MOALOSI LEBEKWE
Stakeholder Manager Okavango Wilderness Safaris
Okavango Wilderness Safaris’ Stakeholder Manager is a highly motivated and seasoned professional, with a BA in Accounting and Economics from the University of Botswana. He excels in facilitating teamwork in a multicultural environment, and is a firm believer in mutually beneficial partnerships, and open and honest communication.
Originally from Mochudi in southern Botswana, Moalosi is a traveller at heart; he speaks fluent Turkish and has a fascination for cultures and languages. For the past decade, he has dedicated his life to learning, observing, absorbing and sharing his experiences from around the world, having worked in Botswana, Turkey, Switzerland and Myanmar for private international firms, international and local NGOs, and UN agencies. Naturally, he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, experience and friends along the way.
Moalosi was appointed Okavango Wilderness Safaris (OWS) Stakeholder Manager in January 2022. In his new role he will manage and execute relationships with key business partners across government entities, statutory and non-statutory bodies, communities and other associates.
Prior to his current role, Moalosi was Programme Co-ordinator for Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Botswana, Wilderness Safaris’ non-profit partner, overseeing programme activities, donor relations and resource mobilisation. Moalosi also briefly held the position of Interim Community Development Manager, co-ordinating OWS’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives within its partner communities.
During his two years with CITW Botswana, Moalosi managed some of OWS’ most impactful community projects, including its COVID-19 relief initiative that distributed 224 tonnes of food hampers to over 28 000 vulnerable individuals in Botswana. He was also instrumental in securing a partnership with the US Embassy in Gaborone to implement Conservation Science Camps for girls in rural areas, the goal being to encourage interest in environmental conservation and STEM-based subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) among schoolgirls in villages. Recently, Moalosi oversaw the procurement and distribution of over two tonnes of seeds donated by OWS to farmers in partner communities.
Before his time at OWS, Moalosi was the General Manager at Seedstars Myanmar, where he assumed overall management of Seedspace Innovation Hub — a centre fostering entrepreneurial spirit and impacting youths’ lives in emerging markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Prior to assuming the role of General Manager, he served as the company’s Partnerships and Community Manager, leading the set-up of the innovation hub in Myanmar and forging partnerships with different stakeholders within Myanmar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including corporates, investors, foreign government agencies and NGOs.
Prior to that, Moalosi briefly worked as an outreach consultant for a local Myanmar NGO, the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association, assisting the organisation with its resource mobilisation. In a trainee role as Partnership Assistant at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Myanmar, he assisted in identifying new business development opportunities, assessing stakeholders’ needs as well as the potential of relevant UNOPS services in Myanmar.
Before moving to Myanmar, he was an HR trainee at the United Nations Development Programme regional hub in Istanbul, Turkey, later moving to Geneva, Switzerland to support the International Labour Office’s Internship Programme. He also served as Grant Finance Assistant at GCERF, a global fund dedicated to preventing violent extremism.
Before moving abroad, Moalosi started his career at Mazars Botswana, first as an Audit Trainee and later as Junior Account Executive in Ghanzi.
Moalosi is a founding member of the International Institute of Development and Empowerment (IIDE), a locally registered non-profit organisation that aims to tackle issues of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, poverty reduction and women empowerment.
According to Moalosi, “It’s an honour to be appointed to the fulfilling role of Stakeholder Manager. OWS has achieved so much through its partnerships, and my goal is to continue creating shared value with our existing partners, and to build new relationships, which will contribute to the sustainable development of Botswana, its people, and our natural environment”.