Meet the team

Kelly West is  the Executive Coordinator of the Global Funds Branch (GEF/GCF). She has a MSc in Geosciences (University of Arizona 1992) and a PhD in Earth Sciences (University of California - Los Angeles, 1997).  She served on the UNDP/GEF pilot phase ‘Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity Project’ from 1997-2000.

Ludovic has 25 years of experience in the development and implementation of technical cooperation projects in the areas of international waters and chemicals and waste with a strong focus on chemical pollution.

Jochem heads the Climate Services and Capacity Building Unit in UNEP’s Science Division.

He leads efforts on strengthening the science-policy interface at country level and oversees the UNEP GEF-funded Cross-cutting Capacity Development (CCCD) portfolio as well as the GCF-funded Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (CIEWS) portfolio.

Jessica Troni is Senior Programme Officer responsible for the UN Environment-Global Environment Facility Climate Change Adaptation portfolio.

Asher is Head of UNEP’s GEF Climate Mitigation portfolio.  

He oversees the development and implementation of the portfolio, which consists of more than USD 400 million in GEF grant, supporting more than 100 developing countries to accelerate low-emission sustainable development.

Johan Robinson is a Senior Programme Officer responsible for the UN Environment-Global Environment Facility Biodiversity & Land Degradation portfolios.

Isabelle has extensive experience with the negotiation, formulation, and implementation of technical assistance projects primarily GEF funded, and has worked with multiple partners.

Fatma Twahir is an Administrative Officer of the GEF Climate Mitigation Unit (CMU). 

She is responsible for the Financial and Administrative Management of the Unit. She has extensive experience and knowledge in Budget and Finance, with over 30 years working both in the private sector and the UN.

Suzanne oversees the development and implementation of UNEP’s projects which support developing countries meet their reporting obligation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate change.

Julien is responsible for UNEP’s portfolio of GEF-funded climate change mitigation projects in Africa, worth over US$ 50 million of GEF grants.

Kavita Sharma is a Task Manager with the UNEP GEF Biodiversity Land Degradation Unit, based in Bangkok. She is responsible for a multimillion-dollar portfolio of projects in Asia on agrobiodiversity, natural capital accounting, forest and landscape restoration, sustainable commodities, and nature-based infrastructure.

Alex is a programme management officer with the Climate Change Adaptation Unit based at the Nature for Climate Branch in the UNEP’s Ecosystem Division in Nairobi.

Manoj manages and provides technical support to implement GEF Climate Change Mitigation projects in the Asia Pacific region in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric mobility, green housing, sustainable cities, net-zero decarbonization and climate transparency. 

Pooja is the Finance and Budget Officer supporting the overall management of UNEP’s GEF Portfolio, with a focus on financial management and reporting.

She has twenty years of professional experience in financial management, administration, accounting and audit.

Ersin Esen brings 26 years of expertise in sustainable development planning, strategic management, and project cycle management. He has been with UNEP since 2011, serving as Task Manager for the Europe and West Asia regions in the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. In this role, he developed and implemented GEF-funded projects across multiple countries.

Atifa brings over 13 years of experience in climate change adaptation and environmental programming. She has managed the development and implementation of over 25 projects including the GEF, GCF, and Adaptation Fund.

Anna Kontorov has over 15 years of experience working on climate change adaptation, ecosystems and biodiversity issues.

She started her career at the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, focusing on European Union and international biodiversity policy processes, joining UNEP’s Climate Change Adaptation Unit at the end of 2007.

Alex Owusu-Biney supports the UNEP-GEF Portfolio on Biosafety in the development, implementation and technical support to the National Biosafety Frameworks in line with Member States obligations to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety at the Global, Regional and National Levels.

Sangjin is a Task Manager of the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit at UNEP, where he facilitates the development and implementation of UNEP’s overall agenda through coordination of UNEP-GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation projects in the Pacific region, as well as selected countries in the Asia Region.

Christopher is a Task Manager for the Caribbean portfolio of GEF-funded Biodiversity and Land Degradation projects within UNEP's Ecosystems Division.

Anu oversees the GEF Chemicals and Waste Portfolio finances and administrative queries.



She has 17 years of experience in administration at the UN Office of Nairobi and in programme budgeting in UNEP. Anu is a national of the Netherlands and India, she holds an MBA.



 

Florence oversees the financial management of the Cross-Cutting Capacity Development (CCCD) portfolio as well as the GCF-funded Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (CIEWS) portfolio.

Peerayot Sidonrusmee currently works for the UNEP GEF Biodiversity & Land Degradation portfolio for Asia and the Pacific, where he provides support for UNEP GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation projects.

Gloritzel Frangakis has worked with UNEP for over 12 years with the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit within the Ecosystems Division, providing project cycle management support to GEF-funded Biodiversity and Land Degradation projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

Daniel has a blend of experience working in various capacities in the last 27 years with and for governments, academia, bilateral and multilateral biodiversity conservation and management projects, consultancy companies, international NGOs and now with UNEP CCAU after the UNEP UN-REDD Programme.