Rose Eligi Mtenga is an environmental professional and junior researcher based in Tanzania, currently working as a Project Coordinator with AfriCraft, an international non-governmental
organization, implementing school-based environmental initiatives. Her work centres on advancing practical environmental management approaches within education and community settings, with a strong emphasis on waste management, climate change awareness, and
sustainable resource use. She brings a systems-oriented perspective that bridges environmental
action, research, and policy relevance.
Her junior research journey, conducted in affiliation with the University of Dar es Salaam, is grounded in the documentation and preservation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
related to traditional medicine, particularly knowledge that remains undocumented and is increasingly at risk of disappearing among younger generations. Working closely with youth, Rose critically explores the environmental foundations of traditional medicine, including
biodiversity conservation, sustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, and ecosystem stewardship. Her work also addresses persistent misconceptions surrounding traditional medicine
among young people, promoting informed and responsible use while generating evidence to support policy dialogue on integrating indigenous medical knowledge into modern health
systems through environmentally sustainable frameworks.
Professionally, Rose’s expertise spans environmental project coordination, applied environmental research, environmental education design, and community engagement. As an
AFRIAK Fellow, she is motivated to contribute to interdisciplinary, Africa-centered research that elevates indigenous knowledge, informs inclusive policy, and advances environmentally
grounded solutions for sustainable development.