Hi, I’m
Ursla Koumbo
Yaoundé
Summary
Bilingual (French and English) conservation biologist with a strong scientific training and expertise in the main areas of the environment; Excellent ability to coordinate NGO - research - community group - Excellent interpersonal skills, a good sense of teamwork and the ability to lead and coordinate multicultural and multi-disciplinary teams; Solid and proven project management skills, particularly in environmental project management; Experience in writing proposals for environmental grants; Excellent leader and communicator.
Overview
9
years of professional experience
Work History
RESEAU DES ACTEURS ET PROFESSIONNELS DE LA SAUVEGARDE DE TORTUES MARINES EN AFRIQUE CENTRALE (RASTOMA)
Regional Coordinator
07.2019 - Current
Job overview
- Played an instrumental role in achieving Organization-wide objectives through effective leadership of regional teams and projects;
- Negotiated contracts with funders and partners to secure optimal terms beneficial to both parties involved in the agreement;
- Elaborated the strategic plan with the members and the board of directors;
- Implemented the strategic plan under the direct supervision of the Board of directors;
- Coordinated and animated 10 CSO in 6 countries of the central Africa (Cameroun, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, DRC, Congo and STP);
- Designed and implemented several programs and projects;
- Reported to the Board and funders,
- Organized and animate training (on-site and online training) for the CSO from 17 countries of north, west and central Africa and train up to 100 people (students, researchers, manager, public and private bodies);
- Organized 3 regional congress for the network of the conservation of sea turtles in Africa gathering 3 networks from 17 countries, 20 CSO and up to 80 participants; the congress included general assembly of the networks, workshop, round table, strategic meeting and capacity building;
- Facilitated experience sharing and networking between RASTOMA members (NGOs and individuals);
- Administrative and financial follow-up of RASTOMA;
- Search and secured funds for program;
- monitored and evaluated projects;
- Organized and represented RASTOMA on high level international and national meetings.
- Managed budgets and resources effectively to achieve financial goals and optimize regional operations.
- Championed diversity initiatives within the workplace, creating an inclusive environment that fostered collaboration and innovation among team members.
- Established a positive work environment that encouraged teamwork and facilitated open communication among team members.
- Entered data, generated reports, and produced tracking documents.
- Participated in workshops and in-service meetings to enhance personal growth and professional development.
Conservation Action Research Network
Principal investigator and project manager
09.2018 - 05.2019
Job overview
- Championed a collaborative work environment that promoted knowledge sharing, peer support, and interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving, driving overall research excellence.
- Mentored junior researchers, fostering their professional development and enhancing the overall team''s capabilities.
- Improved research efficiency by implementing advanced data collection and analysis methods.
- Trained local team.
- Documented findings and prepared detailed reports.
Principal investigator and grant manager
11.2017 - 11.2018
Job overview
- Improving conservation efforts of marine turtles in the southern coastline of Cameroon trough beaches monitoring and community outreach campaign
- Finance and team management
- Training of local team
- Education campaign
- Reporting to funder.
Principal investigator and grant manager
12.2017 - 09.2018
Job overview
- Sea turtles conservation: Increase conservation efforts through education and capacity building for nesting beaches monitoring and bycatch reporting in Southern Coast of Cameroon
- Finance and team management
- Capacity building of local team
- Production of environmental education materials
- Reporting to funder.
Principal investigator and project manager
10.2016 - 10.2017
Job overview
- Conservation status of Sea Turtles population in the peripheries of Campo Ma'an National Park, South Cameroon
- Design and implement the project
- Team and Finance management
- Data capture and management on fisheries
- Production of sensitization material
- Sensitization of local people
- Reporting to funder.
Cameroon Herpetology-Conservation Biology Foundation (CAMHERP-CBF)
Intern Wildlife Ecologist
03.2015 - 08.2017
Job overview
- Data management (Collection and analysis)
- Reporting and Capacity building
- Meeting organization with authorities and local communities.
Education
University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
Master of Science from Applied Ecology And Wildlife Management
07.2016
University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
Bachelor of Science from Zoology
09.2012
Government High School of Manengouba, Nkongsamba, Cameroon
High School Diploma
07.2009
Skills
- Program & Project Management
- Leadership & Team Building
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Communications
- Monitoring and evaluation of projects cycles
- Budget Planning
- Event Coordination
- Staff management
Awards Grants
- OIF-ODD grant, 12/2022, 12/2023, € 20000, Mobilizing civil society and coastal communities to tackle plastic pollution and clean up sea turtle habitats along Cameroon's Atlantic coast
- CEPF Grant, 10/2021, 10/2022, $ 40000, Structuring national and regional networks for marine turtle conservation in Atlantic Africa
- GBIF-BID Grant, 05/2021, Present, € 20000, Enhancing the capacity of Civil Society Organizations to create and contribute towards a unified marine turtle database in Cameroon
- PADI Grant, 09/2018, 05/2019, $ 3000, Baseline study and conservation of marine turtles in the southern coastline of Cameroon
- Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) marine grant, 12/2017, 09/2018, $ 1000
- British Ecological Society (BES) Grant Award, 11/2017, 11/2018, £ 2000
- Conservation Action Research Network (CARN) Award, 10/2016, 10/2017, $ 5000
- Association of African University award, 09/2016, 01/2017, $ 500
- Tropical Biology Association Award, 11/2015, 11/2015
- Cameroon Head of state Academic excellence award, 2012, 2016, $ 100 per year
Oral And Poster Presentations
- ISTS 2023: Three civils society in north, west and central Africa, together stronger to save sea turtles
- IUCN congress 2021 & COP14 RAMSAR 2023: CSO networks in West & Central Africa: A driving force to trigger the MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING concerning conservation measures for marine turtles of the Atlantic coast of Africa (Abidjan MoU)
- ISTS 2021: New partnerships and innovative approaches toward an efficient conservation of sea turtle in Atlantic coast of Africa
Publications
- Tasse Taboue GC, Ntene Soh BC, Koumbo Tagagoum UB, et al. (2023) Local perceptions, hunting and export of the Endangered Goliath frog Conraua goliath in Cameroon. Oryx. 1-10. Doi :10.1017/S0030605323000224
- Ursla Koumbo. (2019). The world's biggest frog. Africa Conservation Telegraph (ACT). Vol. 14 No. 1
Languages
French
Native language
English
Advanced
C1
Timeline
Regional Coordinator
RESEAU DES ACTEURS ET PROFESSIONNELS DE LA SAUVEGARDE DE TORTUES MARINES EN AFRIQUE CENTRALE (RASTOMA)
07.2019 - Current
Principal investigator and project manager
Conservation Action Research Network
09.2018 - 05.2019
Principal investigator and grant manager
12.2017 - 09.2018
Principal investigator and grant manager
11.2017 - 11.2018
Principal investigator and project manager
10.2016 - 10.2017
Intern Wildlife Ecologist
Cameroon Herpetology-Conservation Biology Foundation (CAMHERP-CBF)
03.2015 - 08.2017
University of Dschang
Master of Science from Applied Ecology And Wildlife Management
University of Dschang
Bachelor of Science from Zoology
Government High School of Manengouba
High School Diploma
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