NEWS

Organisations: deadline project submission

Deadline for submitting project proposals by organisations (batch 19):

15 October 2019

Preparatory training course

Training of the 18th batch starts on 25 November

Training of the 19th batch starts on 20 January 2020

Candidates: apply for YEP positions

New YEP positions will be available on 4 November

Introduction video YEP

YEP in a nutshell: the new introduction video about YEP Programmes is now online.

Iris van der Meer

Where is she now? Wildlife Programme Coordinator at WWF Zambia

History

Young Expert at WNF - Zambia

YEP period 2016 - 2018, batch 7

YEP Role

My first year with YEP was spend working as programme officer for the Climate Change Programme of HoA-REC&N in Gambella, Ethiopia. I worked on natural resource conservation by promoting integrated landscape management around Gambella National park and using a 400 ha demonstration site, known as the EcoHub, which was used as a learning location for sustainable agriculture practices (permaculture) and ecologically viable NTFP value chain development.

For my second year I changed positions and moved to Zambia where I worked for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). I was based in Sesheke, the Western Province of Zambia, and worked on wildlife conservation in and around Sioma Ngwezi National Park. Futhermore, I was involved with the strategic development for a nation wide Species & Protected Areas Programme.

Please click here for more information about my project.

Skills

Interdisciplinary natural resource management
Tropical ecology
Wildlife conservation
Goal-oriented, analytical, accurate, proactive
Positive, open-minded, independent

Background

Nationality: Dutch

Education:

MSc Forest & Nature Conservation of Wageningen University, The Netherlands (2014)
Btech Nature Conservation from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa (2011)
BSc Biology from Utrecht University, The Netherlands (2009)

Experience before YEP

During and in between my studies I have gained experience in conducting field research in several countries and habitats. During my Btech Nature Conservatio) I have executed various projects in South Africa focused on natural resource management and wildlife conservation. Within my Masters I executed a tropical ecology course in Uganda, the research for my masterthesis in the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil on tree regeneration for the hyacinth macaw, and an internship in Guinea-Bissau on chimpanzee ecology. After graduation in 2014 I started working at the graduate school Production Ecology & Resource Conservation of Wageningen University as PhD programme assistant. Next to my job at the University I worked as junior advisor with Partners for Innovation (1 day per week) in strategic and business planning for Agroforestry Enterprise Development in West-Africa. Currently I work as Young Expert for MetaMeta / Horn of Africa Regional Environment Centre & Network in Gambella, Ethiopia. Furthermore, I am involved as a volunteer for the Kronendak Foundation and for Future for Nature Foundation, both having a focus on international nature conservation.