Consultant
Strategy, evaluation and storytelling
Strategic advisor and proposal writer with over 20 years of international experience at the interface of development practice, research and policy.
Specialist in complex, multi-actor programmes in agroecology, land governance, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. My approach combines strategic narrative design, a deep understanding of donor logics and strong field experience.
~20M
CHF secured
16/23 proposals won
3
organisations created
Melanzé, SomOne Music, CREATES
5
national offices
Red Cross + CDE Myanmar
13
years in leadership
Director or head of office
6
countries use my tools
Early warning, 18 years active
10
countries of residence
Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean
Interactive CV
Click each entry to see details.
Co-head, Sustainable Land Systems Impact Area
CDE, University of Bern
Co-leading the Sustainable Land Systems Impact Area at the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE). Part-time.
Senior Researcher
University of Bern (GIUB & CDE)
Design and leadership of research-action projects on agroecology; proposal writing and fundraising for Swiss and international donors.
Co-Founder & Director for Development
CREATES
Establishment and scaling of a Senegal-based research-action centre. From zero to USD 750K annual turnover in 1.5 years.
Founder & Director
Melanzé
NGO, publishing house and music label (SomOne Music). Eco-construction, cultural and development projects.
Senior Regional Advisor
Wyss Academy for Nature, University of Bern
Setup of the East Africa Hub of a CHF 200M programme. Direction of multi-country research on land governance.
Country Director & Chief Technical Advisor
OneMap Myanmar (CDE, University of Bern)
Leadership of a national land governance programme (CHF 12M, 4 phases, 8 years). 30 staff, 3 offices, 13 ministries, 25 partner agencies.
Consultant & Proposal Writer
Independent / University of Bern
Project design for Red Cross, Save the Children, FAO, University of Bern. DRR platforms, land governance, information systems.
Disaster Management Delegate
French Red Cross
Leadership of EU DIPECHO disaster risk reduction programmes. Establishment and management of national offices.
Research & Teaching Assistant
University of Geneva
Teaching in sustainable urbanism, geomatics and project management in the Global South. Start of doctoral research.
Project Manager
Action Against Hunger (ACF)
Development of early warning tools for food security in pastoral areas. Satellite imagery and participatory mapping.
GIS Consultant
WHO (headquarters)
Avian influenza mapping, Global AIDS Atlas, malaria early warning feasibility study in the Sahel.
Career geography
20 years between field and office, from Canada to Senegal.
First departures
Canada, Martinique
Six-month language exchange in Canada. Baccalaureate at Lycée Schœlcher in Martinique. Three territories, three languages before twenty.
Geneva – University & first steps
2001–2009
Double master's in geography and development studies. GIS consultant at WHO (avian influenza, Global AIDS Atlas). Research assistant: teaching, geomatics, start of doctoral research.
Chengdu – Master internship
2006
Six-month master internship in China. Asian studies and development.
Sahel – Food security
2007–2009 – Mali & Niger
Project manager for Action Against Hunger in Mali and Niger. Early warning tools for food security, integrated into national systems of 6 Sahelian countries. Still active 18 years later.
Caribbean – Disaster management
2009–2012 – Grenada & Barbados
French Red Cross delegate. EU DIPECHO programmes, national office setup. Creation of the Spice It Up concept (music competition, UNDP).
Iraqi Kurdistan
2010
Red Cross mission in Iraqi Kurdistan refugee camps.
Asia – Consultant & PhD
2012–2016 – Laos
Independent consultant: proposals for Red Cross, Save the Children, FAO, University of Bern. EU DIPECHO consortium of EUR 2.4M. PhD defended (University of Geneva, 2016).
Myanmar – Land governance
2015–2019
Country Director & CTA, OneMap Myanmar (CDE/Uni Bern). National programme of CHF 12M: 30 staff, 13 ministries, 25 partner agencies. National geoportal.
East Africa – Wyss Academy
2019–2022 – Kenya
Senior Regional Advisor. Setup of the East Africa Hub of a CHF 200M programme. Multi-country research on land governance.
Senegal – Current chapter
Since 2020
Senior Researcher at University of Bern. Founded Melanzé and CREATES. Design of the ARTS project, SomOne Music label. Co-head Sustainable Land Systems (CDE).
Services
What I can bring to your organisation.
Strategic advisory
Analysis, positioning, solution development — processes, tools, platforms.
Proposal writing
Design and writing of funding proposals for international donors.
Writing & storytelling
Narrative communication, reports, publications, web and editorial content.
Interactive platforms
Development of interactive interfaces, geoportals and online platforms.
Project evaluation
Performance analysis, monitoring & evaluation, lessons learned.
Project coordination
Design and management of research, development and cultural projects.
AI & organisational development
AI integration into processes. Change management and digital transformation.
Training & capacity building
Capacity strengthening, workshops, team coaching and skills transfer.
Partners & donors
Donors
Academic
Humanitarian & UN agencies
Got a project? A mission?
Available for consulting, research and project development missions.
joanbastide@gmail.com — I respond within 48 hours.