Romao XAVIER
Sial Matola
Summary
A participatory governance and international development expert and a seasoned professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in leading economic justice and advocacy programmes, especially in the agriculture and food systems, Climate Change, Fiscal Justice and Natueral Resorces (extractives sector with focus on Oil and gas, and the role of critical minerals and elements for sustainable energy transition) in the Southern African region. A University of Oxford, Blavatnik School of Government Fellow for the Executive programme on Managing Mining, Oil and Gas for National Development, Mr. Xavier is a dynamic leader with a proven track record in spearheading multi-country programmes that integrate economic justice with sustainable development goals, navigating complex political and social landscapes to foster effective collaborations between private sector, government, civil society, and regional bodies such as SADC and the African Union to driving systemic change.
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Consultancies
Various
- CONSULTANCY EXPERIENCE
- 2017-2019 – Post graduate teaching at the Instituto Superior de Gestão (ISG): main subjects: - Advocacy for Sustainable and Development projects and - Communication and Stakeholders Management for Sustainable and Development Projects
- 2012-2013 - Team leader for the evaluation of a project implemented by ACORD to empower Mozambique´s civil society organisations working on food and agriculture to engage government and participate in decision-making processes and commitments which affect the food sovereignty and food security of men and women in marginalised communities particularly in Maputo, Niassa and Inhambane provinces of Mozambique actively and effectively.
- 2011 - Country team member for the evaluation team of Mozambique compliance for the African Union Protocols, Treaties and conventions; part of the Continental Report to be presented at the African Union Summit in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the African Union.
- 2011- Team leader for the evaluation of School girl clubs in the District of Marracuene, Maputo commissioned by Action Aid Team leader for the evaluation of Education Strategic Plan and National Education Policy in the District of Zavala, Province of Inhambane.
- Team member for the evaluation of Reinsertion of prisoners in the Maputo correctional services
- 2010 - Gender Assessment in the Portuguese Speaking countries for the establishment of African Funding Mechanism for the empowerment of African Women at African Union.
- 2008 - Team member of the evaluation of health service delivery satisfaction for the Ministry of Health, for TB programme.
- 2009 Team member of the evaluation team for the establishment of TB programme in the provinces of Maputo and Sofala for the American International Health Alliance.
- 2008 - Team member for the evaluation of the participation of civil society organisations in policy development on Food security and nutrition in Southern Africa
- Assistant lecturer for undergraduates at the Pedagogical University of Mozambique
Southern Africa Economic Justice lead and Country Representative for Mozambique
OXFAM
10.2021 - 11.2025
- Country Programme management, representation and leadership. Provide direction and leadership of the Southern Africa Cluster’s work on Economic Justice-areas of focus: Natural Resources Governance (extractives and critical energy transition minerals) and Fiscal Justice, Agriculture and Food systems transformation, Climate change and Energy Transition, ). This includes thought leadership of this thematic pillar across all countries in Southern Africa where the cluster either currently works or intends working.
- Strategy & Thought Leadership: Provide strategic leadership and management of Oxfam’s programmes in the region including all development and advocacy, to maximise Oxfam influence and impact; Liaising across Oxfam in Southern Africa and the wider Oxfam confederation and ensuring tactical and effective engagement from programme staff within designated country; Support in development of relevant strategies to ensure that policy and influencing actions are adequately resourced; Develop effective partnerships for the delivery of impactful programme across the region and ensure the delivery of Oxfam’s value add. Engage with SADC and continental bodies (AU-ECOSOCC, CADP, APRM, PAP) to represent Oxfam collaboration on all matters related to Economic Justice work. As a member of global working groups (Civic space working group, Private sector working group, extractive working group, energy working group, food security and food systems working group and climate change working group) provide southern Africa expert contribution to the Oxfam global advocacy and influencing work.
- Act as the Oxfam Country Representative: Represent Oxfam at all relevant fora – including civil society, government, donors, academia, ensuring that Oxfam’s interests are covered in Mozambique. Oversees all programme and project activities in the country
- Senior Leadership Team: As member of the Cluster Senior Leadership Team, contribute to all Cluster strategic processes including mid-term reviews of strategic intent and engagement with governing bodies.
National Advocacy, Policy, Governance and Civil Society Programme Advisor
CARE International
05.2018 - 09.2021
- Ensure integrated programming of health, nutrition and food security initiatives within the organisation; build the capacity of local partners on community-based nutrition and food security for children under five; maintain direct engagement with key health, nutrition, WASH and food security national authorities to ensure harmonization with regional and global agendas. Ensure relevant sectoral best practices and technical assistance are integrated into project activities. Oversee compliance with applicable donor requirements, budget management, and contract start-up and close out processes. Design, negotiate and lead the implementation and monitoring of a rapid response to COVID-19 in the context of resettlement of terrorist-born violence victims in Cabo Delgado
- Lead in the development and implementation of a National Advocacy Strategy related to key issues pertaining to the Partnerships and Alliances of Civil Society for Community Rights to Resilience and the Civil Society United towards Natural Resources Governance.
- Ensure smooth and constructive relationships with Government, Donors, Private sector and other CSOs and National/International NGOs.
- Continuous evaluation of the capacity of existing CSOs, CSOs networks and other stakeholders relevant to the advocacy issues and develop partnership agreements framework with strategic partners at national level.
Country Management Consultant
IPAS
09.2018 - 01.2019
- Lead change management of the country programme and provide Youth and Adolescent SRH programmatic, financial and administrative leadership support for the country program under the direction of the Africa Regional Director.
- Lead the implementation of the country strategy within the Reproductive health sector, with special focus on youth and adolescents for family planning and abortion access and awareness.
- Provide clear change management direction to all staff and partners.
Programme Director & Education and ECD, Governance and Civil Society Advisor
Aga Khan Foundation
11.2015 - 08.2018
- As the Country Programme Director, ensure Programme integration adn coherence and provide management and strategic direction, consolidate programme reports and lead programme development and design, as well as negotiation with key potential funders.
- Supervise, oversight and coordinate AKF’s overall Programme implementation. Represent the Organisation at the programmatic level before the government and other programme partners, including the community.
- As the Education advisor, oversee the management and overall implementation of the Early Childhood Develeopment (ECD) programme and the Upgrading and Transformation of the Bilibiza Agrarian Institute in the province of Cabo Delgado: Provide technical guidance, liaise with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education and Technical and professional Education at national and provincial level.
Evaluation, Learning and Advocacy Manager
COWI-CEP
11.2014 - 10.2015
- Provided leadership for the advocacy, learning accountability and evaluation interventions of the Citizens Engagement and Participation programme, focused on monitoring public services provided in Mozambique’s education and health sectors.
- Ensured cross-cutting learning within the programme and facilitated coordination, collaboration and learning across all activities of the programmes.
- Provided capacity building for all partner organisations around participatory learning methodologies to enable learning at all levels of programme implementation (country, province, district, and community) and facilitated peer-to-peer learning and knowledge sharing. Conducted stakeholders mapping and conducted research that informed the advocacy strategy.
Country Director
American International health Alliance
08.2013 - 10.2014
- Overall organisation representation and management towards the government authorities, donors, partners organisations and local authorities
- Provided strategic programmatic design and implementation of the HIV and AID Twining Program in the country. Build new and maintain existing partnerships with several national government authorities and civil society within the Public Health subsector.Served as the liaison to USAID, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Provided leadership in country office reporting and in the establishment of the Twinning Centres, which maximise voluntary contributions of professional expertise, equipment, and materials, to leverage donor resources effectively.
Lusophone Programme Manager
AUDA-NEPAD
07.2010 - 08.2013
- Represent the NEPAD before Members states governments and civil society actors in the African Portuguese speaking countries within the realm of NEPAD-Spanish Funds support to Lusophone countries, ensuring that AU-NEPAD guidelines are followed within the strategic sectors supported by the Fund.
- Provided technical support and mentoring for project and grant implementation within the Lusophone speaking countries, under the NEPAD focus sectors including Health, education, women’s economic empowerment, and civil society.
- As the Programme Manager, analysed and recommended grants to be approved by the NEPAD Steering Committee, and then ensured proper management, supervision and reporting. Worked to enforce proper due diligence and organisational capacity for the implementation of the initiatives and ensured grants evaluation and closeout.
Country Representative
American International health Alliance
06.2008 - 06.2010
- Primary responsible for building trust and relationship with the government of Mozambique and in-country US government office.
- Recruit and orient all country office employees in accordance with the Mozambique labour law.
- Led the establishment of a country office in Maputo, including satellite offices in the country and provided overall country representation and leadership, programme development and office management, and financial oversight for programmess in health, Sexual and amm Reproductive Rights.
- Identify programme partners within the Civil society, private and government domains working within the health sector and build strong strategic partnerships.
- Identified and selected key partners/grantees for the program and built their capacity. Was responsible for organising and conducting M&E events with programme partners.
- Led the implementation and monitoring of the HIV/AIDS Twinning Centre Programme in Mozambique to achieve programmatic, financial, and administrative goals while ensuring that project resources were utilised in accordance with donor (CDC and USAID) and AIHA policies and procedures.
Consultant: Regional Agriculture and Sustainable Livelihoods Program Officer
Oxfam America
01.2008 - 05.2008
- Supported the implementation of programmatic activities of Oxfam America in the Southern Africa Regional Office (SARO) while contributing to the goals of the SARO Regional Programme Strategy and Framework. Led the formulation and implementation of the SARO Agriculture and Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (ASLP).
- Consolidated lessons learned in the field and used them to inform ongoing and future programming in the region.
National Project Director and Programme Coordinator
FAO-UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
11.2005 - 06.2006
- Worked as the primary contact for all food and nutrition security in the central region of Mozambique, including disaster risk reduction, linking FAO with relevant government and community authorities and other actors in the sector.
- Provided overall management of the programme, including the implementation and monitoring of a national food security and livelihoods programme in the context of a high incidence of HIV/AIDS and OVC.
- Supported partners’ networking and led the development of partner support tools. Represented the FAO to the Government of Mozambique in the Sofala Province
Programme Manager
Save the Children UK
08.2004 - 11.2005
- Provided overall programme management and financial oversight for Save the Children UK (SCUK) humanitarian and development programmes in primary and secondary education, health, HIV/AIDS, Orphan and Vulnerable Children, WASH, food security, and livelihoods.
- Ensure that all projects respond to the Child Rights Convention principles and guidelines, providing child protection as unnegotiable principle and putting the rights of children as central to everything Save the Children does in all levels, field, local and national
- Provided leadership in developing the country strategic plan and direction for resource mobilisation. As Part of Regional Effective Programming Team, ensured that all children’s rights programmes met SCUK programme quality standards.
Food Security and Livelihoods Programme Coordinator
Oxfam GB
06.2002 - 08.2004
- Provided overall management, supervision, and coordination of OGB’s development programme on Food, Nutrition and Sustainable Livelihoods as well as disaster preparedness and response in all programme areas of OGB in Mozambique.
- Led community mobilisation, situational analysis, and operational plan or the implementation of OGB Programme. Led the development of national and provincial programmatic networks and liaised with key stakeholders at the National, Provincial, and District level.
- Served as the country-level focal point for the “make fair trade” global campaign, which collected advocacy evidence to be shared at the World Trade Summit in Cancun, Mexico.
National Project Director
Horizont3000
10.1998 - 05.2002
- Represented the project and HORIZONT3000 in the country, before government partners, other INGOs and local CSOs, including donors (the Austrian Government representation in the country)
- Lead the establishment of the fisheries programme in the Sofala basin, for small and artisanal fishermen.
- Managed overall programmatic and administrative operations for the country office, including finance and human resources. Provided technical leadership, led monthly and quarterly meetings, and monitored systems.
Community Development Officer
GTZ/GIZ
04.1997 - 10.1998
- Provide technical assistance to communities and community-based organisations within the Gorongosa National Park in the field of project planning and linkages with government authorities and private sector
- Promote community participatory needs assessments within the National Park buffer zone to promote conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
- Serve as liaison officer between the community and the local authorities in regard to natural resources management within the scope of the Gorongosa National Park
School manager and teacher
Ministry of Education-Mozambique
02.1985 - 10.1997
- As a high school teacher, equiped studntsts with sloid knowledge to futher their education at Univesity or techn ical training level
- As School Manager led the establisihoment of clear gudance for school + eformance which led to school of excellence.
Education
Doctor of Phylosophy - International Relations
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg12.2021
Master of Arts - Public Advocacy
Victoria University
Melbourne12.2007
Bachelor of Education - undefined
Universidade Pedagogica
Beira12.1988
Skills
Economic Justice Leadership
Advocacy and Influencing
Climate Change Expertise
Energy Transition Knowledge
Natural Resources Management
Team Leadership
Civic Space Advocacy
Extractive Industries Knowledge
Negotiation Skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Flexible and adaptable
Problem-solving
Interests
basketball, Traveling, Reading, Volunteering
Timeline
Southern Africa Economic Justice lead and Country Representative for Mozambique
OXFAM
10.2021 - 11.2025
Country Management Consultant
IPAS
09.2018 - 01.2019
National Advocacy, Policy, Governance and Civil Society Programme Advisor
CARE International
05.2018 - 09.2021
Programme Director & Education and ECD, Governance and Civil Society Advisor
Aga Khan Foundation
11.2015 - 08.2018
Evaluation, Learning and Advocacy Manager
COWI-CEP
11.2014 - 10.2015
Country Director
American International health Alliance
08.2013 - 10.2014
Lusophone Programme Manager
AUDA-NEPAD
07.2010 - 08.2013
Country Representative
American International health Alliance
06.2008 - 06.2010
Consultant: Regional Agriculture and Sustainable Livelihoods Program Officer
Oxfam America
01.2008 - 05.2008
National Project Director and Programme Coordinator
FAO-UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
11.2005 - 06.2006
Programme Manager
Save the Children UK
08.2004 - 11.2005
Food Security and Livelihoods Programme Coordinator
Oxfam GB
06.2002 - 08.2004
National Project Director
Horizont3000
10.1998 - 05.2002
Community Development Officer
GTZ/GIZ
04.1997 - 10.1998
School manager and teacher
Ministry of Education-Mozambique
02.1985 - 10.1997
Consultancies
Various
Master of Arts - Public Advocacy
Victoria University
Bachelor of Education - undefined
Universidade Pedagogica
Doctor of Phylosophy - International Relations
University of the Witwatersrand
Publications
- O impacto do boom do Sector Extrativo sobre a posição Geoestratégica e as Relações Intencionas de Moçambique: O caso da corrida para um assento não permanente nas Nações Unidas, presented at IESE – Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Económicos Conferência – “Indústria Extractiva em Moçambique: Desafios, Sucessos e Perspectivas” Setembro 2023
- Dia de Africa – 25 de Maio
- Único Feriado Africano, published by Canal de Moçambique, 23-30 de Agosto 2021
- Liberdade: O sonho de 25 de Setembro continua isso mesmo, Um sonho! - Decolonialidade e Consciência Negra, by Canal de Moçambique, 02 Outubro 2019
- Transformation of the South African Energy System: Towards Participatory Governance - Book chapter published by Springer Nature, 2018. In book: Systems Analysis Approach for Complex Global Challenges
- Participatory governance in the transformation of the South African energy sector: Critical success factors for environmental leadership. Pubclished at the Journal of Clear production. Elsevier, Vol. 15 2017
Other training opportunities
- Executive programme on Managing Mining, Oil and Gas for National Development 2024. at lavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
- FM DPro Financial Management qualification course at Humentum Project Management for Development professionals (Project DPRO), is a basic accredited Project Management training for the NGO sector at Humentum
- Training of Trainers (Facilitators) for the Science of ECD (SECD), at the Aga Khan University/Institute of Human Development and the River College
- Project proposal design and co-designing using different methods: Human Centered Design, Participatory project design, project management and evaluation at the Makerere University and Aga Khan Foundation
- Intensive residential summer research programme of the International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA) in collaboration with the University of Free State. Young Scientists. Summer Programme (SA-YSSP) at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
- Certified Gender mainstreaming, by InWent, Capacity Building International