Ms Yoko WATANABE

Global Manager, GEF Small Grants Programme, United Nations Development Programme

Yoko Watanabe has over 25 years of professional experience working on biodiversity and natural resources management.  She directs the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) at UNDP as its Global Manager.  SGP is one of the largest global funds dedicated to supporting innovative local actions that address global environmental issues led by civil society and communities-based organizations. Prior to that she worked at the Global Environment Facility and held various key positions, including Program Manager on Biodiversity, and Coordinator for the Asia Program and Gender/Social Inclusion Teams.  Yoko also worked at the World Wide Fund for Nature, as its Conservation Director at the Mongolia Country Office and later as a Senior Advisor on Multilateral Relations at the US Office; Environment Program Officer at UNDP Nepal and Mongolia Offices; and Program Associate at Japan International Cooperation Agency.