The team
Home > The team
Meet the Team
The People Behind VCSL
Our team at Village Climate Solutions Limited is composed of passionate experts dedicated to forest conservation, climate action, and community empowerment.
- Charles Meshack
Managing Director
Charles Meshack has over 27 years of experience in forest conservation and governance. He previously served as Executive Director of the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), where he played a key role in national forest conservation initiatives, participatory forest management, Tanzania’s first REDD+ project, and advocacy for improved forest governance.
He began his career in 1996 as a field officer at TFCG and became the Executive Director in 2005, leading the establishment of sustainable charcoal value chains that incentivized rural communities to reduce deforestation. His work has raised awareness both locally and internationally about the need for equitable and effective forest management.
Education
- BSc in Forestry – Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania (1995)
- MSc in Ecology and Environmental Management – University of York, UK (2003)
- Wilson Ancelm Mugasha (PhD)
Managing Director
Dr. Wilson Ancelm Mugasha is a Senior Lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture and one of Tanzania’s leading experts in forest biomass measurement. His extensive academic and research background ensures scientific rigor in carbon measurement, strengthening VCSL’s conservation initiatives.
He joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) in 2023 as a Managing Director, where he plays a key role in:
- Designing methodologies for carbon measurement and monitoring
- Collecting and analyzing data on biomass, soil carbon, and forest growth rates
- Estimating carbon sequestration to assess and verify emission reductions
Education
- PhD in Forestry and Environmental Science – (Institution, Year if available)
- MSc in Forest Resource Assessment – (Institution, Year if available)
- BSc in Forestry – (Institution, Year if available)
- Aklei Albert
Director of Operations
Aklei Albert has over 12 years of experience in community-based forestry in Tanzania. His expertise includes forest governance, land use planning, climate risk assessment, and REDD+ project coordination.
He began his career in 2011 at MJUMITA as a Zonal Coordinator, where he developed a forest governance dashboard tool for 300 villages across Tanzania. In 2015, as Program Manager, he oversaw land use planning and forest management in Lindi and Ruvuma and developed MJUMITA’s 2019–2023 strategic plan.
In 2020, he joined TFCG’s Forest Justice in Tanzania project as Project Manager, supervising:
- Forest condition monitoring
- Community forest crime tracking
- Advocacy efforts for improved forest governance
Since 2018, he has worked as a consultant on capacity building, climate risk assessment, and forest management planning in Tanga, Morogoro, and Lindi.
He joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) in 2022 as Director of Operations, where he:
- Coordinated the establishment of a REDD+ project
- Worked with 65 Managing Authorities and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
- Managed projects across eight Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in Morogoro, Lindi, and Mtwara
Education
- MSc in Natural Resource Assessment and Management – University of Dar es Salaam (2018)
- BSc in Wildlife Management – Sokoine University of Agriculture (2009)
- Emmanuel Walala
Director of Finance
Emmanuel Walala is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 20 years of experience in commercial operations and financial management. His expertise includes budget management, financial strategy, planning, auditing complex projects, and administering payments to beneficiaries.
He joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) in 2022 as Director of Finance, where he has been instrumental in:
- Designing the project’s business model to ensure financial sustainability
- Developing internal operational policies for financial governance and efficiency
- Overseeing budget allocation and financial reporting for project implementation
Education & Certifications
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field (Specify institution if available)
His leadership in financial strategy and risk management strengthens VCSL’s ability to operate effectively and transparently in the climate conservation sector.
- Magdalene Boniface
Extension Officer
Magdalene Boniface is an environmental scientist with expertise in natural resource management and community-based conservation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture (2019) and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at the same institution (2022–2025).
Between 2020 and 2022, she worked as an intern with the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG), where she played a key role in:
- Establishing a network of community village forest reserves (VFRs)
- Supporting landscape connectivity for conservation in the Lindi region
She joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) in 2023 as an Extension Officer, where she:
- Assisted 16 villages in Kilosa District and two sub-villages in Mikumi Township in implementing VCSL’s patrol technology
- Supported 10 villages in developing cutlines around their forest reserves
- Conducted surveys with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in Ihombe and Msimba (Mikumi)
Her work in forest monitoring, community engagement, and conservation planning enhances VCSL’s efforts in protecting Tanzania’s forests and promoting sustainable resource management.
- Fatuma Rashidi
Extension Officer
Fatuma Rashidi is an environmental specialist with 14 years of experience in sustainable agriculture, forest management, and climate-resilient practices within community-based projects. She holds a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam (2009).
Throughout her career, she has worked with TFCG, MJUMITA, CARE International, and INADES, contributing to climate adaptation and conservation initiatives across Tanzania.
She joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) in 2023 as an Extension Officer, where she:
- Supported 10 villages in Morogoro and Mvomero districts in implementing VCSL’s patrol technology
- Assisted in verifying proposed expansion areas for conservation and reforestation projects
Her extensive experience in community-led conservation and environmental sustainability strengthens VCSL’s mission to protect forests and promote climate resilience.
- Nebby Venance
Extension Officer
Nebby Venance is a forestry specialist with over six years of experience in community-based forestry and conservation initiatives. He holds a BSc in Forestry from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) (2017).
Between 2017 and 2020, he volunteered with Lindi District Council, where he worked on:
- Community-based forestry initiatives
- Human-wildlife conflict mitigation in VCSL project villages
In 2021, he contributed to TFCG’s Scaling Up CBFM project in Lindi District, supporting community-led conservation efforts.
He joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) as an Extension Officer, where he:
- Supports 16 villages and three Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in implementing VCSL’s patrol technology
- Assists six villages in developing cutlines around their Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs)
His expertise in forest conservation, community engagement, and technology-driven monitoring enhances VCSL’s capacity to protect Tanzania’s forests and biodiversity.
- Emmanuel Mwakajumba
Extension Officer
Emmanuel Mwakajumba is an environmental specialist with over a decade of experience in forest management, resource conservation, and climate resilience projects. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Dodoma (2011).
From 2015 to 2018, he worked as a TFCG volunteer in the Transforming Charcoal Sector Project in Kilosa, supporting sustainable forest resource management. Between 2018 and 2020, he served as a Project Officer in the Water, Forest, and Resource Management and Climate Change Resilient Udzungwa Mountain Project, working across Kilolo, Mafinga, and Kilombero districts with 17 villages.
He joined Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) in 2023 as an Extension Officer, where he:
- Assisted 17 villages in Nachingwea and Nanyumbu in marking proposed expansion areas for the Village Land Forest Reserves (VLFRs)
- Implemented VCSL’s patrol technology to enhance forest monitoring and protection
His experience in community-based conservation, sustainable resource management, and climate resilience strategies supports VCSL’s mission to protect forests and empower local communities.
Partners:
Together, we are shaping a future where forests thrive, communities prosper, and climate action is prioritized.
- Theron Morgan-Brown (PhD)
Director – Reterra Ltd
Dr. Theron Morgan-Brown is an expert in GIS, remote sensing, and carbon project monitoring with extensive experience in tropical forest conservation and climate analysis. He has played a pivotal role in developing and validating REDD+ projects across multiple countries.
He has provided technical expertise in patrol technology design, climate and biodiversity analyses, and project verification processes. His contributions to Village Climate Solutions Limited (VCSL) include:
- Designing patrol technology for improved forest monitoring
- Conducting climate and biodiversity analyses to assess conservation impact
- Authoring the methodological sections of the Project Document and Monitoring Report
- Guiding project validation and verification processes
Dr. Morgan-Brown authored Tanzania’s first REDD+ project, the MJUMITA Community Forest Project in Lindi, which was successfully validated and verified under the VCS and CCB standards in 2014. His expertise has also supported REDD+ projects in Zambia, Angola, Kenya, Liberia, and Vietnam.
Education
- PhD in Interdisciplinary Ecology – University of Florida (2014)
His extensive background in remote sensing, ecological monitoring, and carbon reporting strengthens VCSL’s scientific and technical capabilities in conservation.
