Head of Sustainable Development Unit | Development Practitioner | Sustainability Advocate | Finance Professional
Salamatu Tahiru is a Ghanaian development practitioner, sustainability advocate and finance professional dedicated to advancing sustainable development through community-driven solutions. With experience spanning project management, environmental sustainability, community development, and organizational leadership, she is passionate about creating initiatives that improve livelihoods, strengthen institutions, and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She currently serves as the Head of the Sustainable Development Unit at Elizka Relief Foundation (ERF), where she leads sustainability-focused programmes, contributes to strategic programme development, and coordinates stakeholder engagement. In this role, she works closely with local and international partners to promote environmental sustainability, climate action, and inclusive community development. Salamatu has also represented the organization at regional and international policy engagements, contributing to dialogue and collaboration on sustainable development and environmental governance.
Before assuming this leadership position, Salamatu worked as an Administrative and Project Officer at ERF, where she coordinated project implementation, monitored community interventions, strengthened partnerships with local stakeholders, and supported the successful delivery of development programmes.
Salamatu holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) with First Class Honours from the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana. Her academic background has provided a strong foundation in financial management, governance, and strategic planning, which she continues to apply in the nonprofit and development sectors.
Her professional journey combines technical expertise with a strong commitment to grassroots development. Prior to joining Elizka Relief Foundation, she served as a Learner Facilitator with CAMFED Ghana, where she mentored more than 500 senior high school students in leadership, personal development, and life skills. She also supported educational access for vulnerable girls through mentorship, bursary selection, and community engagement initiatives, helping to create opportunities for young people to reach their full potential.
Throughout her career, Salamatu has remained committed to youth empowerment, women’s inclusion, financial literacy, environmental sustainability and community resilience. She has contributed to the development of project proposals, policy documents, strategic plans, stakeholder engagement frameworks, and monitoring systems that support effective and measurable development outcomes.
As an emerging leader in the sustainable development sector, Salamatu is committed to fostering partnerships, influencing sustainable development policy and promoting inclusive growth that creates lasting environmental social and economic impact. She believes that sustainable development is most effective when communities are empowered to lead their own transformation and she remains dedicated to advancing solutions that leave no one behind.
