Yazon Gnoumou

I am applying for the position of the Country Director – Burkina Faso for SNV because of my background as the Country Director of Stewart Global Solutions in Benin from July 2008 to November 2010; as the West and Central Africa Water and Wetlands program coordinator of the World Conservation Union, IUCN, from May 2006 to July 2008; as the Chief of Party of FIT/CIRAD for the land security project of the Millennium Challenge Account in Senegal, 2013 to 2015, and Benin, 2008 to 2010; and finally as the chief of various projects in the Ministry of Water and Environment of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1996; finally, because of my familiarity with SNV programs since I was the facilitator in February 2006 of SNV regional workshop held in Bobo Dioulasso on Dry Land Management.

I have a Ph. D., 2003 and Master of Science, 1998, in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. I obtained in 1990 a Postgraduate degree in Engineering Hydrology at the International Institute of Hydraulics and Environmental Studies, IHE, Delft, the Netherlands. I received my degree of Engineer in Hydraulics and Rural Development, Agriculture, Water and Environment and Energy, from the Inter-States Engineering School of Hydraulics and Rural Development, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. My associate degree was obtained in June 1980 in Electronics at the University of Dakar in Senegal.

My experiences covered many development issues and Challenges in Africa and particularly in Burkina Faso including irrigation development and food production increase; the development of rural infrastructures; the Integrated Management and Development of River Basin Resources; water supply, sanitation and hygiene, poverty alleviation in the context of fast growing demography; low literacy rate and weak local organization for decision making particularly for vulnerable populations and gender equity. My experiences have tied strong work relationships with key government senior officials, donors, NGOs, facilitated by my strong skills in networking and coordinating work with partners.

From December 2012 to now, I have been serving as the Chief of Party of the Land Security Project of the Millennium Challenge Account Program in Senegal. Before this position, I served November 2010 to December 2012, as the senior participatory rural land use planner of the Burkina Faso Millennium Challenge Program. From August 2008 to November 2010, I was the Country Director and Chief of Party for Stewart International and implementing a Land Policy Reform Project of the Millennium Challenge Account, MCA-Benin, for the Government of Benin.

From May 2006 to July 2008, as the regional coordinator of Water and Wetlands in West and Central Africa of the World Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN, I led the development of IUCN water strategy and designed the portfolio of projects in partnership with countries involved, NGOS, researchers and funding partners with the goal to influence policy, for sustainable and equitable use of water resources through demonstration of key pilot actions at watershed, regional, national and local levels.

From 2004 to 2006, I worked as an international independent consultant in the sectors of Water, Rural Development and Equipment, Environment and Land Tenure working in multidisciplinary, multi-cultural and countries environment. I was one of the teams’ members of International Consultants of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, assisting countries in West Africa for their project development for the Millennium Challenge Account for food production increase, for poverty alleviation which aim to accelerate economic growth. From August 2005 to April 2006, as the Water Resources Expert of a team of 3 experts we drafted the West African Monetary Fund Environmental Policy finalized in 2007.

From 1998 to 2003, I worked as a Research Assistant of the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the following USAID projects addressing policy design, institutional changes for sustainable development and capacities building and food production increase: Natural Resources Management of Guinea; Mali National Strategy for Irrigation development; Land Conflicts in Irrigation in Mali; Senegal and Chad Land Observatory Development. In addition, I participated to the preparation of the University bids for various USAID projects and have therefore strong skills and experiences with USAID projects, procedures, policies and reporting requirements. In 2002 I conducted a year research on irrigation management in the Senegal River Valley for my Ph.D. thesis.

After graduation as an engineer in June 1983, I received one year training on rural water supply and sanitation with the French company BRGM, Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Minière, through the Project, Conseil de l’Entente. I was nominated the manager of various projects: Capacity building of the National Office of Hydraulics from 1994 to 1996; Water Balance of Burkina Faso from 1991 to 1993; Mouhoun Water Supply and Sanitation project, from 1984 to 1986. The Water Balance project helped designing the Hydrogeological Map of Burkina Faso, scale 1: 500 000, and a Water Master Plan for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation of the country involving most stakeholders in the rural development sector. In fact in the Ministry of Water and Environment of Burkina Faso, I worked as Director, Head of Department, field Engineer and designed, implemented and evaluated projects in various rural development and equipment sectors. I collaborated with various stakeholders aiming particularly to strengthening local capacities. I successfully coordinated multi-disciplinary teams’ work of international and local experts and administrating very large projects of millions of US dollars with staffs of more than two hundred. I have a good knowledge of several donors’ policies and approaches such as Results Oriented Base Strategy, strategic planning and negotiated funds with various donors. In all projects conducted, I applied innovative approaches; successfully completed projects in the range of the budget assigned and reached the goals assigned.

I have strong communication and negotiation skills with country officials and local people. I am multilingual english and french and speak two African languages, bambara and bobo, and have strong skills leading, strengthening teams to exceed expected results. I am very good using the main computer software such as Word; PowerPoint; Access; Excel and GIS common tools, Arc View, and Erdas. I have work experiences with bilateral and multilateral institutions such as, DGIS, USAID, CIDA, UNDP, etc…, and with, universities, NGOs, and will use this network for the benefit of SNV if I am selected.

I certify that the statements made by me above are true, complete and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Yazon Gnoumou