Rita I. Besana's Page

about me

I am a versatile individual with more than 20 years experience in biodiversity conservation; sustainable use of natural resources, and rural development. I was born and raised in Mexico and then moved to the US, then to Ecuador, then to England then to Panama and I am now in Davis, CA, visiting friends while I look for a new job in Northern California. My experience includes NGO institutional assessment and organizational capacity building; participatory approaches to solving environmental problems and conflicts. Strengths in project management, design, development and planning (e.g. problem analysis, logframe, etc). Speak fluently Spanish, English and Portuguese and have lived and worked in over 50 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Specialties
Other expertise include: Cross-cultural communications; creating links between local-national-regional and international levels; networking, program start-up; strategic planning; team-building.
Cross-cultural communications
Strategic planning
Team-building.
Project Development & Leadership
Program Design & Implementation
Program Monitoring & Evaluation
Grant Writing & Fundraising
Training Development & Delivery
Budgeting & Statistical Analysis
Policy analysis and development,
Advocacy and partnership development,
Managing teams and staff

what languages do you speak?

Spanish, English, Portuguese, a little Italian

what is your current, past or ideal job title?

Director, Latin America either in environmental conservation or in organizational development of NGOs or small businesses, or in capacity building (micro finance and other areas).

your connection with Latin America?

I have worked in environmental conservation and rural development since 1984 in most countries in Latin America and in different parts of the world.

your favorite Latin American city? vacation spot? food?

Guadalajara. Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Quito. Best vacation spot -- it depends. Puerto Vallarta, Garopaba, the beaches of Santa Catarina in Brazil, for cultural events, teathre, museums, Mexico City, Buenos Aires. For nature, Ecuador, Peru. For culture, Guatemala, Bolivia. For food, Mexico, Peru are the best, but every country has something yummy to offer.

what countries have you lived in? worked in?

I have lived in Mexico (Guadalajara, Mexico City, Caborca), Davis (CA), Washington (DC), Quito, Panama, Bedford (UK). I have worked in San Jose, Mexico City, Quito, Tegucigalpa, Managua, Panama, and most other main cities in Latin America, as well as cities in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, the Middle East.

what companies have you worked for?

Banca Confia, Freedom from Hunger Foundation, University of California at Davis, the World Wildlife Fund, IUCN, BirdLife International, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Organization of American States

company website?

http://www.iabin.net

online profile such as linkedin.com or blog?

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/7/981/599

interests and/or hobbies?

Reading, writing, movies, yoga, learning, world news, languages, walking, traveling, new cultures, humor,

relationship status?

in a relationship

looking for?

networking, employment