Global Conservation Leader Charles Karangwa Departs IUCN After a Decade of Transformative Impact
Charles Karangwa, the globally recognized Global Head of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is stepping down from his role. In a recent announcement, Karangwa stated, “After nearly 10 years with IUCN, the time has come for me to move on for professional reasons, while continuing to remain engaged in different ways with this remarkable Union and its mission.”
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Over his expansive career spanning more than two decades, Karangwa has become known for his rare ability to bridge high-level strategy with operational delivery. At IUCN, he dramatically expanded regional and global portfolios from $2M to over $85M and successfully managed €126 million in donor funds. His leadership helped shape major international initiatives like AFR100 and the Bonn Challenge, aligning national priorities with global funding mechanisms to drive low-carbon development and climate resilience.
Reflecting on his tenure, Karangwa noted how drastically the conservation landscape has shifted. “Over the past decade, Nature-based Solutions have evolved from an emerging concept into an increasingly recognized framework for addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, water security, and human resilience,” he shared. A major pillar of this evolution was his work on the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions. Angela A., former Chair of the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, publicly thanked him for his vision and their collaboration on updating this critical global standard,.
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Karangwa’s departure has prompted an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from the global sustainability community. Colleagues fondly refer to his unique leadership style as the “Karangwa effect,” describing it as a blend of “energy, commitment, diversity in approach, action – and… inspiration”. IUCN Regional Programme Coordinator Charles Oluchina, whom Karangwa personally thanked for his trust and guidance, praised Karangwa for building robust country programs, expanding regional opportunities, and advancing global frameworks within highly demanding contexts.
Beyond his global strategic influence, his operational impact has been deeply felt across Africa. Saadia Bobtoya, a fellow conservation professional, emphasized this regional legacy, noting, “As an African, I can confidently say that many of us have been inspired by your excellence, dedication, and immense contribution to advancing conservation and NbS across the continent and globally”. Other colleagues echoed these sentiments, highlighting his lasting contributions in Rwanda, the broader East and Southern Africa regions, and across specialized fields like forest landscape restoration and the One Health approach,,.
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As IUCN opens recruitment for the next Global Head of Nature-based Solutions, Karangwa’s exact next steps remain unannounced. However, his peers are confident that his passion will keep him at the forefront of the conservation movement, noting that his extraordinary abilities “will never allow you to leave natural solutions behind”.
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