Who is Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie (Mama Africa)

Meet Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie

Since 1991, Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie, Pan African Geologist, Environmentalist, Eco-community Builder, Social Environmental Entrepreneur and Gender/Childhood Ambassador has been actively involved in African Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Environmental Education and Management projects. She has initiated several Pan African projects. Ms. Mbone Enie has 29 years’ experience working on Gender/Development issues in Africa Communities. In March 2014, the European Union under the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), nominated her as an exceptional woman representing Africa. In 2024, she won an award into the Class of 2024, Explorer Club (EC) 50 as an Alchemist-Alchemists are those explorers who embrace creativity and inspire us to see the world from new perspectives; their approach to exploration is a blend of diverse landscapes, eccentric tactics, and unyielding courage.

She has been active in the International Climate Negotiations, participating in several Climate Summits. Her main interest is working with the Most Vulnerable Groups (MVGs)- women, youths, children, the elderly and people with disabilities (PWDs). For the past 15 years, Mbone Enie has been a keynote speaker to several international events including the ISPIM Conference, March 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

She currently serves the Initiator of Pan African Women Miners Association (PAWOMA, Pan African Eco-communities Network (PEN), Association for Geoscientist for African Development (AGAD), Commonwealth Institute for Ecovillage Studies (COMIES), Regional Representative for AbibiNsroma Foundation (ANF) for Eastern and Southern Africa as Founder/CEO-Salama Heritage Ecovillage (SHE) Africa Ltd based in Rwanda.

Growing up in the South West Region of Cameroon in the 70s/ 80s, I was provided with the unique opportunity to experience changes within the African Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and the Environmental Management/Education Sector. At a young age, I gained awareness of my natural surroundings, prompting me to study Geology at High School. In 1986, I graduated as the Best Student of Geology at the Cameroon General Certificate of Education (GCE), and she received a Government Scholarship to study Geology at the University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria. My studies in Nigeria also allowed me to experience another African country and encounter similar situations to Cameroon. After my studies in Nigeria, I moved to the United Kingdom (1993), where I developed a deep interest in Environmental Management and Education from the UK perspective.

In 1998, I returned to Cameroon and established the Cameroon Vision (CAMVISION) Trust-NGO promoting sustainable livelihoods and sustainable community development. I started a journey across the Continent of Africa to see how best the knowledge, skills and experience I acquired could be put to use in pushing the boundaries in Africa’s Sustainable Development.

In the year 2000, I moved to Nigeria to establish the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) Nigeria, promoting water and environmental education in Nigerian schools and communities. Moving to Ghana – 2008, I initiated the Pan African Climate Education (PACE) Centre to promote Climate Education in Ghanaian schools and communities. In March 2009, I attended the first Gender and Climate Change International Summit in Monrovia, Liberia, allowing me to establish the Women Environment and Climate Action Network (WECAN) Africa Initiative to promote Women and Climate Action Programs across the Continent of Africa.

I moved to East Africa in 2011, providing me the opportunity to serve indigenous communities in Tanzania, Kenya and now Rwanda.

Summary:

Rosemary Olive Mbone Enie is a Cameroonian born geologist, environmentalist and eco-community builder. She is known for her work in African water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental education, as well as her involvement in gender and development issues and international climate negotiations, She is the founder and CEO of Salama Heritage Ecovillage (SHE) Africa Ltd based in Kigali Rwanda and working across the East African Community (EAC) and has been actively involved in sustainable development and environmental management at grassroots level for the past three decades.

Environmental Focus: She is deeply involved in projects related to water, sanitation, hygiene, environmental management, environmental education and sustainability education, particularly in African communities.

Gender and Development: Rosemary has a strong focus on gender and development issues, working to empower women and other vulnerable groups (MVGs) in Africa.

Climate Action: Mbone Enie has participated in international climate negotiations and is involved in initiatives like the First Ladies Action on Climate Change (FLACC) Africa Initiative, the Women Environment and Climate Action Network (WECAN) African Initiative, the Youth Environment and Climate Action Network (YECAN), African Mayors Action on Climate Change (AMACC), African Female Journalist Action on Climate Change (AFMACC) etc.

Sustainable Community Building: As the founder of Salama Heritage Ecovillage (SHE) Africa Ltd, a Social Environmental Enterprise (SEE) which focuses on building sustainable communities within Africa and across the Global South.

Pan-African Initiatives: Rosemary has initiated several Pan African projects such as the Pan African Eco-communities Network (PEN), Pan African Climate Education (PACE) Centre, Destination East African Region -DEAR Program and Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) etc.

Mentoring: She has acted as a Mentor for many international and Pan African initiatives such as Bevisioneers- The Mercedes Benz Fellowship, GWNET, Global Women's Network for the Energy Transition, Gender CC- Gender and Climate Change etc.

Initiatives within the Commonwealth: The Commonwealth Young Farmers Club (CYFC), Commonwealth Institute for Ecovillage Studies (COMIES), Connecting Commonwealth Cities, Commonwealth Teachers College (CTC)

Working with the Most Vulnerable Groups (MVGs): Her work often involves supporting women, youth, children, the elderly, people with disabilities (PWDs) .

About Salama Heritage Ecovillage (SHE) Africa Ltd:

Salama Heritage Ecovillage (SHE) Africa aims to meet the challenges of our times by contributing to the all encompassing development of humans, community and Planet Earth.

SHE Africa was founded to realise the vision of sustainable human development. SHE Africa aims to contribute to the comprehensive development of the individual, society and the environment. A holistic concept encompassing integrated economic, ecological, social and cultural concerns forms the key SHE Africa’s vision.

SHE Africa takes on its responsibility by working for sustainable development locally and in the region through institutions in economics, organic agriculture, agribusiness, education, research and development.

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