Professional Experience:
05/16-ongoing Forest Stewardship Council International, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
International Expert and HCV-Officer
Development of the High Conservation Value (HCV) guidance (incl. Intact Forest Landscapes) for the Congo Basin: drafted the guidelines, collaborated with scientists and experts to develop tools for HCV identification and management, coordinated and facilitated meetings of a multi-stakeholder consortium that takes decisions about the final content of the guidelines, development, fundraising and implementation of a project targeting capacity building and engagement of forest dependent indigenous people (110’000 Euros).
12/15-02/16 GFA Consulting Group for Forest Stewardship Council Congo Basin, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
HCV-Officer
Define the work process and activity schedule, develop concept for the engagement of forest dependent people and recruit experts for the development of High Conservation Value (HCV) guidance (incl. Intact Forest Landscapes) for the Congo Basin.
01/14-09/15 African Parks, Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Mbomo, Republic of Congo
Community Engagement Manager
Developed community engagement strategy, recruited, trained and managed team of 7 permanent employees, developed and managed various projects, amongst others coca farming, insurance scheme for crop damage, mobile health project (incl. funds acquisition).
10/09-07/15 Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Forest Management and Development Group, Zürich, Switzerland
PhD Researcher in Livelihood Development and Natural Resource Management, Degree 2015
Analysis of the role of wildlife and hunting in local communities’ livelihoods as part of the surrounding socio-ecological system to explore under which conditions devolution of power and responsibilities to local communities improves wildlife conservation in the Republic of Congo. Developed project, secured and managed funding, collected and analyzed data, recruited, trained and managed team of 6 assistants.
08/12 -04/14 Bern University of Applied Sciences, International Forestry and Climate Change Group, Bern, Switzerland
Research and Teaching Assistant
Developed scholarship program in collaboration with the African Forestry Forum. Evaluated scholarship applications, including research proposals. Developed successful grant proposal for urban forestry project. Collaborated on various consultancies in the field of REDD, rights and resources (land tenure) and indigenous affaires. Last consultancy: support to Togo in the development of the Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) for submission to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility of the World Bank. Prepared and held lectures.