Charles Michael Akol
Charles Michael Akol is currently working as an Environmental Affairs Officer in the Green Economy and Natural Resources Section, Special Initiatives Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). His work involves policy research aimed at informing the formulation and implementation of policies to achieve a green transformation and to realize optimal benefits from Africa’s key natural resources and related sectors.
Mr Akol joined ECA in 2005 from the Uganda National Environment Management Authority where he was the Director for District Support Coordination and Public Education. He has over 25 years of experience in conducting policy research, analysis, advocacy and training, as well as in institutional development to promote sustainable development. These experiences have included the integration of environmental considerations into the formulation and implementation of development policies, strategies and programmes at regional, national and sub-national levels.
Mr Akol has designed and implemented guidelines and capacity building programs for decentralized and participatory environmental planning and management, as well as for mainstreaming environmental management in sectoral, local government and community development plans, programs, projects and activities. He has participated in the design, development, implementation and coordination of diverse projects and programmes such as the Climate for Development in Africa Programme (ClimDev-Africa Programme), World Bank-Government of Uganda Environment Management and Capacity Building Project (I&II), Earth Council-Government of Uganda Multi-Stakeholder Integrated Planning Project, the World Bank-Government of Uganda Social Action Fund, the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme and UNEP-Government of Uganda Pilot Villages Project.
He has an MSc in Environment and Natural Resources Management; a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management specializing in land degradation, desertification, and biological diversity conservation; and a BSc in Forestry. His main areas of interest include sustainable development; green economy; environment and natural resources management; climate change and sustainable livelihoods; and disaster risk reduction and management.