Fifth Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD - events
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Speakers
Day 1
Marie Haga
Associate Vice-President, External Relations and Governance Department, IFAD
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Marie Haga
Associate Vice-President, External Relations and Governance Department, IFAD
Marie Haga is Associate Vice-President of the External Relations and Governance Department at IFAD. She is responsible for communications, global engagement, partnerships, resource mobilization and relations with IFAD Member States. Haga has extensive experience in conservation, food security, foreign affairs and politics. Before coming to IFAD she worked with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, where she was Executive Director from March 2013.
Janie Simms Hipp
Chief Executive Officer, Native American Agriculture Fund
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Janie Simms Hipp
Chief Executive Officer, Native American Agriculture Fund
Janie Simms Hipp is a Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and currently serves as CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), a private charitable trust focusing on providing support for the continued success of Native American farmers and ranchers. She has over 35 years domestic and international experience in agriculture and food law and policy.
Mattia Prayer Galletti
Lead Technical Specialist for Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Issues, IFAD
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Mattia Prayer Galletti
Lead Technical Specialist for Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Issues, IFAD
Mattia Prayer Galletti is currently IFAD’s Lead Technical Specialist for Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Issues in the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division. He joined IFAD in 1988 and for more than twenty years, he has worked as Country Programme Manager in the Asia and the Pacific Division. He lectures at UC Berkeley and Roma Tre University.
Jacqueline Macharia
Samburu Women Trust
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Jacqueline Macharia
Samburu Women Trust
Jacqueline Macharia is the Coordinator for the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF) in Africa at Samburu Women Trust. She has been managing the Facility in Africa since 2013. She is a passionate supporter and advocate for Indigenous Peoples in the continent. She is currently studying Sustainable Development at Columbia University in the City of New York.
Mai Thin Yu Mon
Asia Youth representative, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD
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Mai Thin Yu Mon
Asia Youth representative, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD
Mai Thin Yu Mon is the youth representative from Asia in the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD. She is also the Program Director for the Indigenous Peoples Development Program of Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).She represents youth to the Executive Council of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). A young and prolific human rights activist, she is an inspiring emerging Chin woman leader. She is member of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC).
Joseph Ole Simel
Member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD
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Joseph Ole Simel
Member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD
Joseph Ole Simel is a member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD. He is the Executive Director of Mainyoito Pastoralists Integrated Development organization (MPIDO). Furthermore, he also integrates the Global steering Committee representing the Africa region for the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change(IIPFCC).
Gilbert Houngbo
President of IFAD
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Gilbert Houngbo
President of IFAD
Gilbert F. Houngbo became the sixth President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 1 April 2017. Born and raised in rural Togo, Houngbo has spent more than 30 years working to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people, with extensive experience in political affairs, international development, diplomacy and financial management.
Joan Carling
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
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Joan Carling
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
Joan Carling is an indigenous activist from the Cordillera (Philippines) working on indigenous issues at all levels for more than 20 years. (2008-2016). Carling has been appointed by the UN Economic and Social Council as an indigenous expert of UNPFII (2014 – 2016), former Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), and member of the Advisory Council of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance.
Yohannis Amador
International Indigenous Women's Forum
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Yohannis Amador
International Indigenous Women's Forum
Indigenous woman of the Zenú people, born on the northern coast of Colombia. She is a psychologist and specialist in international cooperation and project management for development. Since 2009, she is the coordinator of Seeds and IPAF projects of the AYNI Fund, a programme of the International Indigenous Women's Forum - FIMI. Working for the individual and collective rights of indigenous women in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas.
Ruby Espanola
Tebtebba Foundation
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Ruby Espanola
Tebtebba Foundation
Ruby Bangilan-Española is the coordinator of the IPAF in Asia-Pacific at Tebtebba (Indigenous Peoples’ International Centre for Policy Research and Education). She is an indigenous woman from the Cordillera region of the Philippines.
Mirna Cunningham
Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Latin America and the Caribbean
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Mirna Cunningham
Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Latin America and the Caribbean
Mirna Cunningham, indigenous Miskita from Nicaragua, worldwide known indigenous rights activist, former chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and current President of the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Autonomy and Development, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. In 2014, Cunningham was nominated as Special Advisor to the President of the United Nations General Assembly to advice on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. She serves as Member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, and as Board Member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Assistance Facility.
Mirna Cunningham, indígena de la étnia miskita de Nicaragua, es una veterana activista a favor de los derechos de los indígenas, anteriormente Presidenta del Foro Permanente de las Naciones Unidas para las Cuestiones Indígenas y actual Presidenta del Centro para la Autonomía y Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. En 2014, Cunningham fue nombrada Asesora del Presidente de la Asamblea General de la ONU para la Conferencia Mundial de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU. Se desempeña como miembro del Comité Directivo del Foro de los Pueblos Indígenas en el FIDA y como miembro de la Junta del Fondo de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas (IPAF).
Ulaiasi Baya
Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD
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Ulaiasi Baya
Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD
Ulaiasi Baya is member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD. He studied law in Queensland (Australia) and the UK. His main area of work is access and development of customary resources, in particular, pertaining to the nature. He co-founded Customary Land Solutions (CLS), with the vision of equity for indigenous landowners.
Day 2 - Strengthening the engagement of Indigenous Peoples with IFAD at the country and regional levels
Jyotsna Puri
Director, Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division, IFAD
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Jyotsna Puri
Director, Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division, IFAD
Jyotsna Puri is the Director of the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division (ECG) at IFAD. Puri has worked previously at the Green Climate Fund, 3ie, UNEP, the World Bank and UNDP. She has also been adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, New York where she was also a research scientist. She holds a PhD and MSc in Agriculture and Resource Economics and an MA in Development Economics.
Elifuraha Laltaika
Member, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
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Elifuraha Laltaika
Member, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Elifuraha Laltaika is member of the UN Permanent Forum on indigenous issues and the founder of Association for Law and Advocacy for Pastoralists (ALAPA) based in Arusha, Tanzania. He works with Tumaini University Makumira in Arusha, where he teaches International Law, Human Rights Law and Constitutional Law. Elifuraha recently served as a visiting scholar at Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study (STIAS) in South Africa, to work on a project entitled Legal Protection of Hunter-Gatherer Groups’ Land Rights in Central and Southern Africa.
Joan Carling
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
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Joan Carling
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
Joan Carling is an indigenous activist from the Cordillera (Philippines) working on indigenous issues at all levels for more than 20 years. (2008-2016). Carling has been appointed by the UN Economic and Social Council as an indigenous expert of UNPFII (2014 – 2016), former Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), and member of the Advisory Council of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance.
Jesús Amadeo Martinez
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
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Jesús Amadeo Martinez
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
Jesús Amadeo Martinez is a member of the Steering Committee, Senior Advisor of the Indigenous Council of Central America (CICA) and representative of the Salvadoran National Indigenous Coordinating Council (CCNIS). He belongs to the Lenca people living in El Salvador and Honduras. Exercising his career as a lawyer he also served as Chairman of the IDFAC Commission on Standards and Human Rights and FAO Focal Point for the Abya Yala Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Sara Mbago-Bhunu
Director, East and Southern Africa Division, IFAD
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Sara Mbago-Bhunu
Director, East and Southern Africa Division, IFAD
Sara Mbago-Bhunu is the Director of IFAD’s East and Southern Africa Division.
Mbago-Bhunu brings to IFAD rich work experience spanning more than 20 years in the agriculture sector across Central, East and Southern Africa. She has worked on agriculture policy and sector reviews, value chain development, access to agricultural finance, social enterprise models and the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises in peri-urban and rural areas. She has also led and managed teams in other development organizations in the design of development projects and capacity-building programmes.
Prior to joining IFAD, Mbago-Bhunu worked at the World Bank as a Senior Agricultural Economist for the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo, based in Kinshasa. From 2013 to 2016, she served as Country Director for SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Nigel Brett
Director, Asia and the Pacific Division, IFAD
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Nigel Brett
Director, Asia and the Pacific Division, IFAD
Nigel Brett is the Director for the Asia and the Pacific Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Prior to this position, Brett worked as Lead Portfolio Advisor in the Asia and Pacific Division. He also worked as an IFAD Country Programme Manager for 16 years where he managed many diverse country programmes including IFAD’s largest programme in India. Before joining the fund, Brett worked as an environmental specialist for Mott MacDonald, a global engineering, management and development company. Brett has extensive field experience in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Guyana, India, Lesotho, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, Suriname, Tajikistan and Vietnam.
Brett holds an M. Phil degree in Environment and Development from Cambridge University and a B. Sc. degree in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia.
Rossana Polastri
Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Division, IFAD
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Rossana Polastri
Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Division, IFAD
Rossana Polastri is the Regional Director for the Latin America and the Caribbean Division (IFAD).
Appointed in January 2019, Polastri brings to IFAD a wide and diversified work experience as Peru’s Vice-Minister for Finance and, more recently, as Vice President and Executive Board Member of the Bank of the Nation of Peru, (Banco de la Nación). She has also worked for the World Bank as Country Manager for Paraguay and as Advisor to the Development Economics Vice Presidency.
Polastri, a national of Peru, holds a Master's Degree in Economics from the Polytechnic Institute of Virginia State University, United States, and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Peru.
Day 3
Mirna Cunningham
Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Latin America and the Caribbean
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Mirna Cunningham
Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Latin America and the Caribbean
Mirna Cunningham, indigenous Miskita from Nicaragua, worldwide known indigenous rights activist, former chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and current President of the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Autonomy and Development, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. In 2014, Cunningham was nominated as Special Advisor to the President of the United Nations General Assembly to advice on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. She serves as Member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, and as Board Member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Assistance Facility.
Mirna Cunningham, indígena de la étnia miskita de Nicaragua, es una veterana activista a favor de los derechos de los indígenas, anteriormente Presidenta del Foro Permanente de las Naciones Unidas para las Cuestiones Indígenas y actual Presidenta del Centro para la Autonomía y Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. En 2014, Cunningham fue nombrada Asesora del Presidente de la Asamblea General de la ONU para la Conferencia Mundial de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU. Se desempeña como miembro del Comité Directivo del Foro de los Pueblos Indígenas en el FIDA y como miembro de la Junta del Fondo de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas (IPAF).
Mai Thin Yu Mon
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
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Mai Thin Yu Mon
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
Mai Thin Yu Mon is the youth representative from Asia in the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD. She is also the Program Director for the Indigenous Peoples Development Program of Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).She represents youth to the Executive Council of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP). A young and prolific human rights activist, she is an inspiring emerging Chin woman leader. She is member of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC).
Ulaiasi Baia
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
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Ulaiasi Baia
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Asia and the Pacific
Ulaiasi Baya is member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD. He studied law in Queensland (Australia) and the UK. His main area of work is access and development of customary resources, in particular, pertaining to the nature. He co-founded Customary Land Solutions (CLS), with the vision of equity for indigenous landowners.
Yon Fernandez-de-Larrinoa
FAO Indigenous Peoples Team
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Yon Fernandez-de-Larrinoa
FAO Indigenous Peoples Team
Yon Fernandez-de-Larrinoa is the Team Leader of the FAO Indigenous Peoples Team. An Agricultural Economist from the UAM of Madrid with a MABD on entitlements and food security. He joined FAO in 1998, having worked in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Before joining the Partnerships and Advocacy Division in 2010, he coordinated emergency relief operations for FAO at the Haiti Earthquake; H5N1 Influenza; and Asian Tsunami. Yon has lead the introduction in FAO’s work of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Victor Lopez-Carmen
Co-chair, GIYC
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Victor Lopez-Carmen
Co-chair, GIYC
Victor Lopez-Carmen, a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe in South Dakota and the Yaqui Tribe in Arizona and Mexico, campaigns for human rights at an international scale. He is a Co-Chair of the U.N. Global Indigenous Youth Caucus and MD student at Harvard Medical School.
Agnes Kalibata
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the United Nations Food Systems Summit
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Agnes Kalibata
Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the United Nations Food Systems Summit
Agnes Kalibata is the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the United Nations Food Systems Summit. Dr Kalibata works with the UN system and key partners to provide leadership, guidance and strategic direction towards the Summit. Since 2014, Dr Kalibata has served as President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Prior to joining AGRA, she was Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). Dr Kalibata holds a doctorate in Entomology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim
Member, UNPFII
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Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim
Member, UNPFII
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is an indigenous Mbororo woman from Chad. She is expert in indigenous peoples’ adaptation to climate change, traditional ecological knowledge, and climate change mitigation strategies. She is member of UNPFII and has been the Co-Chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change during COP20, COP21, COP22, COP23, that lead to a significant recognition of indigenous peoples’ role in the fight against climate change. She founded the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT).
Jessica Vega
Co-chair, Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC)
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Jessica Vega
Co-chair, Global Indigenous Youth Caucus (GIYC)
Jessica Vega is a young indigenous female from the Mixteco People in Mexico. She studied political science and public administration at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Jessica is a promoter and trainer in Human Rights for Red de Jóvenes Indínas LAC, which is an Indigenous Youth Network in Latin America and the Caribbean. She is Cochair of the Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, GIYC.
Christine Ciccone
IFAD Special Senior Advisor Food Systems Summit
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Christine Ciccone
IFAD Special Senior Advisor Food Systems Summit
Christine Ciccone is the IFAD Special Senior Advisor Food Systems Summit in the External Relations and Governance Department. Previously she has worked as Assistant Secretary leading the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Legislative Affairs. She is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she obtained a B.A in Political Science. She also holds a J.D. from George Washington University, and an M.A. from the United States Naval War College in National Security and Strategic Studies.
Dalí Nolasco Cruz
Indigenous Terra Madre Advisory Board Member
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Dalí Nolasco Cruz
Indigenous Terra Madre Advisory Board Member
Dalí Nolasco Cruz, from the Nahua peoples of Tlaola, Puebla, is an active member of Slow Food in Mexico for the defence and promotion of Creole seeds, food, territories, and indigenous biodiversity. She is the leader of the Slow Food Tlaola Kukuk Convivium and coordinator of the Tlaola Serrano Chili Pepper Slow Food Presidium. She is the Director of the Timo’Patla Intercultural Organization A.C. and Mopampa, a network of social and solidarity economy companies of indigenous women. Furthermore, Dali facilitates trainings for women, youth, and children on topics including rights, gender, and interculturalism.
Day 4 - Monday, 15 February 2021
Mirna Cunningham
Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Latin America and the Caribbean
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Mirna Cunningham
Chairperson, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, Latin America and the Caribbean
Mirna Cunningham, indigenous Miskita from Nicaragua, worldwide known indigenous rights activist, former chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and current President of the Center for Indigenous Peoples’ Autonomy and Development, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. In 2014, Cunningham was nominated as Special Advisor to the President of the United Nations General Assembly to advice on the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. She serves as Member of the Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum at IFAD, and as Board Member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Assistance Facility.
Mirna Cunningham, indígena de la étnia miskita de Nicaragua, es una veterana activista a favor de los derechos de los indígenas, anteriormente Presidenta del Foro Permanente de las Naciones Unidas para las Cuestiones Indígenas y actual Presidenta del Centro para la Autonomía y Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas, Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. En 2014, Cunningham fue nombrada Asesora del Presidente de la Asamblea General de la ONU para la Conferencia Mundial de los Pueblos Indígenas de la ONU. Se desempeña como miembro del Comité Directivo del Foro de los Pueblos Indígenas en el FIDA y como miembro de la Junta del Fondo de Apoyo a los Pueblos Indígenas (IPAF).
Meike Van Ginneken
Associate Vice-President of the Strategy and Knowledge Department, IFAD
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Meike Van Ginneken
Associate Vice-President of the Strategy and Knowledge Department, IFAD
Meike Van Ginneken is the Associate Vice-President of the Strategy and Knowledge Department at IFAD. Prior to joining IFAD in October 2020, van Ginneken was Chief Executive Officer of the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, a leading development organisation with 1,400 specialized staff working on agriculture, energy and water in 28 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She holds an MSc in change management from HEC Paris Business School in France and an MSc in water management from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands.
Dominik Ziller
Vice-President of IFAD
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Dominik Ziller
Vice-President of IFAD
Dominik Ziller is Vice-President of IFAD. Prior to joining IFAD, Ziller was Director General for International Development Cooperation for International Development Policy at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. His responsibilities included the European Union's development cooperation, United Nations, World Bank Group, regional development banks, OECD, development processes of the G7 and the G20. He holds a Law Degree from the Ludwig Maximilian Universität München and Practical Law Degree from the Federal German State of Bavaria.
Wolde Tadesse
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Africa
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Wolde Tadesse
Member, Steering Committee of the Indigenous Peoples' Forum at IFAD, Africa
Wolde Gossa Tadesse is member of the steering committee of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum and board member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Assistance Facility (IPAF) at IFAD. He has served on other boards such as Dir Biyabir in California and Porini Association in Kenya. From the community of dere Chencha in Gamo he has several years of field experience as an ethnographer among southern Ethiopian pastoralists and cultivators of the Omotic area as well as pastoralists around Lake Chew Bahir and holds a PHD in Social Anthropology at LSE.
Donal Brown
Associate Vice-President, Programme Management Department, IFAD
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Donal Brown
Associate Vice-President, Programme Management Department, IFAD
Donal Brown is Associate Vice-President, Programme Management Department, at IFAD. He is responsible for developing and managing the operations that IFAD supports through its loans and grants. He oversees the programme of work of the department, which is undertaken by five Regional Divisions and the Operational Policy and Results Division.
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