MFF - Key Persons
Dr Steen Christensen is the Coordinator of the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) initiative and as such has the overall responsibility for the MFF Secretariat and particular responsibilities to provide support to the MFF Regional Steering Committee and liaising with its working groups; liaising with the MFF partners and overseeing the coordination, learning, monitoring and evaluation, communications and reporting between the Secretariat and MFF project management units and individual projects; overseeing the external communications and knowledge products of MFF; ensuring the timely delivery of reports and communications with MFF donors; and facilitating the provision of technical assistance to the MFF initiative and its projects.
Steen has more than 25 years of experience working with multidisciplinary programmes relating to management of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Europe, Africa, Greenland and South and Southeast Asia. He has worked as an associate professor with the Danish Institute for Fisheries Economics, University of South Jutland (DIFER), and as a senior research scientist with the Institute of Aquatic Resources, the Danish Technical University (DTU-Aqua). Steen has also worked as a Chief Technical Adviser to Danida in a Fisheries Management Programme in Vietnam, as Senior Advisor to the Mekong River Commission in a fisheries valuation programme and in various EU funded projects in Southeast Asia since 1999.
Steen holds a M.Sc in Biology from the University of Aarhus Denmark, a PhD in Resource Economics from the University of Aarhus, Denmark and a Masters in Disaster Risk Management from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Job Titles:
- Programme Manager for Knowledge and Sustainability
Mr Alex McWilliam is the Programme Manager for Knowledge and Sustainability at MFF. Alex oversees the implementation of the MFF knowledge and information management activities to ensure effective pathways for transforming lessons and analysis into desired impact upon policy and practice. Alex began working with IUCN and the MFF team in April 2017.
During the last 11 years working with international conservation organisations in South East Asia, Alex progressed from field based project implementation to senior roles managing country programmes that encompass landscape scale conservation initiatives, species-specific management programs, and regional cross cutting issues. He has extensive experience working in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary settings facilitating knowledge management processes, and establishing partnerships to maintain and institutionalise programme outcomes.
Alex holds a bachelor's degree in Science from the Australian National University, Australia.
Job Titles:
- Second Programme Assistant
Ms Helene Marre is the second Programme Assistant of the MFF Initiative, working under the overall guidance of Manager Capacity Development to undertake priority activities related to private sector engagement, knowledge management and communications as well as gender integration. Her work at the Secretariat level will involve supporting MFF countries in the process. Helene started working for IUCN in May 2016.
Helene Marre has over 5 years experience in various domains. She started as an International Project Assistant in a non-profit Institute in Germany to produce Master-Plans (renewable energy, waste and wastewater treatment) for targeted regions in Europe and Africa. Then she entered a consulting office in Luxembourg specialised in funding acquisition for renewable energy and environment-related projects. Parallel to her consulting job, Helene was teaching a Fundraising Seminar.
Helene holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Economics from Trier University of Applied Sciences, Germany; a second Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of Metz, France. She also holds a double Master's degree in International Material Flow Management (M.Engineering) from Trier University of Applied Sciences, Germany and International Cooperation Policy (M. Science) from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan.
Ms Maeve Nightingale is the Capacity Development Manager for MFF. She leads the capacity development programme which aims to contribute to the growing need for qualified coastal practitioners by building a strong cadre of coastal managers and policy makers with the knowledge, tools and skills to design and implement sustainable Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) programmes for countries in the region.
Maeve joined MFF in February 2013 having lead IUCN's Coastal and Marine Programme under the Ecosystems and Livelihood Group since August 2007. During this time she managed several large coastal management projects in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia, and provided technical support for a number of IUCN and MFF projects in multiple other countries.
Maeve holds a BSc degree in Marine and Freshwater Ecology from the University of London Queen Mary College and an MSc in Fisheries Management and Aquaculture from the University of Bangor, North Wales. Before joining IUCN, she worked in the field of coastal ecosystems management for 13 years, through various government, non-government, and international development organizations in the UK, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Viet Nam and Ghana.
The MFF Secretariat made available to the NCB a total of USD 100'000 to assist small projects which are in line with the NSAP and MFF Programme of work. The first call for proposal was launched in 2008 from which 4 applications were received and appraised and all were approved by the NCB following specific guidelines and guidance from the MFF Secretariat. SGF proponents receiving funding in July 2009 have now started implementation at ground level. The four grantees are the Marine Conservation Society of Seychelles, the Green Island Foundation, the Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles and the Seychelles Island Foundation, all addressing and supporting various community action in the restoration and management of coastal ecosystems and their services as a basis for sustainable development, serving as inspirational models for policy makers, building local capacity, enhancing public awareness, promoting innovative community based coastal restoration and rehabilitation projects... see table below. The SGF and the MFF initiative are receiving considerable attention and public support through their involvement and through the national media (newspaper and radio programmes). Additionally, the NCB has received a further USD 50'000 from the Secretariat which will be committed to support community based projects; some applications have already reached the Chair, awaiting NCB screening and appraisal soon using a set of criteria suggested by the NCB and the SGF Operational Guideline.