Meet Our Team
Our Director
EDITH MAKANDI- Founder & Director Pearl Development Consulting |Global Gender Equality & Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert| Transforming Policies | Empowering Communities | Advancing Gender-Equitable Systems
Through Pearl Development Consulting, Edith works at the intersection of policy, practice, and impact supporting governments, development partners, and private sector institutions to design and implement gender-responsive strategies that are sustainable, measurable, and transformative. Her work reflects the firm’s core mission of dismantling inequality, amplifying marginalized voices, and delivering practical, results-driven solutions that leave no one behind.
Edith brings deep cross-sectoral expertise spanning energy, climate change, biodiversity, trade, health, education, and agriculture. She has successfully embedded gender equality into national policies, large-scale development programs, and institutional frameworks across diverse contexts. Her technical expertise includes developing Gender Equality Strategies and Action Plans, conducting comprehensive gender assessments, designing gender-responsive training manuals and capacity-building programs, and establishing Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and safeguarding mechanisms, including for UNDP Iraq and WFP Cameroon. Notably, she has led gender integration in renewable energy and electrification strategies across Southern Africa under the Power Africa initiative, working with ministries, utilities, regulators, Rural Electrification Authorities and regional bodies to strengthen equitable access, employment, and entrepreneurship.
She has also provided technical leadership to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), advancing gender-responsive biodiversity financing, developing Gender Action Plans, analytical frameworks, training tools, and monitoring systems that enhance accountability and impact. Across her career, Edith has mobilized over $10 million for gender initiatives, conducted gender audits for multi-million-dollar programs, and trained more than 1,000 policymakers, practitioners, and private sector leaders.
Edith’s leadership is distinguished by her ability to navigate complex and politically sensitive environments. She has advanced women’s leadership and inclusive governance in fragile and conflict-affected contexts including Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, and Cameroon working closely with governments, traditional leaders, and communities to drive institutional reform, strengthen safeguarding systems, and promote gender justice.
Expanding her impact beyond policy and programs, Edith offers a signature transformational experience “Conversations with Edith: Ignite Your Impact.” Through these customized one-on-one sessions, she supports women leaders and changemakers to gain clarity, strengthen their voice, and lead with confidence. These sessions are widely described as life-changing and an accelerator for authentic leadership.
Edith’s work is grounded in a clear vision: to catalyse systemic change by combining technical excellence, strategic leadership, and lived realities ensuring that gender equality, inclusive leadership, and social justice are not aspirations, but foundations of development.
Speaking Engagements
Edith Makandi is a sought-after speaker at international, regional, and national forums. Her voice resonates powerfully on issues of gender equality, social inclusion, and transformative leadership. Whether it’s moderating high-level panels, speaking at global conferences, leading roundtable discussions, or facilitating policy dialogues, Edith brings depth, clarity, and courage to every platform.
Highlights Include
-Speaker: Passing the Gavel AWW Mentorship Program for Women in the Legal Profession-2024.
-Moderator for SADC Gender & Energy Roundtable-2024.
-Facilitator for UN-led consultations on Gender Equality and Climate Justice-2024.
-Speaker: Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) Conference-2024, 2020, 2019, & 2018.
-Speaker: ESG Impact Investment & Sustainable Finance-2023.
-Panellist at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum-2023.
-Facilitator for Women's Political Participation: Somali-2023.
-A Path to Gender Equality in the Energy Sector, Africa Energy Indaba: Women in Energy-2020.
-Speaker: Countering discrimination affecting women-2020.
-Keynote speaker at the African Women in Energy Forum-2020.
-Gender Perspective on Food Security, Aid Ahead GL TFCA Working Group-2008.
-Peace & Security & its impact on women in Africa Fourth World Congress for rural women-2007.
With over 20 years of experience, she has addressed audiences across sectors and continents mobilizing action, influencing policy, and inspiring change. Her dynamic presence and ability to connect stories to systems make her a trusted voice on stage and behind the scenes.
Looking to book Edith as a speaker, panelist, or moderator? Request a Speaking Engagement
Meet Our Team
Dr. Rudo Sanyanga Hungwe- Senior Associate – Environmental, Social & Gender Safeguards
Dr. Rudo Sanyanga Hungwe is the firm’s Senior Associate for Environmental, Social and Gender Safeguards, with over 20 years of experience supporting climate, water, energy, agriculture, and biodiversity programmes across Africa. She combines strong scientific expertise with advanced skills in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), ensuring that infrastructure and climate investments meet international safeguard standards while delivering equitable and sustainable outcomes.
Dr. Hungwe leads and advises on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Gender Assessments and Action Plans (GAPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs), Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs), SEAH risk mitigation frameworks, and Indigenous Peoples Plans (IPPs). Her work aligns with IFC Performance Standards, the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), African Development Bank safeguards, Green Climate Fund (GCF) requirements, UNDP and GEF standards, and KfW guidelines.
She has served as Team Leader and International Safeguards Consultant on transboundary water basin initiatives, climate-resilient infrastructure projects, and GCF funding proposals, and has contributed to regional policy reform, including the strengthening of the SADC Water Policy. Formerly Africa Program Director at International Rivers, she led institutional gender mainstreaming and developed technical guidance on women’s rights and infrastructure impacts.
Dr. Hungwe holds a PhD in Systems Ecology and is a Fellow of the LEAD programme and a registered professional member of SACNASP. Her advisory approach strengthens institutional capacity, manages social and environmental risk, and embeds gender-responsive climate action into project design and implementation.
She brings exceptional value to the organisation through her ability to integrate rigorous environmental and social safeguards with gender-responsive approaches, ensuring compliance while enhancing development impact. Her expertise strengthens the firm’s capacity to deliver high-quality, risk-informed, and inclusive solutions that meet donor requirements and drive sustainable, equitable outcomes across complex programmes.
Dr. Simon Peter Opolot- PhD Senior Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Consultant | Gender & Safeguarding Specialist
Dr. Simon Peter Opolot is a highly experienced Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Consultant with over 15 years of expertise delivering gender-responsive evaluations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He has supported UN agencies, donors, international NGOs, and governments in strengthening evidence-based programming in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding contexts.
He specializes in advanced evaluation methodologies, including OECD-DAC and UNEG standards, theory-based evaluation, contribution analysis, and outcome harvesting. His work combines rigorous mixed-methods approaches with strong integration of gender equality, safeguarding (GBV, PSEAH, child protection), and intersectional analysis.
Dr. Opolot has led complex multi-country evaluations (up to 13 countries) and worked with organizations such as UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, NORAD, and Plan International, influencing policy, programme design, and strategic planning.
He brings to the company strong methodological rigor, proven multi-country leadership, and the ability to translate evidence into practical, policy-relevant insights, while strengthening systems and capacity for inclusive and results-driven programming.
He holds a PhD in Development Studies, an MSc in Public Health (UK), and certifications in PRINCE2, gender advisory, and humanitarian standards.
Helga Wenhold- Strategic Communications Specialist
Helga Wenhold is a seasoned strategic communications specialist with over 15 years of experience delivering high-impact communications, stakeholder engagement, and content development across international development programmes in Southern Africa. She has worked extensively with organisations such as Chemonics International, Deloitte Consulting, and GIZ, supporting major donor-funded initiatives including USAID and Power Africa.
Helga brings deep expertise in developing and implementing strategic communications plans, translating complex technical content into clear, compelling narratives, and strengthening brand visibility across diverse platforms. Her work spans digital content creation, corporate identity management, high-level reporting, and event coordination, with a strong track record of enhancing programme visibility and stakeholder engagement.
She has led communications for large, multi-partner programmes in the energy and development sectors, producing high-quality reports, success stories, media content, and advocacy materials aligned with donor requirements. Helga is also an experienced editor and trainer, having built the capacity of teams and partners to produce consistent, high-quality, and brand-aligned communications.
She brings to the company strong strategic storytelling, the ability to translate technical work into influential communication products, and proven experience in enhancing visibility, stakeholder engagement, and thought leadership for complex development programmes.
Helga holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Communication Management from the University of Pretoria and is proficient in English, German, and Afrikaans.
Rosalia Mofolo-Senior Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Specialist
Rosalia Mofolo is a senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) specialist with over 16 years of experience designing and leading results-based MEL systems for large, donor-funded, and multi-partner development programmes across Southern Africa. She has worked extensively with government institutions, international development agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and private-sector partners across sectors including energy and climate, public health, education, and institutional capacity development.
She has held senior MEL leadership and advisory roles with organisations such as Chemonics International (supporting USAID-funded programmes), the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Public Health, and regional higher education quality assurance bodies. Rosalia brings strong expertise in theory of change development, indicator framework design, data quality assurance, evaluation leadership, and high-level donor reporting. She is particularly skilled at embedding learning and adaptive management practices into programme cycles to strengthen performance, accountability, and strategic decision-making.
Her experience spans multi-country initiatives requiring complex stakeholder coordination, oversight of service providers, and alignment of MEL systems with organisational strategy. She has also led institutional capacity assessments and strengthened partner M&E systems to enhance sustainability and long-term impact.
She brings to the company strong leadership in results-based MEL systems, deep expertise in adaptive learning and data-driven decision-making, and the ability to strengthen institutional performance, accountability, and impact across complex, multi-partner programmes.
Rosalia is currently pursuing a PhD in Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation and holds advanced qualifications in educational management, evaluation, and quality assurance. She is committed to fostering learning cultures and ensuring that evidence meaningfully informs policy and practice.
Ely Joy Landa- Programme Manager
Ely Joy is a results-driven Programme Manager with extensive experience leading and delivering complex programmes across Corporate Social Investment (CSI), donor-funded initiatives, and community development. She brings strong project management expertise, overseeing programmes from design through to implementation and reporting, while ensuring alignment with organisational goals and donor priorities. With a strategic and impact-oriented approach, she effectively manages multi-stakeholder projects, streamlines processes, and mitigates risks to ensure programmes are delivered on time, within scope, and to a high standard. Her strength lies in aligning strategy, operations, and data to translate programme objectives into measurable, credible, and scalable impact that drives meaningful social change.
She brings significant value to the company through her expertise in donor reporting and grant compliance, CSI impact measurement and learning systems, and the development of clear, results-oriented Log frames and Theory of Change frameworks. She enhances organisational decision-making through data visualisation and Power BI dashboards, translating complex data into actionable insights that support accountability and continuous improvement.
With experience spanning public health, food security, early childhood development, gender equality, and community development, she strengthens the company’s ability to demonstrate impact, meet compliance requirements, and deliver high-quality, evidence-based programmes that contribute to sustainable social impact and improved outcomes for communities. Her qualifications include a Postgraduate Degree with Distinction in Youth and Community Work (UK) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Business and European Studies (UK)
Mwansa Yumbe- IT Support Specialist | Web & Application Developer
Mwansa Yumbe is a detail-oriented IT Support Specialist and Web/Application Developer who brings a strong blend of technical expertise and business insight to the company. With a solid foundation in IT systems, software development, and infrastructure support, he plays a critical role in ensuring reliable, secure, and high-performing digital environments.
Mwansa has hands-on experience designing and developing responsive, user-friendly websites and applications using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, and TypeScript. He is proficient in tools such as WordPress, Visual Studio Code, Git, and Figma, enabling him to deliver end-to-end solutions from concept to deployment. His work reflects a strong focus on performance optimisation, accessibility, security, and SEO best practices.
In his current role, he collaborates effectively with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into practical, workflow-driven technical solutions. His ability to troubleshoot complex issues, optimise systems, and maintain IT infrastructure ensures seamless operations and an enhanced user experience.
Mwansa brings significant value to the company through his problem-solving mindset, adaptability, and commitment to continuous learning. He strengthens the organisation’s digital capabilities, supports innovation, and contributes to delivering efficient, scalable, and user-centered technology solutions that align with strategic business goals. His qualifications include an MBA from Coventry University (UK), and a Diploma in Information Technology from Varsity College Sandton.
Contact Us
Phone
South Africa: +27 76 459 3062
Kenya: +254 729 676 230