Damas has MSc in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Water Resources and Environment Management from University of Twenty in Netherlands, is a well-trained Civil & Water Resources Engineer and Environment Expert. his expertise lies in areas of Hydrological Modeling, WASH, community-based natural resources management, institutional strengthening, GIS and Remote Sensing, governance, Integrated Water Resources Management, Climate Change, Environmental Impact Assessment, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Development of Land use and Forest Management plans, Stakeholders engagement in development process and Resources mobilization, Forest Landscape Restoration, Wetland mapping and monitoring, Project Monitoring and Evaluation and Design of hydro-meteorological monitoring stations. He possesses 12 years of progressive practical experience in the Water and Conservation sector in Tanzania. He has hands-on experience in planning, designing, managing, and executing Water Resources Management Projects as well as Conservation Programs. Damas has worked with various organizations including the Ministry of Water in Tanzania as Hydrologist he was involved in the development of Integrated Water Resources Development and Management Plan (IWRMDP) of the Lake Nyasa Basin Water Board, Songwe River Basin Management Plan (SRBMP), He has also been working with African Wildlife Foundation (AWF-International Conservation Organization) coordinating water resources management programs, and he is currently working with WWF as Program Executant WASH and IWRM. He is mainly responsible with coordination and delivery of Mara River Catchment Conservation (MRC) Project (USAID funded Project) and Mara Wetland Conservation Project (WetCoP) in the Serengeti - Mara sub-landscape of the Southern Kenya – Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT) Landscape.

I'm passionate about Natural Resource Management and Environmental Conservation, Community Development, Sustainable livelihoods gender and social  inclusion, I have  strong background in partnership building, grant writing, and fundraising. My expertise lies in designing and implementing impactful projects in Natural Resource Management, climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation, Sustainable livelihood development, Community engagement,  stakeholder collaboration whilst ensuring long-term benefits for both communities and biodiversity. With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit and conservation sector, I have successfully mobilized resources, secured competitive grants, and led stakeholder engagements to drive sustainable solutions. I specialize in project planning, ecological research, advocacy, and training, equipping local communities with the knowledge and tools to build climate-resilient livelihoods. I'm adept at designing and implementing capacity-building programs, advocating for gender equality, and fostering social inclusion within marginalized communities. My expertise in resource mobilization, community engagement, and advocacy equips me to make meaningful contributions to empowering marginalized groups and supporting the growth of NGOs, INGOs, and MSMEs. I am eager to create  sustainable impacts through collaborative approaches involving stakeholders such as policymakers, donors, and entrepreneurs Key Achievements ✅ Secured Funding for Conservation Initiatives  ✅ Designed and Implemented Climate-Smart Livelihood Programs – Led initiatives in agroforestry, beekeeping, permaculture, and Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) to enhance food security and environmental sustainability. Skills & Expertise ✔ Grant Writing & Resource Mobilization ✔ Project Planning & Management ✔ Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships ✔ Climate-Smart Agriculture & Sustainable Livelihoods ✔ Conservation Advocacy & Community Empowerment ✔ Research, Monitoring & Evaluation ✔ Training & Capacity Building ✔ Policy Development & Risk Assessment ✔ Gender-sensitive conservation strategies Let’s Connect!

My background is mainly in species conservation, education and capacity exchange. I researched mother-young interactions in gorillas and chimpanzees, in captivity and the wild. After that, I worked for three years in Indonesia, where I developed and implemented youth ambassador and community engagement programmes on local and regional scales. I co-founded WildHub, a community of nature conservation professionals, in 2020 and work as their Community Lead. I am furthermore on the Advisory Board of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent where I obtained my PhD on capacity development for conservation in 2022.