John Kenala
John Kenala is a graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Planning. His current job is an Environmental Specialist for a big Chinese Government funded construction company called Sinohydro Corporation Limited. This company operates in several countries in Africa and its projects are funded by The World Bank and African Development Bank. In Malawi, Sinohydro has been contracted by the Malawi Government to construct an Irrigation Canal under the Shire Valley Transformation Program (SVTP) in Chikwawa District.
As an Environment Specialist, John’s role is to ensure that the work environment is clean for the health and safety of workers as well as the environment in general. He uses Contractor’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (C-ESMP), water management plan, waste management plan, air quality management plan, together with national and international environmental laws and World Bank Standards to ensure that the project’s work does not affect the environment, and if it does, how the problem can be fixed so as to mitigate the impacts.
Apart from working for Sinohydro, John also develops Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP), he also conducts Environmental Compliance Audits, among other environmental related plans for projects that are likely to impact the environment depending on the recommendations from a responsible authority. These documents generally describe how positive impacts of the project can be enhanced and negative impacts mitigated. Some documents also suggest alternative options that can be considered depending on the nature of the project for smooth implementation without affecting the environment and social aspects of people’s lives.
John is married with three children while his wife runs a small-scale business. In his spare time, he likes to act as a tutor, coaching school children science subjects.