Navy Highson Simukonda
Navy is a seasoned Rural Development and Agricultural Specialist with over three decades of experience across Southern Africa. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of the Free State (South Africa), a Postgraduate Diploma in Land Management and Informal Settlement Regularisation from Erasmus University (Netherlands), and a University Diploma in Agriculture from the Natural Resources Development College (Zambia). He has also obtained professional certificates in Organisation and Change Management (InWent -Germany) and Rural Development (Khanya College, South Africa).
Navy has held senior leadership positions including Chief Operations Officer at the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency and Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Eastern Cape Rural Finance Corporation (South Africa). His expertise spans programme and project management, rural finance, agribusiness support, land reform, and sustainable livelihoods.
Over the years, he has successfully led multi-stakeholder initiatives that promoted agricultural transformation, capacity building, and economic empowerment of rural communities.
Clare Mbizule
Humanitarian and Development Leader | Participatory Research and Livelihoods Analysis | Inclusive Programming
Seasoned professional with 25+ years of experience driving humanitarian and development initiatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Among the early adopters and trainers on participatory livelihood approaches in Zambia (1995) and South Africa (1997), which promoted inclusive, community-led programming. Skilled in data analysis, risk management, M&E, gender, and protection.
Adept at navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments with operational precision and strategic clarity. Trusted mentor and communicator, known for building strong partnerships and championing knowledge management.
Arthur Mazimba
Arthur has a graduate degree in Public Health from Boston University in the USA, and 15 years’ experience in Health Research and Data Analysis, Proposal Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project/Program Implementation, Operations Management/Administration, and Health Promotion and Advocacy.
His skills include grant proposal development and training, monitoring and evaluation, qualitative research and survey techniques, people management, and initiating and managing community partnerships. He has successfully managed multi-centered research projects, including clinical trials within Zambia. His strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills are a demonstration of his excellent leadership in research and monitoring & evaluation.
Prof. Henry Silungwe
(Business Consultant, Food Technology & Nutrition)
Prof. Henry Silungwe is a highly accomplished Food Technology and Nutrition expert with more than 30 years of experience in agro-based research, post-harvest technology, curriculum development, and community-focused training. He holds a PhD in Agriculutural Food Science and Technology (University of Venda, RSA), an MSc in Food Process Engineering (Dublin, Ireland), a BSc in Agriculture (eSwatini), and additional professional qualifications in agricultural engineering, sales and marketing, and assessor training.
His career spans extensive undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research supervision, and applied fieldwork across Southern Africa. He has worked with multidisciplinary teams to address constraints affecting rural communities, particularly in food processing, post-harvest management, and community support systems.
Prof. Silungwe has also held major assignments such as the accreditation of university programmes under Zambia's Higher Education Authority (HEA), strengthening curriculum design and evaluation to meet institutional and community needs.
At AgriNet Zambia, he provides expert guidance in food technology, nutrition, post-harvest systems, and farmer capacity-building, contributing to practical, evidence-based solutions that enhance rural livelihoods and agricultural value chains
Chisenga Musuka
(GIS & Data Management Specialist)
Chisenga is a seasoned GIS and Public Health professional with over a decade of experience applying geospatial intelligence to strengthen humanitarian, health, WASH, and land-based interventions across Africa. His expertise spans emergency response, spatial micro-planning, and the design of data-driven decision-support tools for fragile and hard-to-reach environments.
He recently completed an International Master of Public Health (MPH) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2024 - 2026), where his master paper developed a GIS-driven prioritisation model for mobile clinic placement in conflict and disaster zones, validated using MSF Yemen operational data. This work reflects his commitment to leveraging geospatial analytics to improve access to essential services in crisis settings.
With a proven track record supporting WHO, GRID3, ministires, and NGOs, he has contributed to outbreak response efforts (including COVID-19 and cholera) and led capacity-building initiatives that strengthen national preparedness and operational planning.
At AgriNet Zambia, he brings advanced skills in GIS deplyment, emergency mapping, mobile data colelction, and data integration, and spatial analytics to strengthen decision-making and operational planning across complex datasets into actionable insights for development and resilience programming.
Cathrine Mapulanga
(Admin and Logistics Coordinator)
Cathrine is a seasoned Finance and Logistics professional with over two decades of progressive experience supporting organisational efficiency, financial integrity, and operational excellence.
Known for her meticulous attention to detail and strong coordination skills, she has built a solid track record in optimising supply chain processes, strengthening financial systems,a nd enhancing administrative workflows across international development environments.
With professional training in finance, bookkepping, payroll systems, and executive administration, Cathrine brings a rare blend of technical competence and operational versatility. She is committed to fostering collaborative work cultures, implementing efficient systems, and driving organisational productivity through innovative, reliable, and well-structured support.
At AgriNet Zambia, Cathrine stands out as a dependable resource who strengthens internal processes, enhances field service delivery, and contributes meaningfully to organisational growth and effectiveness.
Dr. Eliab Simpungwe
Dr. Eliab Simpungwe is a seasoned agribusiness and rural development specialist with extensive experience in agricultural systems development, value chain enhancement, and sustainable livelihoods programming. He brings a strong blend of academic rigor and practical field experience, having worked across multiple projects focused on improving smallholder productivity, strengthening market linkages, and promoting inclusive agricultural growth both in Zambia and South Africa.
With deep international expertise in agribusiness development, production systems, and farmer support models, Dr. Simpungwe has contributed to the design and implementation of programmes that enhance food security, build resilience, and support the transition of smallholder farmers into commercially viable enterprises. His work spans stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and the development of sustainable agricultural frameworks aligned with both national and international development standards.
At AgriNet Zambia, Dr. Simpungwe strengthens the organisation’s technical depth in agricultural systems and livelihoods development, contributing to the delivery of high-quality, impact-driven projects across rural and peri-urban contexts.