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World Readiness

Eunice Shapange is an Energy and Climate Policy MSc graduate and Chevening Scholar with a background in urban planning. She is the founder of Tungeni Urban Initiative, a social impact organisation that develops community participation in urban development and educates on climate change.

Having recently completed a Mandela Washington Professional Development Experience internship in the US, which provides young African leaders with opportunities to enhance their skills in leadership, entrepreneurship and civic engagement, Eunice spoke with us about her time at the Business School and the future of green hydrogen policy in her home country, Namibia.

What drew you to the Energy and Climate Policy MSc? 

I was drawn to Sussex by its strong focus on policy-driven approaches to energy transitions and climate-driven action. Namibia has joined the global energy transition, having signed the Paris Agreement and reaching forth to and , and is on a mission to complement the UN’s . Namibia is also currently exploring green solutions like green hydrogen. As Sussex is renowned for its sustainability research, that made it the ideal place to develop my expertise. 

Aside from that, SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit has an interdisciplinary nature, which was very, very useful, because I could then explore the intersections between policy, technology, society and environmental issues. That aligned well with my background in urban planning because those are all elements that as an urban planner I have to consider when I am making policies that affect people’s everyday lives. 

While at Sussex, I focused on the viability of green hydrogen in enhancing energy security, particularly for Namibia. Namibia currently has a high energy import rate – we import about 60% of our energy, which is also mostly fossil-fuel driven. Hydrogen, on the other hand, is a universal fuel that – when generated using renewable electricity sources like solar and wind – is clean in its production and carbon free (hence ‘green’). All in all, green hydrogen can help reduce carbon emissions faster than the current global pace.

I’ve learned the importance of storytelling as a tool for public advocacy. Numbers alone are not enough to drive change.” Eunice Shapange

What inspired you to found Tungeni Urban Initiative?  

Tungeni was born out of the need to bridge the gap between local communities and urban planning in Namibia. I’ve been part of urban development projects that have often left local communities behind – these projects then become white elephants in the communities they were meant for.

To avoid this, Tungeni creates collaboration between communities and local governments. The intention is to avoid urban development that is sprawling or ad hoc, while making communities aware of the importance of participating in their development.

Our first initiative was the Indigenous Urban Games. As a child in Namibia, I sat on the sidelines during school holidays, watching my uncle and cousins gather around hollowed pits in the ground, engrossed in the game Owela. Owela is not just about strategy: it’s a living piece of Aawambo culture, passed down through generations.

These games, often rooted in cultural heritage, carry vital lessons in collaboration, resourcefulness and environmental stewardship – values we need as cities face climate challenges. By incorporating games like Owela into environmental education, we were able to think deeper about teaching the power of working together as a community to not only bring about change, but also revitalise and preserve indigenous knowledge.

In the process, I’ve learned the importance of storytelling as a tool for public advocacy. Numbers alone are not enough to drive change. You have to also use tools like storytelling to bridge the gap in research and the impact you want to achieve.

What is the future of green hydrogen in Namibia?

Green hydrogen has a vast number of applications, including ammonia production, and it is able to decarbonise some of the hard-to-abate sectors like transport, energy, and agriculture. With its flexibility, ease of transport, and low intermittency levels, green hydrogen surpasses the viability of solar and wind energy.

While at Sussex, I attended the hydrogen economy summer school at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Namibia has a standing with the city of Rotterdam, which formalises energy exports and develops our hydrogen supply market. It was such an incredible opportunity to engage with global experts in the field and understand the complexities that lie in the whole hydrogen value chain, from production to storage and market applications. It also gave me an opportunity to understand the importance of policy frameworks when it comes to new technology.

Namibia is currently developing our , which will be the main regulatory framework behind the production, distribution and application of . Learning from the Netherlands, who are a bit more advanced in the technology, taught me that the most important element we need to be attentive to as a young nation entering this market is having the right regulatory and institutional framework in place in order to have a successful implementation, scale up, and absorption of green hydrogen.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to study in the UK? 

Coming to Brighton – a vibrant, diverse city with a strong environmental consciousness – couldn't have worked out better for me. My field of study complemented the space well.

My advice to future students is to always be open with people from different backgrounds without having a preconceived idea of them. It's also important to participate in activities outside of academics – that gave me the chance to meet amazing people. One of my favourite activities was going to pub quiz nights. I love trivia. I also did quite a lot of travelling in the UK. I've been to Scotland, I've been to Ireland. Travelling has been amazing – I’ve visited all those prominent places in the UK that we learned about in school.

So I’d say: Go out more. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And invest in a good winter coat.

Which modules did you find the most rewarding during your MSc? 

My favourite module was Governing Energy Transitions. It was so insightful in understanding the dynamics between global energy shifts and the current energy transitions happening in individual countries.

One of my most memorable engagements in this class was taking a lead on a group presentation on solar energy management in Nigeria. We were five people from different countries and continents that came together to present this one case. Having the confidence to answer questions on a topic that you're really researched on – and understanding a different country’s energy sector so well – was really amazing. We could see lightbulb moments going off in class. 

Finding ways of taking up your own space – and owning that space – is what ultimately brings change in the world.” Eunice Shapange

What's next for you? What are the greatest challenges ahead?

The African continent is currently experiencing brain drain. Young people are looking for different opportunities abroad – and with good reason. But before I came to Sussex, I set out to be patriotic and come back and do what I can for my country.

So I'm currently working to get a role as an energy and climate policy specialist within the Namibian government. I want to assist in laying down a few of the ground rules to ensure the energy transition going forward is sustainable. To do this, I need to understand the status quo in order for my contributions to be more valuable. This means developing policies that benefit the people of Namibia.

I then plan to explore consultancy opportunities in the same space. I'm also hoping to continue growing Tungeni – we're currently working out our next project and how to engage local authorities in our work – and I’d like to eventually move our impact across borders to other African countries. I hope to get to climate negotiations and create policies that will ensure we have a just energy transition. 

The greatest challenge facing energy and climate policy right now – in terms of the renewable energy transition – is consensus among countries to either completely phase out fossil fuel use or to still have a committed funding mechanism that ensures there's an equitable and just transition. The current argument in developing countries is that they need to use fossil fuels because developed countries have evolved progressive economies by doing so. So having to transition away from them without proper monitoring, capacity building, and regulation is a challenge. We have to tap into the potential of renewables. 

And finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?  

When I was in the UK, I met Shamim Ibrahim who’s now a really good friend of mine. She always used to tell me, “Don't be afraid to take up space”. Previously I shied away from any form of attention, but while I’m exploring different avenues of my career, that advice really resonates with me. 

I have not gone through what I've gone through just to remain silent or complain about things on social media. I can do something about it. Finding ways of taking up your own space – and owning that space – is what ultimately brings change in the world. 

Find out more about the Energy and Climate Policy MSc and SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, based in the �鶹��ý������� Business School.  

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