Bruno M. François

Regional / Rural Development * Natural Resources Management * Poverty Alleviation
Strategic Planning * Policy and Institutional Reform * Capacity Building * Decentralization
Coastal Zone Management * Forest & Watershed Management * Protected Area Management
GIS * Enterprise Development * Infrastructure Development * Monitoring and Evaluation

Bruno François is a regional/rural development and natural resources management specialist with over 17 years of professional experience in more than 35 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. He has provided technical assistance and project management services to a range of international development agencies, national and local governments, NGOs and private sector interests. He has worked with AfDB, AsDB, CIDA, DFID, FAO, EC, GTZ, IDRC, IFAD, SIDA, UNDP, USAID, WFP, and the World Bank. From 1988-93 he was an independent consultant, leading the preparation of integrated natural resources management plans and environmental action plans in various parts of the world. He then served as an agriculture and natural resources specialist for the NGO CARE between 1993-95, and as an environment and natural resources advisor to CIDA between 1995-98, providing support to various regions in strategic planning, program design and management, policy and institutional reform, capacity building, environmental assessment, monitoring and evaluation. From 1998-99, he served as a technical advisor for the USAID Action Program for the Environment and the World Bank Environmental Management Capacity Building Project in Uganda where he helped to strengthen the national environmental policy, legislative and institutional framework and pioneered a model for the decentralization of natural resources management. Since 1999, he has been a senior associate and director of the EarthWise Development Group, providing professional services in support of poverty alleviation, decentralization, economic development and resources conservation efforts of emerging democracies. From 2001-02, he served as Team Leader and Policy and Planning Advisor for the inception phase of the $40 US million DFID-funded Rural Access Programme (RAP) in Nepal. This innovative initiative aimed to mainstream poverty alleviation within infrastructure investment projects and support decentralization through the institutionalization of an integrated development planning process (or model) based on access needs. From 2002-03, he served as Team Leader for the final year of a large EC-funded rural development project which aimed to alleviate poverty and support sustainable economic growth in two rural districts of western Nepal. In 2003 he served as Environmental Governance Specialist with the UNDP-Nepal and UNDP-Maldives offices, developing strategies to help improve the countries' natural resources management policies and practices within the framework of decentralization processes. From 2003-05, he served as Team Leader for a large EC-funded regional development project which aimed to alleviate poverty and support sustainable economic growth in two rural provinces of Armenia. He is currently serving as Chief Technical Advisor to a Regional Development Agency in Armenia. Mr. François is an experienced multidisciplinary team leader. He is also fluent in French and English, and has good working knowledge of Spanish.

M.Sc./.D.E.A., Integrated Natural Resources Management, École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique (ENSA) / Institut National de la Recherche, Agronomique (INRA), Montpellier, France, 1989.

Thesis topic: Marine Protected Areas as a Tool for Coastal Zone Management: a Case Study in Tanzania

B.Sc., Agricultural Economics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, 1988.

Earthwise Development, Inc., Washington, DC, USA / TA to Regional Development and Competitiveness Agency, Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia, 2005-Present

Chief Technical Advisor. Technical support for institutional and capacity building of the Agency, established through EC-funded Project for Regional Development of Armenia (see below). Tasks include: development of overall strategy; establishment and organisation of RDCA directorates (Regional Planning & Programming; Business Support & Development; Marketing & Investment Promotion; Human Resources Development); recruitment and training of staff; development of work plans and procedures; facilitation of RDCA board meetings; coordination and monitoring of RDCA directorates' activities; development of regional GIS; identification of partners and development of partnership agreements for implementation of regional economic development strategies; and preparation and marketing of business plans and project proposals to investors and donors

Eurecna SpA International Services, Mestre-Venezia, Italy / European Project (EC-funded) for Regional Development of Armenia (REDAM), Yerevan, Armenia, 2003-05

Team Leader / Regional Development Expert / Policy Advisor to Ministry of Territorial Administration. All administrative, management and programming responsibilities for a pioneering regional economic development project piloted in two provinces. Project aimed to support the decentralization process in Armenia and strengthen the institutional capabilities at central, regional and community levels in activating measures for regional development and poverty reduction. Main tasks included: design and implementation of long-term (horizon 2020) regional economic development and diversification strategies and plans with a strong focus on the development of industry/SME clusters (dairy, wine, fruit processing, tourism) with competitive advantages; design and implementation of a comprehensive socio-economic analysis process; development of a GIS-based information system for the identification and analysis of regional competitive advantages; formulation of regional production and marketing strategies for various products (cheese, wine, fruits, tourism); facilitation of numerous strategic planning and training workshops involving all key regional stakeholders; design and implementation of a public awareness strategy to foster people's participation in the definition of regional development priorities; design and implementation of regional information management system (MIS) to support the regional development process; organization of study tours (to Lebanon and Slovenia) to examine regional development "best practices" and policies and to analyse various relevant industry clusters (dairy, wine, tourism); mobilization of resources and promotion of investments (e.g. through the establishment of an Investors' Association); establishment and capacity building of Regional Development and Competitiveness Agencies (RDCAs); design of a new civil service training strategy and design of an accredited regional development training programme for civil servants; delivery of training programme for capacity building of local, regional and central-level civil servants in planning, managing and monitoring regional development; support to Ministry of Territorial Administration for establishment of a national policy, legal and institutional framework for regional development to guide the development process in the other provinces;; development of "Best Practice" Guidelines for Regional Development in Armenia; recruitment and management of a multidisciplinary staff of over 50 long- and short-term experts as well as a number of international consultants; establishment of project offices; preparation of workplans and inception/progress reports; management of the project finances; and coordination and development of strategic partnerships with other projects and donors.

UNDP / Ministry of Home Affairs, Housing and Environment (MHAHE) / Environmental Institutional Strengthening (EIS) Project, Malé, Maldives, 2003

Technical Advisor / Environmental Governance and Institutional Specialist. Technical and institutional support to the Environment Section (ES) and Environment Research Centre (ERC) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Housing and Environment (MHAHE) for coordination and integration of environmental considerations in national and atoll / island policies, budgets and administrations. Tasks included: review of national environmental policy, legal and institutional framework relating to coastal and marine resources management; capacity assessment of ES/ERC and development of recommendations to strengthen ES/ERC capacity in environmental management of coastal development projects and in cross-sectoral planning; and development of mechanisms/tools and institutional arrangements for improved coastal and marine resources management including operational guidelines and processes for the decentralisation of environmental and natural resources management to the outer islands/atolls. A key output was a model for the decentralisation of natural resources management focused on the formulation and implementation of coastal zone management plans by the regional, atoll and island-level governments and the island communities they represent. This collaborative management model was subsequently piloted in four Atolls as part of the UNDP Atoll Development Project and UNDP/GEF Baa Atoll Ecosystem-based Conservation Project.

UNDP / Nepal Capacity 2015, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2003

Technical Advisor / Environmental Governance Specialist. Design of programme to implement the Sustainable Development Agenda for Nepal (SDAN), an umbrella, multi-sectoral policy document designed to guide all national development plans and policies up to 2017. The programme's three-pronged strategy was to (1) create an enabling policy, legal and institutional environment at central and local government levels for the decentralized and sustainable management of natural resources including removal of barriers to advance community and private sector participation in development of natural resources, rural economies and commercial enterprises; (2) empower and build the capabilities of local governments and communities to manage and generate benefits from their resources; and (3) encourage the rural private sector to establish rural SMEs based on the sustainable use of natural resources. Work entailed a review of national policies and lessons learned from past development efforts to identify gaps, inadequacies and conflicts leading to poor resource management practices and poverty as well as opportunities for improvement; numerous consultations and planning workshops (as facilitator) with all key stakeholders including national and local governments, private sector, donors and NGOs; and preparation of programme documents including logical framework, strategy and implementation arrangements, all of which were fully endorsed by UNDP. The model was subsequently piloted in six rural districts.

Landell Mills Development Consultants, Ltd., Trowbridge, UK / EC Gulmi-Arghakhanchi Rural Development Project, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2002-03

Team Leader / Rural Development Expert / Policy Advisor to Ministry of Local Development. All administrative, management and programming responsibilities for final year (one-year extension) of a US$ 17M rural development project which aimed to alleviate poverty and support sustainable economic growth in two rural districts of western Nepal. Main tasks included design and implementation of long-term regional economic development and diversification strategies based on sustainable development and management of natural resources; development of a GIS-based information system to identify and analyze regional competitive advantages; development and implementation of regional production and marketing strategies for various products (e.g. dairy, meat, coffee, citrus, ginger, potato seed, honey, non-timber forest products, tourism); establishment of a self-sustaining business support centre (http://www.LBSC.com.np) including design and implementation of a small and medium enterprise (SME) equity investment fund (Nepal's first); identification and development of high-impact rural SMEs; infrastructure development in support of enterprise development (including access roads, irrigation, electrification); feasibility study and strategic planning for establishment of a local stock market; promotion and establishment of public-private sector partnerships (PPPs), and development of a Methodology for the Promotion of PPPs in the Rural Areas of Nepal; capacity building of farmers, entrepreneurs and local government bodies; policy advice to Ministry of Local Development in the area of rural private sector development; and management of a multidisciplinary staff of over 75.

WSP International Management Consulting, Ltd. / DFID-UK Rural Access Programme (RAP), Kathmandu, Nepal, 2001-02

Team Leader / Rural Development Policy and Planning Expert / Policy Advisor to Ministry of Local Development and Ministry of Physical Planning and Public Works. All administrative, management and programming responsibilities for the inception phase of this US$ 40M poverty alleviation programme. Programme objective was to support Nepal's decentralization process and improve livelihoods in the country's rural regions by strengthening the institutional capabilities at central, district and village levels in infrastructure planning in order to improve people's access to valued goods and services. Work entailed: 1) design and pilot implementation (in 6 districts) of a district-level Integrated Rural Accessibility Planning (IRAP) methodology to guide rural transport and infrastructure investments, build capacities of local governments to identify and prioritise investments, empower local communities to exercise their roles and responsibilities in the decentralized decision-making process, and create an enabling environment for the sustainable development of small and micro rural enterprises particularly for the poor and disadvantaged groups; 2) policy and institutional support to build capacity of relevant Government institutions in cross-sectoral infrastructure development planning and to mainstream poverty alleviation within the Government's infrastructure investment programmes, including drafting of National Rural Infrastructure Development Strategy (which institutionalised the IRAP methodology); integration of IRAP into the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), Tenth Five Year Plan, District Development Planning Manual, and Local Self-Governance Act; and promotion of lessons learned from the pilot implementation of IRAP for nation-wide replication of the model; and 3) recruitment and management of a team of 5 expatriate technical advisors, over 20 Nepali staff, and several short-term international consultants. Also served as Coordinator for a multi-donor forum tasked with improving rural infrastructure development planning in Nepal.

EarthWise Development, Inc. (EDI), Washington, DC, 1999 - Present

Senior Associate and Founding Director. Strategic planning, technical backstopping to project teams, administrative and marketing responsibilities, and international consulting services in integrated rural development, natural resource management, conservation planning, decentralisation, governance, and private sector development. Services provided have included institutional strengthening and capacity building, policy analysis and development, technical assistance, project management, and the development of information systems for effective planning and monitoring. Major undertakings have included the development of a protected area planning process and its pilot implementation in Jamaica's Dolphin Head region through partnership arrangements between the local government, private sector and neighboring communities; the development of an integrated resources management strategy in the Philippines for USAID; preparation of a strategic plan for the World Wildlife Fund's Madagascar Programme and a technical assistance package for its implementation; and investment planning for the creation of private-public sector partnerships for the development and management of the Hacienda Baru Nature Reserve in Costa Rica.

World Bank / National Environment Management Authority / Environmental Management Capacity Building Project (EMCBP) // USAID / ARD Action Program for the Environment (APE), Uganda, 1998-99.

Environment & Natural Resources Advisor. Worked closely with senior government officials to strengthen and operationalize the national policy, legislative and institutional framework for environmental and natural resources management. Tasks included: (i) development of a program strategy and implementation framework for the establishment of Environmental Management Units within 26 line ministries and agencies; (ii) design and implementation of a model for the decentralization of natural resources management to the district and sub-district government levels; (iii) design and implementation of a GIS-based information management system to analyze and monitor habitat quality, resource use, governance and poverty alleviation at both national and district levels using community-based indicators; (iv) strengthening of the new national protected area planning process through the incorporation of social, economic and natural resource use needs and issues; and (v) integration of protected area planning into the decentralization process. Established, trained and managed a national task force of 20 staff. Facilitated numerous training and strategic planning workshops. Prepared progress reports for World Bank, USAID and senior government officials. Developed project logframes, workplans, budgets, scopes of work and consultants' terms of reference.

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Hull, Canada, 1995-98

Environment & Natural Resources Specialist. Provided support to various regions (Asia, Africa, Eastern and Central Europe, and South Pacific) in strategic planning, technical analysis, policy analysis and formulation, program design and management, environmental assessment, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis and formulation, training, institutional analysis and strengthening. Served as team leader on design, monitoring and evaluation missions for programs and projects in sustainable agriculture and irrigation development (Egypt), coastal zone and marine resources management (Madagascar, Philippines), forest and watershed management (Nepal), energy development and rural electrification (Bangladesh, Tanzania), biodiversity conservation, protected area development and ecotourism (Russia), decentralization and local government capacity building (Philippines), fisheries industry management (Morocco), and urban pollution management (India). Developed project implementation frameworks, workplans and budgets. Developed EIA manuals and sectoral guidelines. Designed and delivered EIA training workshops. Monitored the implementation of environmental management plans for large capital investment projects. Organized and facilitated public participation processes. Recruited and managed several consultants.

Interimco, Inc. / EDC Regional Agricultural Development, Trade and Marketing Project, Southern Africa (Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa Zimbabwe), 1995

Agricultural Consultant. Provided assistance in the design and implementation of a capital investment project in Southern Africa which focused on the development and implementation of regional strategies to increase and improve regional agricultural production; the development of effective distribution channels and cross-border trade links for major agricultural commodities based on regional comparative advantages; and the promotion of market integration to reduce the region's reliance on international food aid. Tasks included: analysis of policies and issues affecting production, trade and marketing of various agricultural products across the region, including the impact of food and feed grain donations on the regional agricultural sector; regional agro-economic and agro-ecological assessments to determine trade patterns, comparative advantages and development potentials for crop production; regional market analyses and development of marketing strategies including development of partnership arrangements with grain marketing boards and locally-based food aid agencies; assessment of technical, financial and logistical support requirements for local producers; and development of investment strategies.

CARE International, Ottawa, Canada, 1993-95

Agriculture and Natural Resources Specialist. Provided support to CARE offices around the world in strategic planning, project design, environmental assessment, training, and monitoring and evaluation. Led and managed several multidisciplinary mission teams. Developed and coordinated the implementation of several new programs in regional natural resources management (Pakistan), agriculture and integrated rural development (Mali), marine and coastal resources management (Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza/Palestinian Territories), protected area planning and biodiversity conservation (Cameroon, Zimbabwe), forest and watershed management (Ecuador), integrated pest management (West Bank/Palestinian Territories), and geographic information systems (Ecuador, Palestinian Territories). Secured funding for these new programs from both bilateral and multilateral agencies. Provided support for capacity building of national and local government institutions, NGOs and CBOs. Supervised and coordinated the work of several international consultants.

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Hull, Canada, 1993

Consultant. Provided technical support services to CIDA's Professional Services Branch. Assignments included: (i) design of a technical assistance and policy development program for Guyana's forestry and fisheries sector; (ii) policy and institutional analysis for the design of an environmental action program focused on capacity development in Jamaica; (iii) technical and policy analyses to guide the design of a project for the environmental protection and economic development of the Amazon basin; (iv) preparation of an environmental action plan to guide Canadian development assistance to Haiti; (v) an Initial Environmental Impact Assessment for the planned construction of a dam on the Roseau River in St. Lucia; and (vi) preparation of an environmental profile of the Lower Mekong Basin to guide CIDA's interventions in the region.

Gharib Associates / Hajar Watershed Management Project, Sultanate of Oman, 1991-92

Regional Planner / Project Director. Directed implementation of project to enhance livelihoods of rural communities through improved management of natural resources. Worked closely with local government officials and communities to prepare integrated natural resources management plans for major watersheds. Work entailed: development of land use and site selection criteria for management, development and rehabilitation of more than 30,000 hectares of land; development of a prioritized investment plan for the region; identification and formulation of strategies to expand and improve the agricultural sector (through irrigation and micro-hydro development), rehabilitate forests, establish protected sites for conservation of sensitive or critical ecosystems, and develop the tourism sector; technical, environmental and economic assessments of identified priority development projects in the tourism, agriculture, forestry and energy sectors; organization and facilitation of a regional workshop to promote the various projects and attract private sector investments for implementation of the various projects; and capacity building of local government officials and community leaders in various aspects of natural resources management. Managed a multidisciplinary team of twelve local specialists.

CIDA / Centre Estrien de Ressources en Développement International / Communal Areas Management Program For Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE), Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, 1990-91

Technical Advisor / District Planner. Facilitated the preparation and implementation of a District Development Plan for Nyaminyami District, a pilot district of the CAMPFIRE Programme encompassing several protected areas. Programme objective was to promote alternative livelihoods on lands that are marginal for crop and livestock production, focusing on sustainable wildlife utilisation. Tasks included: conducting district-wide resource inventories and assessments to identify potential commercial activities and investment opportunities associated with wildlife utilisation on communal lands bordering national parks and game reserves; organizing and facilitating multi-stakeholder planning workshops (involving district and central government officials, community groups, private sector, NGOs and development agencies) to identify and develop natural resources management strategies to both improve livelihoods and promote conservation; developing and monitoring the implementation of guidelines for community and private sector collaboration in the implementation of tourism and game hunting activities; providing technical support to improve the traditional production systems and introduce new ones (including fish farming); identifying investment, infrastructure and training requirements for the proposed development activities; developing educational programmes, publicity materials, tourism literature and maps; and building capacity of local government officials and community leaders in various aspects of integrated resources management and development planning. Trained and managed a district team of seven local specialists. Assignment included a 2-week secondment to Ministry of Parks and Wildlife in Botswana and a 2-week secondment to the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources in Namibia to share lessons of the CAMPFIRE model.

GTZ / Tanzania National Parks Technical Assistance Programme, 1990

Technical Advisor / Natural Resources Planner. Provided technical assistance to Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) in the preparation of management plans for the game reserves (buffer zones) adjacent to the Ngorongoro / Serengeti protected area system. Work entailed: conducting land and aerial surveys to assess the carrying capacity of the reserves and the level of encroachment by the neighbouring communities; establishing sustainable hunting quotas; conducting meetings with over 30 communities within and adjacent to the boundaries of the reserves to address and identify solutions to resource use conflicts; integrating community resource management issues into the game reserves' management plans; and developing environmental indicators to monitor the effectiveness of the resources conservation measures.

CIDA / Centre Estrien de Ressources en Développement International / Zanzibar Island Coastal Zone Management Plan, Tanzania, 1989-90

Technical Advisor / Coastal Resources Planner. Directed the preparation of an integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for the Island of Zanzibar. Worked in close collaboration with national and local government officials, coastal communities, NGOs and private developers to formulate strategies to improve management of coastal and marine resources and enhance livelihoods. Tasks included: preparation of resources inventory and assessments to identify critical threats; analysis of stakeholders and resource use conflicts; review of sector policies and analysis of linkages between the various coastal economic sectors (particularly tourism, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, energy, and water); development of integrated natural resources management strategies through an extensive multi-stakeholder planning process; establishment of inter-agency mechanisms to improve coordination between the different economic sectors; development of policy guidelines for integrated coastal zone management; development of environmental impact assessment guidelines, draft regulations and mitigation measures to reduce the impact of urban, industrial and other coastal development activities; identification of sites of high biodiversity and development of guidelines to establish marine parks and reserves based on the multi-purpose conservation model developed for Mafia Island (see below); assessment of local capabilities and training needs for the implementation of the integrated coastal zone management plan; development of a training plan, and training of local counterparts in various aspects of coastal zone management planning; preparation of budgets, activity schedules and reports for funding agencies and senior government officials; and organization of a regional workshop to present the Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan to the political leadership and funding agencies.

CIDA / SIDA / Centre Estrien de Ressources en Développement International / Mafia Islands National Park Project, Tanzania, 1988-90

Technical Advisor / Coastal Resources Planner. Worked closely with government authorities, local communities, private developers and NGOs to establish Tanzania's first national marine park, designed as a multi purpose conservation area. Work entailed: preparation of a resources inventory and assessment to identify threats and opportunities for diversifying the local economy and to demarcate and zone the protected area; analysis of stakeholders and resource use conflicts; promotion and development of sustainable park-based economic activities for the local communities; development of conservation strategies focused on mitigating human impact (dynamite fishing, mining of coral rocks, oil drilling); development of coral reef monitoring system for core conservation areas; identification of research needs; preparation of a draft park management plan; and development of institutional, policy and legal mechanisms to implement the management plan.

Hamilton Engineering International, Inc. (DESSAU Group), Montreal, Canada, 1988-89

Development Planner. Provided technical assistance in the preparation and management of several major projects. Main tasks included feasibility study for an integrated water resources development project in Safi, Morocco (AfDB); monitoring of an integrated rural development project in Bangladesh (AsDB); and design of coastal forest conservation project in Tanzania (CIDA). Developed terms of reference for consultants. Prepared project reports for contracting agencies.