Job Type
Research
Natural Resource Management
Institutional Management
Decision Making & Policy
Subject Area
Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology
Fisheries, Aquaculture
Marine Biotechnology, Marine Products
Pollution
Research Support Services
Activities
As the Programme Officer for Project Development in ACB, I have been co-leading, coordinating and facilitating the development of strategic pipelines for the ACB, mobilizing resources in advancing the biodiversity conservation efforts and sustainable use of natural resources across the ASEAN region. To date, I was able to co-develop, facilitate and coordinate at least four approved regional projects with an accumulated amount of USD 3.7 Million from various ASEAN Dialogue and Development Partners, including the ASEAN-UK Development Programme, US-ASEAN Protected Area Alliance, World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). I have also participated in the development and securing of the SGP III approval amounting to approximately USD 14 Million.
I am currently woking on the development of a proposal that will identify activities that may be supported building upon GEF 9 guidance whereby the AMS will work towards building synergies in their national frameworks and capacity building efforts for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and provisions related to BBNJ Agreement.
As a licensed Forester, I spent the initial years of my career in the University of the Philippines Los Banos, implementing a research and development project on assessing feasibility of portfolio investments for timber plantation that aims to engage corporates and business in the Philippine National Greening Program. Subsequently, I focused my career in implementing various projects on watershed and coastal and marine management at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, specializing in spatial analysis and bio-physical assessments using the Geographic Information System (GIS). In both career opportunities, I was able to build my skills in managing and implementing local projects in the Philippines, providing me with grassroot experiences in networking, coordinating and negotiating, with national and subnational agencies, community-based organizations and local communities. These experiences provided me with practical skills and technical knowledge on protected area and watershed management, conservation practices, and ecosystem-based approaches. Moreover, I was able to build my skills in developing, and facilitating approvals of Protected Area Management Plans, Integrated Coastal Management Plans, and Watershed Management Frameworks.
In the succeeding 11 years of my professional career – and still counting – I focused my practice in biodiversity conservation at the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). On my first eight years of service in the Centre, I was able to support the implementation of the Small Grants Programme by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (SGP) in Indonesia and Myanmar, as well as the SGP II in Viet Nam. Through the SGP, I enhanced my practical skills and technical knowledge in protected area management approaches, and sustainable livelihood development, and more importantly, expanded my experience in engaging with the local communities, international and non-government organizations, and national and subnational agencies in various countries. Its regional component provided me with a genuine experience of facilitating and coordinating regional activities and initiatives, strengthening my collaborative and negotiating skills at the ASEAN and international level. This was complemented by my participation in the implementation of activities of the ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme, a flagship initiative of ASEAN.
Sea regions of study
Bay of Bengal
Philippine Sea
