Meet Tinashe Chinembiri, Policy Associate at Evident

“In our line of work, collaboration is essential to unlocking a sustainable solution and ensuring that no one is left behind.”

As a Policy Associate at Evident, Tinashe Chinembiri analyses regulatory developments across the global markets, helping to shape the future of sustainability.

Before joining Evident, Tinashe worked in the Zimbabwean government as a Senior Energy Development Officer, gaining experience developing energy policies, and climate strategies.

In his interview, Tinashe discusses how his own experiences of energy poverty shaped his passion for sustainability and shares his advice for those looking to work in the clean energy sector.

Can you describe your role at Evident and the impact it has?

The Paris Agreement has set a target of limiting the global temperature to 1.5°C, but currently, there’s a disconnect in the deployment of capital to support this target. Addressing the climate crisis in an inclusive way requires collaboration between actors across supply chains.

Through my work at Evident, I facilitate important conversations with governments and other key stakeholders in regions across the globe that help to drive the clean energy transition and support local-led implementation. Through these conversations, and Evident’s focus on the Global South, we are working to unlock much-needed climate finance for the clean energy transition in developing markets.

What sparked your passion for sustainability, and how has your understanding of the field evolved over time?

For me, energy poverty isn’t just an abstract discussion – I have experienced it first-hand. Where I come from in Africa, only 42% of people have access to electricity and even in those communities, the supply is inconsistent and predominantly from fossil fuels. I wanted to change this, and so I decided to study Environmental Science at university.

Before joining Evident, I worked for the Ministry of Energy and Power Development of Zimbabwe, helping develop climate and energy policies to support their transition to clean energy. Thanks to my work at Evident, I have now further broadened my passion from a national and regional focus, driven by personal experience, to a global focus. Importantly, working in a range of different markets has led me to understand that while the challenge of climate change is global, the solutions are often local and need to be tailored to the individual country or region. For example, what works in Thailand may not apply to the Philippines or Panama. Each country has its own unique path to a brighter future.

What advice would you give to those passionate about entering the sustainability and clean energy sector?

Above all else, it is crucial to establish clarity on a few key aspects: the scope of the problem you wish to contribute to solving, your existing skill sets, and the tools and resources available to you, as well as those necessary to initiate your participation. As with any journey, progress is achieved through the simple yet forward-looking steps that inevitably have significant impacts. Collaboration is paramount as it gives a usually uncommon privilege to cross pollinate with experts and thought leaders in the sustainability and environmental community of practice.

It’s also important to actively seek out opportunities for growth. Your contribution isn't just about addressing the problems you see; it's about your willingness to collaborate and be part of creating the solution. The rest is entirely up to your dedication, hard work and commitment to maintaining an uncompromising standard of excellence in every endeavour.