Dr. Joanes Atela
Improving health system resilience in the face of climate change
Dr. Joanes is an accomplished transdisciplinary scholar and research manager with over 15 years of experience providing technical support to African governments in natural resource management, climate change, mitigation and adaptation, climate change, health nexus, and knowledge management. Currently serving as the founder and Executive Director of the Africa Research and Impact Network(ARIN) with over 200 career research and policy fellows across 36 African countries whose core focus is to consolidate evidence and engage in peer learning and sharing good transformative research and Impact Practices.
Joanes has held significant roles such as the Director of Partnerships and the Head of the Climate Resilient Programme at the African Centre for Technology Studies. His expertise propelled the institution to global recognition, ranking third globally and leading in Africa, according to the 2016 ICCG rankings. He has also contributed significantly to academia, serving as an Associate at the Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation and as a Research Fellow at prestigious institutions such as ICRAF and the UN University.
Joanes' scholarly contributions are extensive, with numerous publications across international journals, books, media outlets, and blogs. His research primarily focuses on resilience, knowledge systems, and international politics, amassing over 1000 citations on Google Scholar. He has played a crucial role in designing and implementing various funded projects, particularly in synthesizing community-based adaptation initiatives globally, thereby supporting the establishment of the Locally Led Adaptation Agenda within the global climate action discourse.
Joanes' expertise is highly sought after on several high-level technical boards. He serves as the Lead Expert in developing the AU Green Innovation Framework, as well as in the development of Kenya's inaugural Innovation Outlook Framework. He also sits as a member of the Strategic Advisory Group for the UK Research and Innovation Fund. His influence extends globally, having served as a Scientific Advisory Panel Member of Stockholm+50 and as an Advisory Committee Member to the Resilience Evidence Forum, among other esteemed advisory roles.