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Pius Zebhe Yanda is a Research Professor in Physical Geography at the University of Dar es Salaam. He has served the University of Dar Es Salaam in different academic positions for more than 36 years. Professor Yanda has worked extensively in natural resources management, environment and climate change related studies in the African region as well as in Tanzania. Professor Yanda has a track record in leading multi-disciplinary international team’s research projects and programs in natural resources management, environmental as well as climate change.  During this period, Professor Pius Yanda has coordinated Africa-wide programs on research and capacity building in collaboration with a number of other academic institutions in Africa and beyond.

Between 2005 and 2007, Professor Yanda served as one of the international experts in the panel that made a scientific review of state of art on climate change in the globe. He was one of the Lead Authors for Chapter 9 (Africa Chapter) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC is a UN organization charged with global assessments on Climate Change. This chapter attracted attention of the international community as well as African states on the magnitude of climate change challenge in the continent.

Between 2009 and 2013 Professor Pius Yanda served as a lead author for Chapter 8 of the IPCC Special Report on Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation. The report was published in March 2013.

In 2016 Professor Yanda was elected for the position of IPCC Vice-Chair Working Group II.  Professor Yanda will serve in that capacity for seven years. Chairs and Vice Chairs’ role is to oversee IPCC scientific assessments by thousands of scientists drawn from different continents.

Between 2010 and 2018, Professor Yanda served as a member of the high profile Joint Scientific Committee. This is a high level committee under World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The committee consists of 18 scientists representing different continents (Prof. Yanda represented African continent) as well as different disciplines. The committee is charged with the responsibility of developing a global research agenda on climate change

In 2011, Professor Pius Yanda took a leadership role in establishment of Centre for Climate Change Studies and a Masters as well as PhD Programs in Climate Change and Sustainable development at the University of Dar Es Salaam. The Centre for Climate Change Studies is now in place, and MSc and PhD programs is now operational serving Tanzania and other students from within and outside Africa. During this period, the Centre under the leadership of Professor Pius Yanda was able to attract donor funds to support training program. About 20 PhD students and 80 MSc students were fully sponsored to undertake their studies.

In year 2019, Professor Pius Z. Yanda was hired by the government of South Sudan with funding from African Development Bank to conduct a comprehensive study to Assess Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in South Sudan. In year 2020 the same government engaged Professor Pius Yanda to prepare REDD+ strategies/Action Plan for South Sudan.

Professor Pius Yanda has published extensively in the field of natural resources, environment and climate change.

Membership and Registration

Professional:

Climate Change Expert

Councils/Boards/Committees:

IPCC Vice Chair for Working Group II

Member of the Board of the Marian University College of St. Augustine University

Important Contribution

1. Contributed the IPCC Award of Nobel Peace Prize in 2007
2. University Awards in Research