Self-Reliance & Sustainability Services

During my work in international cooperation, I covered several areas of organizational development and management with a view to improving sustainability at all levels (organizations, individuals, communities) as:
Strategic Planner, Grant Writer, Project Designer & Manager, Researcher & Writer, Policy Analyst, Program & Campaign Coordinator, Event Organizer, Communications & Outreach Specialist, etc.
The issues addressed included: natural resource management; community development; equity; challenges facing marginalized mountain people; common property management; self-reliance; health; children with special needs; etc.
The following were some of my achievements:
As Program Development Officer of an international organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal, I played an instrumental role in securing, within 6 months of hire, close to USD 1,000,000 for the organization operations:
Upon being hired as the Development Director of an early childhood education and pediatric therapy center on the verge of closing due to lack of funds, I single-handedly raised during one year close to USD 500,000 in grants and technical support while working part-time:
As Policy Analyst on a 4 month assignment at the Council of the European Union (Bruxelles, Belgium) I wrote a comparative study on the US National Energy Plan vis-a-vis the European Union's Energy Policy:
As Project Analyst in the Technical Cooperation Department of United Nations’ F.A.O. (Rome, Italy), I:
I wrote my Master’s degree thesis (published) "Community-based Forest Ecotourism: A viable strategy for community forestry development and conservation?" on the subject of common property regimes and eco-tourism with a view to promoting sustainable tourism practices:
Strategic Planner, Grant Writer, Project Designer & Manager, Researcher & Writer, Policy Analyst, Program & Campaign Coordinator, Event Organizer, Communications & Outreach Specialist, etc.
The issues addressed included: natural resource management; community development; equity; challenges facing marginalized mountain people; common property management; self-reliance; health; children with special needs; etc.
The following were some of my achievements:
As Program Development Officer of an international organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal, I played an instrumental role in securing, within 6 months of hire, close to USD 1,000,000 for the organization operations:
- Coordinated the development and writing of the organization’s strategy and funding proposal
- Supported the organization with communications, networking, event organizing, partnership building, and public relations
- Coordinated a global online appeal, which raised USD 40,000 in 2 weeks for the victims of a South-Asian earthquake (2,600 survivors helped)
Upon being hired as the Development Director of an early childhood education and pediatric therapy center on the verge of closing due to lack of funds, I single-handedly raised during one year close to USD 500,000 in grants and technical support while working part-time:
- Provided recommendations on strategic planning and managed the development and implementation of fund-development, marketing and communications strategies
- Wrote and submitted grant proposals to private & corporate foundation, charitable trusts, and government agencies
- Built strategic partnerships, improved the organization’s message and reach, and raised its public profile
As Policy Analyst on a 4 month assignment at the Council of the European Union (Bruxelles, Belgium) I wrote a comparative study on the US National Energy Plan vis-a-vis the European Union's Energy Policy:
- The study, which was titled "Meeting the Energy Challenge in the 21st Century: An analysis of the US and EU energy plans in the framework of sustainable development", was utilized by the European Council’s Energy Directorate at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg.
As Project Analyst in the Technical Cooperation Department of United Nations’ F.A.O. (Rome, Italy), I:
- Analyzed and appraised – against criteria and rules set by F.A.O. Governing Bodies – time-sensitive government funding requests in English and Spanish for F.A.O. technical assistance to farmers and communities in developing countries
- Channeled appraisal comments and recommendations to the appropriate F.A.O. Technical Units for action and follow-up.
I wrote my Master’s degree thesis (published) "Community-based Forest Ecotourism: A viable strategy for community forestry development and conservation?" on the subject of common property regimes and eco-tourism with a view to promoting sustainable tourism practices:
- Analyzed and discussed four case studies (three in Latin America and one in Nepal) on community-based eco-tourism initiatives and developed a model for future sustainable applications in community-based environmental and cultural conservation, and sustainable livelihoods;
- Offered a model for sustainable eco-tourism practices at the community-based level.