Johanna Kweedi-Hainana
Windhoek
Summary
Dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience in Conservation and grants management, international relations, project management, multinational programs, climate change finance, and community development. Recently graduated with a Postgraduate diploma in Integrated Water Resources Management from the University of the Free State. Master of Science with a focus in Environmental Management candidate.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
RESOURCE COORDINATOR/ CHIEF GRANTS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICER
US Department of State- US Embassy
10.2024 - Current
- Grants Management:
- Develop and implement grants and cooperative agreements that support conservation programs and projects.
- Determining funding streams, ensuring compliance with regulations, and promoting funding opportunities.
- Manages all grants representative officers and ensure compliance to all US government directives on issuing grants.
- Financial Oversight:
- Develop budgets for grants-funded programs and activities, track expenditures, and prepare cost analyses.
- Compliance and Reporting:
- Monitoring and Evaluation of grantees projects activities
- Ensure all grant activities comply with donor regulations and organizational policies.
- Ensure compliance with US government regulations and other eligibility requirements.
- Ensuring compliance with databases that track federal assistance
- Administration Coordination:
- Act as the primary point of contact for all grant-related inquiries and communications.
- Coordinate with project teams, partners, and donors to facilitate effective grant management and implementation.
- Support capacity-building activities to enhance the grant management skills of project staff and partners.
NATURAL RESOURCES GRANTS OFFICER (ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION PROJECT)
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
08.2022 - 09.2024
- Grants Management:
- Develop, implement, and manage grant proposals from eligible community-based organisations under conservation, ensuring alignment with project goals.
- Coordinate the submission process, including gathering necessary documentation and ensuring timely delivery.
- Monitor grant activities to ensure compliance with donor requirements and project objectives.
- Financial Oversight:
- Prepare and manage grant budgets, track expenditures, and ensure funds are used effectively.
- Conduct financial reporting and analysis to provide accurate and timely financial information to stakeholders.
- Liaise with finance teams to reconcile grant accounts and ensure accurate financial records.
- Compliance and Reporting:
- Monitoring and Evaluation of grantees projects activities
- Ensure all grant activities comply with donor regulations and organizational policies.
- Prepare and submit regular progress and financial reports to donors and stakeholders.
- Maintain detailed records of grant activities and documentation.
- Communication and Coordination:
- Act as the primary point of contact for all grant-related inquiries and communications.
- Coordinate with project teams, partners, and donors to facilitate effective grant management and implementation.
- Support capacity-building activities to enhance the grant management skills of project staff and partners.
PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICER (CBNRM-EDA PROJECT)
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
08.2017 - 07.2022
- Project Coordination and Resource Mobilization:
- Maintained a database of current grants information including deadlines, contracts, and award amounts.
- Trained 118 Communal Conservancies and Community Forests in Climate change awareness and resource mobilization
- Participated in proposal development as needed to provide guidance on budgeting strategies.
- Provided support during audits by external agencies related to grants management practices.
- Capture and profile lessons learned from the existing Community-based Natural Resource Management based enterprises.
- Oversaw the preparation of final reports for each completed grant cycle prior to closeout date.
- Reason for leaving- Promotion
OPERATIONS (GRANTS) ASSISTANT OFFICER
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
08.2016 - 07.2017
- Project Administration & Resource Mobilization
- Assisted in the preparation of reports, presentations, and documents for management review.
- Provided administrative support to senior staff members.
- Organized meetings, conferences and other events as required.
- Performed clerical duties such as filing, photocopying, and scanning documents.
- Attended board meetings, accurately recorded minutes, and provided transcripts to relevant personnel.
- Assisted in implementation of fundraising campaigns and events to secure customer contributions.
- Reason for leaving- Promotion
Education
Master of Science - Environmental Management
University of Free State
01.2024
Postgraduate Diploma - Integrated Water Resources Management
University of Free State
01.2023
Bachelor of Science (Honors) - Environmental Biology and Geography
University of Namibia
04.2015
Skills
- Project Management
- Grants management
- Conservation of natural resources
- Environmental management
- Project Planning and Development
- Resource Mobilization
- Project Financing and Budgeting
- Work plans development
- Terms of Reference development
- Contracts management
- Donor funds management
- Financial management
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Reports writing
- Climate Financing of Projects
- Foreign Service
Accomplishments
- Led multimillion-dollar GCF projects under the Environmental Investment Fund, advancing climate adaptation and low-carbon development in Namibia.
- Integrated gender equality across climate initiatives, achieving over 60% female participation in project benefits.
- Strengthened environmental governance systems and enhanced transparency in national climate finance operations.
- Managed full grant cycles ensuring fiduciary compliance, accountability, and measurable community impact.
- Developed robust M&E frameworks improving project performance tracking and data-driven decision-making.
- Represented Namibia internationally, contributing to regional climate finance and SDG policy dialogues.
- Built local capacity, training over 40 community organizations in project design, management, and reporting.
- Recognized as a Charles R. Wall Conservation Fellow for leadership and impact in environmental sustainability.
- Promoted smallholder resilience, supporting integration into climate-smart agriculture and voluntary carbon markets.
- Serving with the U.S. Department of State, coordinating global conservation and environmental governance programs.
Affiliations
- Advisory Committee Member- CCFN, 2024
- Secretary-Technical Advisory Panel- EIF Namibia, 2015-2024
- Project Steering Committee Member- SGP UNDP Namibia,2023
Certification
- NDC Finance and Proposal Development – UNEP Climate Center, Copenhagen
- Project Management - SADCR DFRN, Tanzania
- Grants Management- Indepth Research Services, Rwanda
- Advanced Excel- NIPAM, Namibia
LANGUAGES
English: First Language
English: Proficient (C2)
References
- Tiffany, Miller, Public Affairs Officer, MillerT@state.gov, US Department of State- US Embassy Namibia
- Selma, Shililifa, Executive Director, ispuelsma86@gmail.com, +264 81 224 222 6, LioSel Investment cc
- Marinda, Avenant, Senior Lecturer, AvenantMF@ufs.ac.za, University of Free State
WEBSITES, PORTFOLIOS, PROFILES
www.linkedin.com/in/johanna-mn-hainana
DOCUMENTATIONS
https://www.awf.org/news/overcoming-low-literacy-levels-foster-community-based-conservation-kenya
CONSULTANCIES
- 2023 – Compiled the Completion Report for FP024 Project to the GCF (post project endline)
- 2022 – Supported development of the National Oil Dispersant Use Policy for Namibia
- 2022 – Developed Training materials for the training on projects proposals development, climate financing, environmental and social safeguards inclusion and assessment and gender mainstreaming in projects for CCIU GIZ Project
- 2020 - Undertaken Survey on community interactions with Conservation Law Enforcement officials in the Combatting Wildlife Crime Project (CWCP) landscapes, the KAZA Transfrontier (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia)
Timeline
RESOURCE COORDINATOR/ CHIEF GRANTS REPRESENTATIVE OFFICER
US Department of State- US Embassy
10.2024 - Current
NATURAL RESOURCES GRANTS OFFICER (ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION PROJECT)
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
08.2022 - 09.2024
PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICER (CBNRM-EDA PROJECT)
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
08.2017 - 07.2022
OPERATIONS (GRANTS) ASSISTANT OFFICER
Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia
08.2016 - 07.2017
Postgraduate Diploma - Integrated Water Resources Management
University of Free State
Bachelor of Science (Honors) - Environmental Biology and Geography
University of Namibia
Master of Science - Environmental Management
University of Free State