SASSCAL is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Mavis Elias as its new Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising Specialist, effective 1 November 2026.
Ms. Elias joins SASSCAL with more than 11 years of experience in development finance, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, business development and donor negotiations. She has worked across international development organisations, government and the private sector, gaining valuable experience in securing funding, building partnerships and supporting development programmes. Throughout her career, Ms. Elias has successfully mobilised funding from government institutions, corporate organisations and development partners. Her work has included developing funding proposals, managing donor relationships, ensuring compliance with funding agreements and monitoring the results of development projects.
She has also organised and led major fundraising events that raised significant financial support for development initiatives. In addition, she has successfully negotiated multi-year funding commitments with donors and managed corporate social investment programmes aimed at improving communities. Beyond fundraising, Ms. Elias brings experience in leadership and corporate governance. She previously served as a Non-Executive Board Member of a national development foundation, where she contributed to the development of the organisation’s strategy, policies and operating procedures.She also served as Board Chairperson of a nonprofit organisation that she helped establish and develop. Through these roles, she gained experience in building institutions, strengthening governance and ensuring that organisations operate effectively and responsibly.
Strong Academic Background and International Recognition
Ms. Elias holds a Master’s degree in Globalisation, Business and Development from the University of Sussex, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Her background in civil engineering provides her with technical knowledge relevant to infrastructure, land and water development. Combined with her experience in development finance and international partnerships, this gives her a strong foundation for supporting research and development programmes.
Her contributions to development and philanthropy have earned her several national and international recognitions. She was recognised as a Queen’s Young Leader by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and has received the Vivid Philanthropist of the Year Award, the Project Never Walk Alone Philanthropy Award and a Pan-African Award for her contributions to development.
Strengthening Resource Mobilisation at SASSCAL
In her new role, Ms. Elias will support SASSCAL’s efforts to mobilise financial resources, identify new funding opportunities and strengthen partnerships with governments, development partners, research institutions and the private sector. Resource mobilisation is important for supporting the implementation and long-term sustainability of SASSCAL’s research, climate change adaptation and human capacity development programmes across Southern Africa.
