Creative and innovative project manager working in natural resource management and poverty reduction.
With more than 6 years of experience in aid agencies and international NGOs and a deep understanding of policy-making process, I bring a holistic approach and a project-oriented mindset to the resolution of development challenges.
Master of all the tools needed for the project cycle, from proposal writing, log frame design, contractual negotiation, monitoring and evaluation.
My skills include leading teams, autonomy, a great sense of initiative and strategy as well as solid experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
Completed an Environmental and social risk study concerning a plan to extend the Jose Marti Airport in la Habana.
Performed interviews with public authorities and main stakeholders.
Key Achievements: produced a final report and performed a presentation to AFD team members on main issues and recommendations.
Project Coordinator - Energy Sector
French Development Agency (AFD)
October 2018
to June 2019
Mexico City
Mexico
Lead the identification and implementation of technical assistance activities at the national level (SENER, CFE, CRE, CONUEE).
Lead the negotiation of a finance contract with CFE.
Represented AFD in forums, workshops and international cooperation working groups of the sector.
Key Achievements: positioning of the AFD in the Energy Sector in a context of change in administration. Management of 12 technical assistance contracts.
Traveling Sabbatical in South-East Asia
Bicycle Touring
October 2017
to June 2018
8 months bicycle touring around Vietnam, Laos, Cambodge, Thailand, Singapour, and Indonesia.
Main Focus: sustainable agriculture and conservation initiatives.
Experience: volunteering for a community-based permaculture center in central Thailand. Main tasks include fundraising, strategy planning support, farming and support center activities.
Project Coordinator - Rural Development, Health and Education
French Development Agency (AFD)
February 2013
to July 2017
Bogota
Colombia
Prepared, designed and implemented development projects in Colombia and Ecuador in Sustainable Rural Development, Education and Health. Performed project identification, team coordination and managed relationships with government and partners.
Designed and implemented tools for Monitoring and Evaluation. Lead technical support and oversaw consulting contracts for ongoing projects.
Assisted government authorities in public policymaking, implementation, and evaluation of the relevant sectors.
Contributed to the Rural, Health and Education sector's strategic development as well as AFD objectives and scope planning.
Supported regional activities expansion of the AFD through missions in Peru and Equateur.
Key achievements: initiated AFD’s sector interventions on Rural Development and Health in Colombia and in Education in Ecuador. Oversaw the development of a lending operations portfolio of over 700M USD with technical cooperation and project budget of over 7M USD.
Detailed Description
Developed the Rural Development project portfolio through the identification, assessment and grant approval of a 200M USD lending operation in support of the government’s Integral Rural Development Policy and a 7M EUR investment facility on Climate Smart Agriculture.
Oversaw the implementation of a 400M USD lending operation on Health and Welfare (identification to Evaluation) and a 400K EUR technical assistance cooperation. Developed the AFD education activities in Equateur through a 100M lending operation to support secondary school infrastructure.
Oversaw technical support given at regional level to develop a strategy linking science and academic institutions, technology and innovation actors, corporations, and training and education programs so as to develop a competitiveness pole on sustainable use of biodiversity, which included strengthening the forestry and ecotourism productive chains.
Oversaw complex contract negotiations with partners and the colombian government.
Initiated and prepared policy briefs and reports to meet demand from within the AFD and in support of the government.
Fostered regional and national academic and public discussion on key development issues.
Provided selective support to other countries in the Andean region.
Lead the purchase of AFD real-estate property estimated at 1,2M USD in Bogota.
Reference: Maurice Bernard, Regional Director of the AFD Andean Region (bernardm@afd.fr)
Company Description
AFD is France’s inclusive public development bank. AFD commit financing and technical assistance to projects that improve everyday life, both in developing and emerging countries and in the French overseas provinces. Through a network of 85 field offices, AFD finance, monitor, and assist more than 2,500 development projects in 108 countries.
Project Development Assistant - Central Asia and Latin America.
ACTED (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development)
March 2012
to September 2012
Internship
PARIS
France
Fundraising: identified suitable Call for proposals and Request for applications that could be undertaken by the organization.
Assisted the field teams in developing project proposals, reports and addressing ad hoc donor requests. Supported the drafting of communications publications (monthly newsletter, external and internal distribution articles, success stories, etc.).
Managed relation with donors and ensured that reporting guidelines, formats, project/donor deadlines and activity progress for each project respected contractual agreements with donors.
Key achievements: oversaw general project advancements in more than 6 countries and gained full mastery of grant procedures and requirements of international donors such as USAID, EuropeAid, ECHO, DFID, WFP, UNICEF, and UNHCR.
ACTED (French: Agence d'Aide à la Coopération Technique Et du Développement), is a French humanitarian NGO established in 1993. It is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization committed to supporting vulnerable populations around the world. ACTED’s teams work in 36 countries, responding to emergency situations, whilst also supporting rehabilitation and development. The Project Development ensure development and follow-up of ACTED projects in the 35 countries. The Project Development department also offers strategic support to the field teams and is in charge of the direct relation with ACTED’s main donors.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a global humanitarian network of 80 million people that helps those facing disaster, conflict and health and social problems. It consists of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the 191 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Risk Assessment for Pena Groupe (MA group project)
PENA Groupe
September 2010
to April 2011
Student Project
Bordeaux
France
Performed Country Risk Assessment of Costa Rica through an economic and political risk analysis of the implementation of a humanitarian or development project in the country.
Carried out a feasibility study for the implementation of a waste treatment center in the rural area for PENA group in Costa Rica. Produced a report on the subject supported by an oral presentation/defense.
Key achievements: completed a feasibility study which was used as a core input to PENA group to initiate interventions in Costa Rica. Successfully defended feasibility study to the PENA group board of directors.
Company Description
French Waste treatment Company created in 1955 with representation in Latin America.
CIDER (Interdisciplinary research center on development studies)
March 2006
to May 2006
Participated in the study “Local Organizations in Altos de Cazuca” that aimed to understand the nature of the emerging support groups in a displaced community.
Performed and codified 40+ interviews of the representatives and individuals involved with local organizations.
Detailed Description
The study aimed to better understand the forms of organization of displaced communities in a very vulnerable neighborhood of Bogota and analyze ways to adapt public policy to existing local structures. The study also identified and analyzed solidarity structures formed from the community to the community as the newly arrived rural population was initiating exchange based service centers and banks among others.
