ADAPTATION RESEARCH ALLIANCE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Membership Coordinator
- Project Manager
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair / University of Maryland
- Co - Chair of the ARA Secretariat
Anand is the co-chair of the ARA Secretariat. He is a Professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has been a coordinating lead author for the IPCC, and a member of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environmental Facility. He currently serves as co-chair of the Science Committee of the World Adaptation Science Program (WASP). He is co-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Global Energy Assessment, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Programme of Research on Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PRO-VIA) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Job Titles:
- International Development Research Centre ( IDRC )
Bruce Currie-Alder is an impatient & stubborn optimist, with a passion for research that catalyzes climate action by helping people in diverse places work together for climate-resilient solutions. Based at Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) he co-leads the funding partnership with the government of the United Kingdom in support of Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE). Bruce previously led the Collaborative Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) and served as IDRC's director for the Middle East and North Africa. He has several publications at the interface of environmental science, international development, and research policy. Bruce holds a PhD in public policy from Carleton University
Job Titles:
- Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences / Makerere University
David is a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He has over 15 years' experience in environment and natural resources management including working as District Local Government Environment Officer. His work covers climate change action research for policy, practice and capacity development including serving as an Adaptation Specialist and Chief of Party for the USAID/Uganda Education and Research Programme on adaptation. He leads the locally-led adaptation program of the LDC Consortium on Climate Change. He also leads the Decentralised Climate Finance Mechanism Working Group for Uganda under the LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience.
Diana is the Communications Officer for the Adaptation Research Alliance. She has a MSc in International Development from the University of Bath, UK. Her experience is in improving communications and managing content to support the work of non-profit organisations. Diana is a professional translator with more than 14 years' experience working with the Portuguese, French and English languages and specialising in the international development sector. She's passionate about using her knowledge of languages to contribute to sustainability and climate resilience.
Job Titles:
- Principal Researcher
- Principal Researcher / International Institute for Environment and Development
- Principal Researcher at the International Institute for Environment
Dr Aditya Bahadur is a Principal Researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development, UK and is working with the ARA to develop a tracking, learning and sharing agenda as well as to strengthen the Alliance's membership base. He has 15 years of experience in research, evaluation and practice of DRR, climate change and development. He has published extensively on these issues, and his work has been cited widely, including by the IPCC. Previously he worked with the DFID funded Action on Climate Today Programme based at Oxford Policy Management and with the Overseas Development Institute, UK as a Research Fellow. He has an MA and a PhD in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK. He completed his Postdoctoral Research at the Earth Institute, Columbia University, and is the author of a new book, ‘Resilience Reset: Creating Resilient Cities in the Global South' (Routledge, 2021).
Job Titles:
- Director of the Science Division at United Nations Environment
- United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP )
Dr Jian Liu is the Director of the Science Division at United Nations Environment and has over 30 years of professional experience in science and policy, in the specific domains of ecosystems management, agriculture, environment and climate change at national, regional and global levels, in particular in developing countries.
Job Titles:
- National Council of Scientific and Technical Research ( CONICET )
- Senior Researcher at the National Council of Scientific and Technical
Dr. Pilar Bueno Rubial is a Senior Researcher at the National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) of Argentina. She is a member of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee (2017-2021) and former co-chair (2018-2019). She negotiated adaptation for Argentina at the UNFCCC and was leading coordinator of the G77 and China on adaptation (2016-2018). She leads the Project Argentina 1.5ºC, as well as the Center of Studies in Environmental Policies of the National University of Rosario (UNR) and the Department of Environment and Development of the National University of La Plata. She is former Secretary of Climate Change in Argentina and current Academic Coordinator of the Diploma in Political Management of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNR).
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center
- National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction ( NCDR ) National Science and Technology Centre for Disaster Reduction ( NCDR )
Dr. Wei-Sen Li is the Executive Director of APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (EPCC) and the Secretary General of National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR). He has a wealth of experiences in the development and implementation of disaster risk reduction and management systems at domestic and regional levels. His working scopes include building capacity through engaging public-private partnership to better prepare for and respond to emergencies and natural disasters in the Asia Pacific region. Currently, he leads international collaborations and conducts research on large-scale urban disasters and disaster risk management.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Officer
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Jenny Frankel-Reed is a senior program officer, climate adaptation, with the Agricultural Development Team at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Her experience includes adaptation strategy and program management, climate information and analysis for vulnerability assessment and planning, and applied research partnerships that bridge disciplines and geographies. Jenny is passionate about co-development in research and technology projects, inspired by her work with regional organizations around the world and NASA. She has previously worked for various bilateral and multilateral development organizations and provided technical assistance to climate programs in 20 countries and regions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Jesse DeMaria-Kinney is the Head of Secretariat of the Adaptation Research Alliance. He has 15 years of experience working at the interface of science-policy-practice in Asia, Africa and Latin America with international and local NGOs and the United Nations. His work has focused on the thematic areas of climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions and Research for Impact, including multi-stakeholder process design and facilitation.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head of Secretariat
- Programme Manager from SouthSouthNorth
Julio is a programme manager from SouthSouthNorth who works in the ARA Secretariat on action research activities, particularly on providing the evidence base and consultative process for approaches and mechanisms for conducting applied research that supports action and implementation and leads to long-term capacity-building. He also works on the principles for adaptation action research and the co-creation space for network formation, coalition building and new programme development. He has an MSc in Atmospheric Science from the University of Cape Town and has experience in co-production, applied research and developing tailored information to aid decision making.
Job Titles:
- Programme Manager
- Programme Manager at South South North
Kelly Alcock is a Programme Manager at South South North for the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA). She is a sustainable development practitioner and enterprise development specialist. Her experience spans over 10+ years of working in the areas of renewable energy project development, development finance, social justice and human rights, with an overarching impact on economic development. She holds a Masters degree in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits Business School) as well as a BA Development and Environment degree from Stellenbosch University, and a BA Honours degree in Environmental Management from the University of South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partnership and Fund Engagement Lead
Kweku is the Senior Partnership and Fund Engagement Lead at the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA), bringing with him over a decade dedicated to advancing global efforts in clean energy transition. He has played pivotal roles in advocating, promoting, and formulating climate change policies on a national and sub-national scale across the African continent. His background is deeply anchored in promoting and translating climate adaptation and resilience research into practical impacts for vulnerable communities. His leadership has been instrumental in overseeing clean energy transition projects that span multiple countries, including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and the Philippines. Kweku holds a BSc in Sociology and Political Science, an MBA in Management Information Systems, and an MSc in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Ghana.
Lucilene Danciguer is an experienced facilitator of participatory and multi-stakeholder processes, expertly guiding groups through change and development. For over twenty years, Lucilene has consulted on environmental and social projects, environmental education, sustainability and local development with various public, private and non-profit organizations throughout Brazil. Co-founder of GAIA Social and Humphey Fellow, she is currently an advisor to a number of programs and NGOs, senior consultant at Reos Partners, director of Sustainable Fashion Collaboration, and facilitator of the Sustainable Amazon Forum.
Manuela Di Mauro is an expert advisor on climate, environment and infrastructure in the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and currently leads the research portfolio under the CLimate Adaptation and Resilience initiative as well as FCDO's relationship with the Adaptation Research Alliance, and stepped in as Co-Chair in 2023 as maternity cover for Rosalind West. Before joining FCDO, Manuela was the Water Lead at the UK National Infrastructure Commission; the lead advisor on climate resilience to the built environment at the UK Committee on Climate Change; and led disaster risk reduction policies and programmes for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Manuela also held technical roles at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, where she advised South-East Asian governments on tsunami and earthquake risk management and climate risks in urban contexts, and at the engineering consultancy HR Wallingford Ltd, working on flood and water risks. Manuela holds a PhD in industrial engineering, a master and bachelor's degrees in environmental engineering and is a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager and Member of CIWEM.
Job Titles:
- Project Administrator
- Project Administrator for the ARA
Matthew is a project administrator for the ARA, with a focus on its Grassroots Action Research Micro-grants and climate finance. He joined SSN in 2022 with the DecarBOOST programme, and previously worked with a South African project assisting local agricultural businesses in entering the voluntary carbon market. Matthew has a degree in business commerce, majoring in financial management which he aims to link to his passion for society, the environment, and climate action.
Job Titles:
- Research Fellow at Transitions Research
- Tracking, Learning & Sharing Lead
- Tracking, Learning & Sharing Lead / Transitions Research
Prerna is a Research Fellow at Transitions Research. Her work focuses on adaptation and resilience research, monitoring and evaluation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration for a step-change in adaptation as part of the Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) Secretariat Strategic Learning and Tracking Partnership. In the past, she has worked in the space of adaptive resilience and uncertainty, and bridging the gap between engineering and community resilience through extensive inter-disciplinary research. She has also worked on post-disaster assessments and recovery planning for Cambodia and states in India vulnerable to climate hazards.
She has a Ph.D. in Infrastructure System Resilience and an MS in Transportation Systems from the School of CEE at Georgia Tech, and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from IIT Gandhinagar.
Job Titles:
- International Centre for Climate Change and Development ( ICCCAD )
Job Titles:
- Director
- Founder
- Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres ( SPARC ) Slum Dwellers International
Sheela Patel is the founder director of the Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC), an NGO that has been working since 1984 to support community organisations of the urban poor in their efforts to access secure housing and basic amenities and seek their right to the city. Patel is widely recognised - nationally and internationally - for seeking urgent attention to the issues of urban poverty, housing and infrastructure onto the radar of governments, bilateral and international agencies, foundations and other organizations. She is a founder of Slum Dwellers International, a transnational social movement of the urban poor, whose board she previously chaired.