Biography
Nesia Mahenge is a global public policy and development diplomacy practitioner at the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance in Florence, Italy. Her work examines how states interpret international agendas, negotiate development cooperation, and strengthen national capability to deliver on the SDGs. She plans to establish the Policy Intelligence tool – Global Policy Practice Index as a practical transnational governance instrument that helps countries navigate complex global systems as part of her EUI fellowship focus. Her project builds on her broader work analysing how states cultivate policy intelligence, negotiate international commitments more strategically, navigate international development dynamics, exercise diplomatic capability to deliver on national and SDG commitments, and translate policy commitments into effective, equitable practice.
Before joining the EUI, Nesia’s career evolved from her Tanzanian roots across environments where governments confront geopolitical pressures, shifting development financing, and the demands of global cooperation. She has held senior executive regional and international leadership roles advancing development cooperation, public policy, transnational governance, and community‑centred systems across Sub‑Saharan Africa and global contexts. She has worked across multi‑country initiatives in health, climate, education, disability inclusion, and community development, gaining a close view of how global priorities become national realities. Her practice deepened through moderating high‑level UN side events at the margins of the UN General Assembly, the USA–Africa Leaders Summit, and the Science Summit, convening leaders to reflect on the choices that shape public outcomes. She also contributes to advisory bodies including the CRDB Bank Foundation, Tanzania’s National NGO Sustainability Taskforce, and the UN Women Africa Women Leaders Network.
Nesia holds an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Economic Policy (Netherlands), a BSc (Hons) in Finance and Banking (Tanzania), a Diploma in Sustainable Business and Leadership (Sweden), an Advanced Diploma in Global Health and Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management from Harvard University, and professional development in International Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her recognitions include the Top East Africa Women Leaders Award and the Top 50 Women in Management Africa.