Nienke Andriessen
YEP period 2016 - 2017, batch 6
Young Expert at SNV - BangladeshFirst position after YEP
Scientific Project Officer at Eawag (the Swiss Federal Institute for Aquatic Science and Technology), Switzerland
YEP Role
As part of the project “Demonstration of pro-poor market-based solutions for faecal sludge management in urban centers of Southern Bangladesh” (funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), I was responsible for demonstrating business models for the Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) sector. The aim of this 4 year project was to show sustainable and financially viable solutions for FSM in 3 cities in Southern Bangladesh: Khulna, Kustia and Jhenaidah. The aim was to improve the health and well-being of the urban population by making hygienic sludge emptying services accessible and affordable for the urban poor.
Click here for more information about my project.
Skills
My technical expertise is on waste water treatment, and faecal sludge management. During my intercultural and interdisciplinary studies I have learned to cooperate with people of diverse nationalities. Furthermore, I have experience as facilitator and trainer in various subjects (e.g. personal leadership, goal setting, strategy development). My personal strengths are: taking fast and relevant action, fast learner, adapting easily to diverse environments, working independently with an eye for high quality.
Languages: Dutch (native), English (fluent), German (intermediate), French (basic).
Background
Nationality: Dutch
Education: MSc Environmental technology at Wageningen University (Wageningen, the Netherlands), specializing in sanitation. BSc Liberal arts and sciences at University College Maastricht (Maastricht, the Netherlands), specializing in international sustainable development. One semester at Australian National University (Canberra, Australia).
Experience before YEP
- Internship at Eawag (Department for water and sanitation in developing countries) in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Project: “A market-driven approach to faecal sludge end products – Testing a methodology in Kampala”. My work included testing and improving a methodology for assessing the reuse potential of faecal sludge, including 10 weeks of fieldwork in Uganda.
- President at AIESEC Wageningen. AIESEC is an international student-run organization that aims at developing leadership potential, and creating intercultural understanding by providing internships abroad. Hereby, they want to stimulate positive societal change and stimulate talented students to explore these talents. As president, I was responsible for leading and coaching the daily board, and ensuring sustainable strategic direction of AIESEC Wageningen.
- Two intercultural youth projects in Rwanda. The two projects aimed at showing the importance of international development cooperation and improving international dialogue.
