CURRICULUM VITAE Gunnar Olesen Thorndahl Consulting
Curriculum Vitae, May 2008
Name Mr Gunnar OLESEN, Chief Consultant, Associate Professor
Specialisation Good governance, democracy & human rights, post conflict interventions, capacity building, civil society & NGOs, public administration reform, communications & knowledge management
Nationality Danish
Date of Birth 3 December 1949
Family Co-habitant, grown-up children
Education MA (Political science, Public Administration & International Relations), University of Aarhus, 1977
Professional Affiliation Danish Association of Lawyers & Economists (DJØF). Danish Evaluation Society. Former board member of the Danish Research Council on Governance, Economic Policy and Public Administration (GEPPA).
Languages Languages Speaking Reading Writing
Danish Mother tongue
English Excellent Excellent Excellent
French Excellent Excellent Good
Spanish Excellent Excellent Good
German Good Good Fair
Key Qualifications Mr Olesen has extensive professional experience from working in UN-organisations; universities, the press and consultancy companies with analytical tasks, training, communication and appraisal, implementation and evaluation of projects and programs. His competences include team-leadership, process management, research, analytical and presentation skills, orally and in writing. His key fields of experience, acquired in developing and transition economies, and from the academic community, on which he has issued several publications and delivered teaching at university level, are:
- Public sector reform, in particular in fragile, post conflict states
- Good Governance, justice and law enforcement
- Capacity Development
- Democracy and Human Rights
- Civil society & NGO development, incl.
- Media, communications & knowledge management
Mr Olesen has work experience from several regions, incl. Southern and Western Africa, Southeast Europe; the Caucasus; Central, South and Southeast Asia and Latin America
Experience Record
Date / Employer / Position and Main Activities1998- 2007
2001-present / Consulting: Thorndahl Consulting, Copenhagen Development Consulting and COWI.
Roskilde University Centre /
Chief consultant
Associate professor, International Development Studies
1996-98
1992-96
1992-01
/ "Notat", weekly on European Affairs, specialised in governance & anti-corruption
PLS Consult
Copenhagen Business School
Universities, Copenhagen & Aarhus /
Editor-in-Chief
Chief Consultant
Associate Professor, Political Science
1988-92
/ Danish Red Cross (DRC) / Coordinator of the DRC-activities in Central and East Europe
1986-88 / ILO, HQ-Geneva / Programme Officer, Technical Cooperation Department.
1979-86 / Danish UN Association & UNDP, HQ-Geneva / Communication & Development Education Officer, Copenhagen & Geneva
1977-79 / Danish Ministry of Environment / Head of Section, Planning Agency, Ministry of the Environment, Denmark
1973-77
1974-75 / University of Aarhus, Denmark / Assistant Professor, Political science
Scholarship for studies in Mexico
International experience
In addition to 3 years with the UN in Geneva, 1 year in Mexico, 1 year in Armenia, 6 months in Romania, 6 months in Kosovo and 3 months in Albania, international experience is gained from short-term assignments in:
- Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
- Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
- Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Gambia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary,
Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia
Selected Thematic Short-term and Long-term Assignments
External Lecturer: Mr Olesen has, over the last 7 years, been in charge of the teaching on reviews, evaluations and impact assessment at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Roskilde, Denmark. In addition, seminars and supervision of theses at the institutes of political sciences in Copenhagen and Århus and at the Copenhagen Business School.
Democratic Governance
Team-leader: Impact Evaluation of the contribution to Institutional Capacity Building in the Public Sector in Macedonia by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), 2003-07.
(ongoing) EAR, 4 work-months (wm)
A major elements in this evaluation deals with the creation and organization of the new institutions, staff recruitment, human resource development incl. performance monitoring, incentives, career development plans in order to retain trained staffs. The evaluation of the performance and performance indicators of the institutions is another major element, incl. their work processes and service provision to be monitored through the use of tailored output indicators.
Team-leader: Impact Evaluation of the contribution to Institutional Capacity Building in the Public Sector in Kosovo by the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), 2003-07.
EAR,2007-08, 4 work-months (wm)
A major elements in this evaluation was the creation and organization of the new institutions, staff recruitment, human resource development incl. performance monitoring, incentives, career development plans in order to retain trained staffs. The evaluation of the performance and performance indicators of the institutions is another major element, incl. their work processes and service provision to be monitored through the use of tailored output indicators.
Team-leader: Evaluation of the Public Defender’s Office in Georgia, incl. the interplay of the PDO with the Georgian state in governance & anti-corruption issues.
Sida, 2006, 5 work-weeks (ww)
Team-member: Appraisal of proposals, further to call, for support from European donor countries for Israeli and Palestinian Human Rights and Good Governance NGOs. The mission to the Palestinian Territories was mainly concerned with the formulation of a strategy related to the acute need for enhanced good governance and fight against corruption. The appraisal also dealt with the cost-effectiveness and the accountability of the NGOs. Advice for the development of the donor supported NGO secretariat was provided.
The MFAs of Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland, 2006, 6 ww
Good governance specialist: Appraisal of the Danida Human Rights’ Program in Bolivia. Mr Olesen was in charge of the reporting (in Spanish) from the mission in Bolivia. Based on the appraisal report, a new sector program for Anti-Corruption, Social Reconciliation, Human Rights, incl. the Public Defender’s Office, and Gender Equality was subsequently endorsed by the MFA.
Danish MFA, 2004-05, 8 ww
Team-leader: Review of the Danida-program for Human Rights and Democracy in Nicaragua (PRODENI). Field studies in Nicaragua covering the support for Government and NGO activities in the sector.
The Danish Embassy in Nicaragua. 2003-04, 5 ww
Advisor: Implementation of Danish Transitional Assistance to Albania. Danida’s assistance to Albania, 1999-2000, concentrated mainly on reform of the public sector, including the Public Defender’s Office, the Parliament, the media and the fight against corruption; partly on National level, partly in the Dibra region in North-East Albania. Mr Olesen collaborated with the Danish Programme Co-ordinator and the Albanian National and regional Programme Co-ordination Committees in the implementation of this programme.
Danida 1999-2000, 3 wm
Team-leader: Mid-term Evaluation of the UNDP-project: "Enhancing the Fight against Organised Crime and Corruption", Kyrgyzstan. In order to strengthen law enforcement and the judiciary, the UNDP and Danida supported a new, special police unit. The evaluation suggested a number of changes in the implementation; not least concerning financial sustainability aspects, which were regarded as an important prerequisite for a successful fight against corruption.
UNDP, 1999, 1 WM
Capacity Building, Public Sector Reform,
Training coordinator: Strengthening Civil Society in Kosovo, promoting Social Dialogue. Mr Olesen was, during a three-month assignment, in charge of the capacity development of the parties of the labour market.
The European Agency for Reconstruction, 2004-05. 13 WW
Training coordinator: Capacity Building within the Lao National Radio. Analysis and training activities in Laos as part of a pilot project, which led to the formulation of a comprehensive program for development of the Radio.
Sida 2002-03, 2 WW
Team-leader: Appraisal and assessments of the programmes for the state and municipal tax authorities and financial authorities in Mozambique as a part of an overall reform of the tax and financial management systems. Field Studies were undertaken in Mozambique, during three subsequent assignments. Work was undertaken in Spanish /Portuguese.
Danish Embassy in Mozambique, 2002-2004. 6 ww
Social policy advisor/trainer: Reforming the Social Security System and Strengthening Social Assistance in Armenia. Mr Olesen was in charge of this comprehensive social sector reform project, including a major financial and management reform of the social sector. As a result, new social legislation and administrative set-up was implemented in Armenia, including the "Paros-system" for targeting beneficiaries, which has subsequently become a model for similar initiatives elsewhere.
EU-TACIS, 1994-95, 9 work months
Programme Manager & Director: Reforming the social sector and training of the staff of social institutions in Romania. Mr Olesen was in charge of a nation-wide reform programme for the senior and general staff of the Romanian children's institutions and psychiatric hospitals, implemented by the Danish Red Cross in collaboration with the International Red Cross Federation, the Romanian Red Cross and the Romanian authorities.
International Red Cross Federation & Danish Red Cross, 1990-93. 2 years
Post Conflict Intervention & Humanitarian Assistance
Advisor: Development of the practical cooperation between Danish development aid and military interventions. Preparation, conduct and keynote speaker of/at a seminar, for the Danish Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs. 2006, 2 ww
Editor: Post Conflict Interventions, Copenhagen DC Occasional Paper, 2006. further to a presentation of the same issue on the 2006-GEPPA Conference on Fragile States.
Deputy Team-leader in charge of governance & justice sector: Evaluation of the Assistance to Afghanistan 2001-05 from Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and UK. This multi-donor evaluation comprises the humanitarian, rehabilitation and development aid from the five donors as well as their aid for nation and state-building, peace building; respect for human rights and gender equality, including the role of the international NGOs and local civil society and the use of the civilian-military instruments. Two missions to Afghanistan were undertaken as well as consultations in the donor countries and with the headquarters of the main multilateral implementation channels. The methodology included meetings with a large number of beneficiaries and stakeholders and surveys for the evaluation.
Danida, DCI, DfID, the Netherlands MFA and Sida, 2005, 26 ww
Team-leader: Evaluation of the Danish support in the Defence Sector to Eastern Europe 1993-2003. The evaluation focused on the support through the Danish Ministry of Defence and the Danish armed forces for institutional and capacity building within their counterparts in Baltic countries. This first civilian evaluation in the Danish defence sector involved field studies in the Baltic countries and consultations with the Danish implementing units. Danish Ministry of Defence, 2003, 10 ww
Political Scientist: Review of the Danish Red Cross’ Rehabilitation and Reconciliation Programme in Kosovo. The Review, which focused on the re-integration of refugees and IDPs, served to provide the Danish Red Cross, with a more complete basis for decisions regarding possible replication of the experience from Kosovo elsewhere.
Danish Red Cross 2002, 5 ww
Team-leader: Evaluation of Danish-funded Humanitarian Assistance to the Caucasus, 1992-98. The evaluation assessed the importance of the significant growth of volume of humanitarian aid in this period of time and the borderlines between humanitarian assistance, politics, and peace enforcement. The Caucasus component of this global evaluation, including studies in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the conflict zones, Nagorno Karabagh and South Ossetia. Main focus areas of the evaluation were women, refugees and IDPs.
Danida, 1999, 18 ww
Political Scientist: Identification Mission for Possible Danish Support to Conflict Management within ECOWAS. Mr Olesen met with officials and informants in Anglophone and Francophone states in West Africa and in the ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja. Entry points within conflict prevention, conflict management, peace and law enforcement and rehabilitation were proposed.
Danida, 2001, 5 ww
Team-leader: Aid-delivery from the Danish Red Cross (DRC) further to the earthquake in Armenia. In collaboration with the German Red Cross, the DRC concentrated its aid on decentralised rehabilitation
Danish Red Cross1989-90, 3 wm
Human Rights and Civil Society
Team-leader: Mid-term Review of the Finnish Support for the Disability Sector in Kosovo. The Finnish Council for the Disabled was in charge of the support the Kosovo-umbrella for the disabled: HandiKos (Funding from the Finnish MFA). The Review particularly stresses the sustainability issues and came up with specific recommendations, endorsed by the Finnish MFA.
Finnish MFA, 2006, 5 WW
Team-leader: Review of the Finnish Human Rights Support Program in Kosovo. Field studies in Kosovo focused on HR-capacity development of the local civil society.
Finnish MFA, 2004, 5 WW
Team-leader: Formulation of the 2004-Civil Society Strategy in Serbia and Montenegro of the European Agency for Reconstruction, incl. Call for Proposals. Field studies in Serbia included consultations with numerous CSOs not least in the environment sector. The proposal of establishing local partnerships between authorities, civil society and the business community was subsequently endorsed by the EAR.
European Agency for Reconstruction.2003, 8 WW
Political Scientist: Evaluation of the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council for the Civil Rights Organisations in former Yugoslavia. Field studies in Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo mainly focused on the legal aid activities for refugees and IDPs.
Norwegian MFA 2001-02, 7 WW
Team-leader: Evaluation of Finnida’s support for Human Rights in Guatemala & Formulation of a Proposal for Finnida’s future regional support for the HR-Sector in Guatemala and Honduras. Mr Olesen was in charge of the reporting in Spanish from the field studies in Guatemala and Honduras.
Finnish MFA. 2003-04, 6 WW
Team-leader: Evaluations of the Sida Supported Twinning Programmes for Län and Municipalities with the CEE-Countries. Sida supported programmes for Swedish counties and municipalities for twinning projects with their counterparts in the Baltic States and in Central and Eastern Europe, respectively. Field studies took place in Sweden and in the above countries: The results were conducive to the continuation of the programmes with modifications.
Sida, 2001-02, 14 WW
Team-leader: Evaluation of the Danish Democracy Fund. The Democracy Fund, (DF), part of the Danish Foreign Ministry, with an annual budget of about 10 million USD, had the mission to strengthen civil society and promote democracy on all levels of society, primarily financing small-scale projects in Eastern Europe in a tight cooperation with Danish institutions and civil society actors. Field studies were carried out in Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Romania and South Africa.
The Danish Democracy Fund, 2000, 14 WW
Team-member: Thematic Evaluation of the ILO/Danida Workers’ Education Projects. The evaluation focused on the Programme Approach, which replaced the project approach in this area, the application of the principles of Active Multilateralism and the impact on Danish Trade Unions’ bilateral aid. Field studies were carried out by Mr Olesen in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Uganda. In Burkina Faso and Senegal, focus was on the enhancement of the organisation of the informal sector.
Danida, 2000-01, 18 ww