ELD Secretariat
The ELD initiative is coordinated and supported by the ELD Secretariat, which is hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) at the Sector Project on Soil Protection, Combating Desertification, Sustainable Land Management.
Nina Bisom
Position ELD Initiative Secretariat Coordinator Location ELD Initiative Secretariat, Bonn, Germany With ELD since Nina joined the ELD Initiative in July 2021 What she does As coordinator, Nina is responsible for the synchronization of partners and donors, strategic exchange and policy dialogue, internal and external communication, internal work streams, and dialogue with potential partners and partner countries. Background Nina holds a Master’s Degree in Political Sciences. Before she joined ELD, Nina worked for GIZ in different projects and positions. From 2006 to 2013, she worked on water policy issues, giving policy advice to the BMZ as well as between 2009 and 2013 to the Burundian government, supporting the Burundian water sector reforms and water resources management. She then worked on a GIZ sector project on environmental policy in Bonn, which she coordinated as team leader from 2017 to 2021.
Waltraud Ederer
Position Natural Capital Officer Location ELD Initiative Secretariat, Bonn, Germany With ELD since Waltraud re-joined the ELD Initiative in late 2019, after having already been part of the team in 2015 What she does Waltraud is mainly working on topics related to the ELD workstreams on natural capital and financing for sustainable land management Background Before Waltraud joined ELD, she worked at the interface of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Comprehensive climate risk management and the policy discourse on Loss and Damage built the core of her work as policy advisor. Coordinating capacity development formats and climate risk assessments (incl. economic evaluation) in partner countries used to be an important part of her work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Economics and Management.
Hanna Albrecht
Position Capacity Development Officer Location ELD Initiative Secretariat, Bonn, Germany With ELD since Hanna joined the ELD Initiative in early 2020 What he does Hanna works primarily on ELD’s Capacity Development Strategy and its implementation. Background Hanna is a Civil and environmental Engineer and has worked in East African countries on integrated water resources management and landscape restoration. Most recently, she was engaged in organisational development for transboundary water resources management and is currently expending her field of expertise in the areas of ecosystem health and biodiversity through an additional Master’s programme.
Johannes Kruse
Position ELD Project Manager Location ELD Initiative Secretariat, Bonn, Germany With ELD since Johannes joined the ELD Initiative in May 2022. What he does Johannes primarily works on network development, knowledge management and the science-policy interface. He also coordinates the communications work of ELD. Background Before joining ELD, Johannes worked as a policy advisor to the environment division of the German development ministry and coordinator of the BMZ Green Value Initiative – Natural Capital in Africa. He has extensive experience with integrating the value of nature in decision-making and policies in partner countries, development banks, and accounting systems. He holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability Economics and Management and a B.A. in Philosophy and Economics.
Richard J. Thomas
Position ELD Network – Scientific Coordination Location ICARDA, currently based in Canada With ELD since Richard has been involved with the ELD Initiative since its initiation in 2011 What he does Richard is a scientific advisor and coordinator for ELD studies, provides scientific guidance for the ongoing project and facilitates the policy dialogue at the international level. Background Richard was the director for the CGIAR’s Dryland Systems Programme based at ICARDA in Amman, Jordan. He has over 20 years’ experience in managing and implementing research projects and directing research teams on integrated natural resources management including studies on soil physics, chemistry and biology, water, crop and livestock management.
Naomi Stewart
Position ELD Communications Specialist Location London, UK With ELD since Naomi originally joined the ELD Scientific Coordination team in 2012, and has been supporting the project since. What she does Naomi provides strategic communications expertise to the ELD Initiative across written and digital content, website, and social media, and provides editorial support and guidance. Background Naomi is a science policy and science communications professional specialising in environment, economics, and health. With over 15 years of international experience in government, think tanks, research facilities, journals, and universities, she also holds a MSc in Science Communication, and an HBSc in English, Biology, and Physical Geography.