Prof Dr. Cush Ngonzo Luwesi
Dr. Cush Ngonzo Luwesi is a leading economist and academic expert specializing in the integrated fields of climate finance, water resource economics, and sustainable development. With a career spanning over two decades, he possesses a unique blend of high-level policy advisory experience, extensive applied research, and senior academic leadership, primarily focused on Africa.
His expertise is anchored by a robust academic foundation, including a PhD in Integrated Watershed Management with a specialization in the Economics of Water and Climate Change from Kenyatta University, complemented by an MA in Financial Management. This technical core is enhanced by a series of prestigious postgraduate certificates from institutions such as Universität Heidelberg, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Carleton University, covering disaster risk reduction, development evaluation, and environmental economics.
Dr. Luwesi has a distinguished record of providing strategic consultancy to major international and regional bodies. He has developed implementation strategies for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s (UNECA) Climate Research for Development (CR4D) programme, prepared resilient growth projects for UNDP in the DRC, and facilitated innovative water finance training for SADC member states. His advisory roles have also included work for the World Food Programme, the African Climate Policy Center (ACPC), the CGIAR Water, Land and Ecosystems programme, and various governmental ministries across East and West Africa.
Concurrently, he maintains a prolific academic career as an Associate Professor of Health and Environmental Economics, holding teaching and research positions at the University of Kinshasa, the Evangelical University of Africa, and as the Director General of Kenge Health College. His scholarly output is substantial, encompassing the editorship of major volumes on innovative water finance for the Nordic Africa Institute, authorship of books and over thirty peer-reviewed articles, and numerous conference presentations. His research critically examines hydro-economic modeling, climate adaptation financing, and the socio-economic determinants of health and environmental sustainability.
A skilled facilitator and team leader, Dr. Luwesi is fluent in English and French, with working knowledge of regional languages. He is adept at employing advanced statistical, GIS, and remote sensing tools for policy analysis and programme evaluation. His professional affiliations include memberships in the African Econometric Society, the International Development Evaluation Association, and a role on the Scientific Advisory Committee for UNECA’s CR4D programme.
Dr. Luwesi’s professional ethos is defined by a commitment to translating complex economic and environmental data into actionable strategies for climate resilience, water security, and sustainable development. He effectively bridges the gap between scholarly research, on-the-ground project management, and high-level policy formulation, making him a sought-after expert for initiatives requiring sophisticated financial, economic, and environmental oversight in complex development contexts.