Leigh Hildyard is a Manager at Climate Policy Initiative, based in Cape Town. She works with the Africa and agrifood systems programs through the ClimateShot Investor Coalition (CLIC), bringing over 18 years of experience in the development and humanitarian sectors as a strategic advisor.

Prior to CPI, Leigh served as the Regional Advisor for Food Systems and Smallholder Market Development in Southern Africa at the United Nations World Food Programme, providing strategic and technical oversight for programs operating in 12 different countries. In this role, Leigh led efforts in food systems and integrated climate-resilience programming, playing a key role in advancing sustainable market development in the region.

A passionate advocate for gender equality, she has actively championed initiatives to empower rural women, enhance women’s decision-making, integrate youth, and improve market access for marginalized groups.

She holds two master’s degrees: one in Anthropology from Rhodes University in South Africa and another in Humanitarian Logistics and Management from Università della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano, Switzerland.