Curriculum Vitæ

Eric Georges GAGNON

c/o Asian Development Bank (COS1)

6 ADB Avenue

MandaluyongCity, 1550 Metro Manila

Philippines

Tel :+63.2.632-6526 - office

+63.917.849-0940 - mobile

Email :

Nationality :Canadian

Date of birth :20 April 1961

Civil status :Married with one child

Education

Institute for International Development& Cooperation, University of Ottawa,Canada

Graduate Diploma in International Development (1988)

Public Administration, Management, Economics

McGillUniversity, Montreal, Canada

Bachelor of Arts (1987)

Political Science, Economics

Professional Training

International Committee of the Red Cross, Basic Training Course for Red Cross Delegates (1997)

YorkUniversity, Toronto, Canada, Graduate Certificate in Refugee Issues (1993)

Professional Experience

February 2006 – ongoing, Procurement Specialist
Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines
  • Handle caseload of procurement for goods, works and consulting services for Bank loans and grants, from TOR preparation to contract negotiations/award;
  • Advise Bank staff and national counterparts on most adequate procedures and best practices;
  • Contribute to policy discussions on harmonisation of ADB practices with those of other MDBs;
  • Train ADB field staff and Executing Agencies in results-based project design and management (RBM).

Achievements:

With strong project management background, involved early on in key aspects of implementation of ADB's Reform Agenda, i.e. delivering training in RBM.

November 2002 – February 2006, Chief Technical Advisor (UXO Lao)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Laos
  • Advise the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare on policy issues and on developing strong partnerships with donors and local private sector;
  • Advise UXO Lao, the national demining agency, on strategic development, management reforms, and re-structuring of operations in order to strengthen efficiency and prioritisation;
  • Advise the UNDP Resident Representative on UXO matters, and interface with donors/Embassies in support of the programme;
  • Interface between the Lao National UXO Programme and similar programmes worldwide.

Achievements:

  • Drafted the first 10-year National Strategic Plan for UXO/Mine Action, covering key areas of Clearance, UXO/Mine Risk Education, and Victim Assistance;
  • Successful introduction of internal Quality Management procedures resulted in nearly doubling of UXO Lao's clearance outputs in the first two years of the initiative;
  • Led efforts to diversify donor-base by fostering improved and direct donor relations by national officials.
October 1998 – November 2002, Portfolio Manager
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), New York, USA
  • Manage a portfolio of country/capacity building programmes (~ US$ 40 million/yr) - responsible for up to 12 UN-funded programmes, incl. Northern Iraq, Yemen, Mozambique, Angola, Cambodia;
  • Manage finance, personnel, procurement/contracting, and operations;
  • Relations with clients and partners, funders, other multilateral entities (UNDP, DPKO, UNFIP, UN Office of Iraq Programme, EU), senior government officials, contractors, NGOs, etc.;
  • Design projects and programmes and draft project documents in consultation with partners in-country and internationally;
  • Handle contracting for goods and services - tendering and bid review, contract negotiations and award, contract management.

Achievements:

  • Successfully implemented one of the largest integrated mine action programmes in the world (N/Iraq) with the combined use of dogs, mechanical and manual capacity;
  • Successfully developed and implemented the concept of "indigenisation", i.e. the transfer of a UN-executed operations to not-for-profit national entities;
  • Efficiently negotiated with counterparts in host government and partner UN agencies, skilled at building consensus while maintaining focus on results and outputs;
  • Contributed to the development and delivery of a training programme for UN Programme Managers worldwide to strengthen management practices and improve relations with partners in the field.
April 1998 – August 1998, Expert Consultant
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Ottawa, Canada
  • Conduct a feasibility study for a government programme of support to mine action projects in ThailandCambodia (including mine clearance/EOD, victim assistance and mine awareness activities);
  • Conduct field assessments, draft concept papers and proposals for each project.

Achievements:

  • Prepared a 5-year programme of bilateral support to mine action in Cambodia;
  • Developed a framework for regional Canadian support to mine action in the context of the Ottawa Convention.

November 1997 – March 1998, International Services Associate (Consultant)

Canadian Red Cross Society, Ottawa, Canada
  • Acting as Desk Officer for Europe and Central Asia, liaise with the Movement and offices across Canada;
  • Draft project proposals and conduct negotiations with partners (local and international) and with funders;
  • Represent the CRC at the Ottawa Landmine Ban Treaty Signing Conference, 02-04 December 1997.

Achievements:

Introduced Mine Action in Canadian Red Cross (CRC) international programmes of assistance, e.g. in Caucasus, developing/establishing partnerships with which the CRC could work.

November 1996 – October 1997, Programme Manager (Demining)
Handicap International France (HI-F), Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Identify, design, plan, finance, set-up and manage demining contracts in Bosnia Herzegovina (mine clearance/EOD and mine awareness);
  • Conduct contract negotiations with funding agencies (UN Mission in Bosnia Herzegovina, and the EU);
  • Develop proposal for support to the setting up of the first national demining NGO in Bihac.

Achievements:

  • Established HI-F as a competent mine clearance operator in BiH, its first such operation worldwide;
  • National demining NGO successfully established, serving as model for similar initiatives worldwide.
September 1996 – October 1996, Consultant
Canada – Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade, Ottawa, Canada
  • Set up procedures and coordinate accreditation at the international conference ""Towards a Global Ban on Anti-Personnel Landmines"", Ottawa, 03-05 October 1996;
  • Recruit and supervise registration staff, on-site logistics;
  • Research and draft a discussion paper used in discussions on issues relating to a global ban on landmines.

Achievements:

Conference successfully held, led to December 1997 Ottawa Convention Signing Conference.

September 1995 – August 1996, Country Director
CambodiaCanada Development Programme, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
  • Follow-up and monitor integrated rural development projects funded by the consortium;
  • Identify/fund community-based initiatives in rural development, human rights and vocational training, thus fostering growth of civil society;
  • Plan Phase II of assistance programme (5 years);
  • Handle relations with Canadian Embassy, Cambodian Government, and local and international organisations;
  • Train counterparts for handover of programme to a national capacity on departure from Cambodia.

Achievements:

  • Plan for the second five-year plan was adopted and funded by the Government of Canada;
  • Transferred programme responsibilities to national management on departure from Cambodia.
August 1993 – September 1995, Programme Officer
CambodiaCanada Development Programme, Montreal, Canada
  • Conduct financial follow-up of projects funded by the consortium, and advocate for Canadian ODA to Cambodia and to mine action;
  • Handle relations with CIDA & Dept. of Foreign Affairs;
  • Convene and organise the first National Conference on Antipersonnel Landmines (Ottawa, September 1995).

Achievements:

4 months after Sept. 95 Conference, Canadian Government changed its policy on landmines, declaring a unilateral moratorium, and promoted an international treaty eventually entered into in December 1997.

April 1992 – August 1993, Programme Coordinator

CultureLink Settlement Services, Toronto, Canada

  • Design and establish revised administrative and counselling procedures;
  • Design a computerized system to improve caseload management;
  • Fund-raise and liaise with funders (private foundations and governments).

Achievements:

  • Caseload management reforms successfully implemented;
  • Acted as Interim Executive Director for a period of 5 months, from February to August 1993.

April 1989 – October 1991, Field Officer

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Switzerland

  • Malaysia (1989-91) : Manage personnel and programme (education, social, medical and para-legal services) in a refugee camp; Handle logistics and counselling in status determination procedure.
  • Djibouti (1991) : Supervise assistance programme to refugees in 3 camps; Conduct initial needs assessment and logistics of relief operations; Act as field co-ordinator of food airlift to Southern Ethiopia.
  • Ethiopia (1991) : Handle planning and logistics of assistance to 150,000 returnees, from registration upon entry to delivery of 11-month assistance package (funds and food) in area of re-integration.

CV Eric Georges GAGNON, January 2008Page 1 / 4