
As a high school student, he led environmental initiatives and won a gold medal at a regional science fair in 2013.
“I saw very clearly that communities want opportunity, but if development is not well planned, it can undermine the very systems that sustain us,” Mangundu reflects.
In 2016, Mangundu became a member of NEWS and steadily rose through the ranks.
Under his guidance, the society has strengthened public participation and amplified community voices in debates over extractive industries and natural resource governance.
“I joined NEWS because I saw an institution that understood the complexity of sustainable development," he explains.
“Environmental governance must be transparent, participatory, and informed; if local communities are excluded, sustainability simply cannot succeed,” Mangundu adds.
“Our mission is to connect researchers, communities, policymakers and civil society to ensure participatory and future-oriented governance.”
Hands-on impact
Beyond advocacy, Mangundu is deeply involved in practical initiatives.
He co-founded RuralRevive, a desert-based economic model in Maltahöhe developed under the Wolwedans Vision 2030 AridEden Project.
Since 2021, RuralRevive has trained over 200 farmers, supported more than 40 entrepreneurs, created dozens of jobs, removed 80 000 bottles from the environment and launched the Desert Academy in 2026.
“These are not merely isolated projects, but proof that environmental stewardship and economic opportunity can reinforce one another,” Mangundu says. “We are showing that rural communities can thrive while protecting the environment, dignity and livelihoods.”
A dedicated sustainability researcher and PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University, Mangundu holds multiple qualifications in sustainable development.
His work has earned him international recognition, including the ITRI Visionary Young Leaders Award and the Next Generation Foresight Practitioners Development Award.
At the heart of all his work is a single question, “How do we build systems where both people and ecosystems can thrive together?” Mangundu adds: “Development is not about isolated projects; it is about redesigning structures so that communities and nature prosper together.”
