Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 44 years of experience in natural resources and environmental management, the expert specializes in protected area management, ecological networks, and GIS/Remote Sensing. Responsibilities have included leading strategic environmental assessments, policy development, and community-based resource management. Career highlights include leading environmental impact assessments and formulating conservation strategies. Previously held roles such as team leader for significant biodiversity and conservation projects across Africa and Asia, the expert demonstrates expertise in project formulation, monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with international donors such as UNESCO, World Bank, GEF, UNDP, EU, and Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment. Worked across diverse projects involving project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building in environmental management, biodiversity conservation, and strategic environmental assessments. Projects have been regional and national in scope, covering geographic locations such as Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Mali, and Pakistan. The thematic focus has been on governance, natural resources management, and conservation.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in key sectors such as environment and natural resources management, monitoring and evaluation, training, mapping and cadastre, and land and soil management, the expert has held roles including environmental expert, team leader, and consultant. Responsibilities have included strategic environmental assessments, policy development, and conservation project management. The expert's interdisciplinary expertise includes integrating GIS/Remote Sensing into environmental management. The work spans regional and country-specific initiatives across Africa, Asia, and Europe, addressing complex environmental and governance challenges. Extensive geographic experience includes significant work in countries such as Bangladesh, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Pakistan, providing deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues.

Languages and education

Proficient in Dutch, English, and French at a working level, the expert can also read and speak German and read Spanish. These language skills have been utilized in diverse international settings, including collaborative projects in multilingual teams across Africa, Asia, and Europe. The expert holds a BSc and MSc/Drs in fields including Plant Ecology, Animal Ecology, and Soil Ecology from Groningen University, Netherlands. Additionally, a Post Graduate degree in Rural and Land Ecology Survey was completed at the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC), Netherlands, along with a Post Graduate in Remote Sensing and GIS at the Agricultural University Wageningen, Netherlands.