Independent Consultant · Brussels

Climate action
needs experienced
leadership.

Dr. Pendo Maro · PhD (Summa Cum Laude) · VUB

I help international organisations, governments and development agencies design and deliver climate change and disaster risk reduction programmes that create real, lasting impact.

Work with me Read Pendo Insights
20+
Years of
experience
79
ACP countries
supported
6
Regions
of impact
Current focus
Climate finance & DRR
Available for contracts
Latest programme
GCF Readiness delivery
OACPS Secretariat · 2026
Trusted by
OACPS Secretariat European Commission GIZ German Development Cooperation United Nations
Dr. Pendo Maro
20+
Years leading
international programmes
About

A scientist, advisor & leader who delivers.

Growing up and living across several countries, I developed a deep curiosity about the world and a commitment to making it more resilient. Today, I bring that perspective to some of the most complex climate and disaster risk challenges faced by countries and institutions worldwide — from national governments and regional bodies to the European Union and international organisations.

I combine scientific rigour with policy expertise and hands-on programme leadership — having worked at the intersection of research, government and international development across the EU, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the Pacific and South-East Asia.

PhD in Environmental Change & Policy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (summa cum laude)
MSc Environmental Management, University of the Free State, South Africa
BSc Biology/Chemistry, National University of Lesotho
500+ professional connections across the EU–ACP ecosystem
What I do

Areas of expertise

I offer targeted advisory and delivery services across the full policy-to-implementation spectrum.

Climate Change Advisory

Policy formulation, adaptation strategies, mitigation frameworks and NDC integration across national and regional levels.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Resilience frameworks, early warning systems, DRR governance structures and community-level capacity building.

Policy Formulation & Analysis

Translating scientific evidence and stakeholder needs into actionable policy, from analysis through to institutional adoption.

Programme Delivery

End-to-end leadership of EU and UN-funded programmes — from inception through to evaluation, results reporting and stakeholder accountability.

Stakeholder Engagement

Multi-level coordination across governments, international institutions, civil society and private sector — building coalitions that last.

Climate Finance

Supporting countries in identifying, accessing and deploying climate finance — including readiness assessments, strategy preparation, NDC and NAP implementation support, and training on climate finance instruments, mechanisms and funds.

Training & Capacity Building

Designing and delivering knowledge management programmes, workshops and technical training for governments and regional bodies.

Experience

Programmes I have led

Delivering impact at scale, across the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world.

May 2026
Strategic Programme Lead — GCF Readiness delivery
OACPS Secretariat · Green Climate Fund · Brussels

Leading the OACPS Secretariat's work as a Green Climate Fund Readiness delivery partner, supporting national programmes that help countries strengthen their access to climate finance.

Jul 2026
Oct 2026
Expert — OACPS SIDS High-Level Dialogue
OACPS Secretariat · EU-funded Intra-ACP SIDS Programme · Brussels

Supported the preparation and delivery of the High-Level Dialogue on Climate Finance and Nature-based Solutions (Brussels, 10 September 2026), including consultations with the missions of OACPS small island developing States.

Nov 2022
Mar 2026
Team Leader — Intra-ACP DRRP
OACPS Secretariat · EU-funded · Brussels

Led the Technical Assistance team for the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, supporting 79 ACP Member States in strengthening resilience to climate-related disasters and building DRR governance frameworks.

Delivered in partnership with, among others: African Union Commission, World Bank, UNDP, UNDRR, SADC, SPC and CDB.

2016
2022
Team Leader — Intra-ACP GCCA+
OACPS Secretariat · EU-funded · Brussels

Six-year leadership of the Global Climate Change Alliance+ Programme — delivering climate adaptation, mitigation and capacity building services across Africa, Caribbean and Pacific nations.

Delivered in partnership with: African Union Commission, ECOWAS, ECCAS, EAC, IGAD, COMESA, SADC, CCCCC, SPREP and USP.

Earlier
Technical Expert & Academic
European Commission · GIZ · Research Institutions

Over 15 years of technical consulting and academic research on climate change, environmental policy and natural resource management across the EU, ACP and South-East Asia.

Global reach

Where I have worked

Experience spanning six regions, bringing both global perspective and regional depth to every engagement.

European Union Sub-Saharan Africa Middle East & North Africa Caribbean Pacific Islands South-East Asia
Education series · Ready to use
Series 1 · From chocolate to the ocean

Ready-to-use lessons on the environment and the SDGs for upper primary and lower secondary (ages 8–12). Four lessons on SDG 14, life below water: teacher guides, slides and worksheets, open to use under Creative Commons. In French and English.

Découvrir la série (FR) Discover the series (EN)

"Policy. Investment. Execution."

001
Climate Resilience — “Moving beyond talks...”
Issue #001 · April 2026 · Inaugural edition
→ 002
The Loss & Damage Fund — Promises vs. Progress
Issue #002 · April 2026 · Three years on, not a dollar disbursed
→ 003
Unlocking the Billions for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific
Issue #003 · May 2026 · From ambition to access
→ 004
From Bonn to Antalya
Issue #004 · June 2026 · Can Bonn set the stage to secure climate finance and access?
→ 005
After Bonn, what lies on the road to Antalya
Issue #005 · July 2026 · What SB64 revealed about the road to COP31
→ 006
On the road to Antalya, via the OACPS Pacific SIDS
Issue #006 · September 2026 · Will recognising vulnerability change access to finance?
→ 007
Closer to Antalya: a first look at what OACPS countries reported on climate finance
Issue #007 · October 2026 · Who keeps the clock on access to climate finance?
→

Select any issue to read it in full.

Pendo Insights

Thinking that matters

Practical analysis on climate policy, disaster risk and international development — from someone who has spent 20 years in the field, not just writing about it.

"Policy. Investment. Execution."
Insights and strategies on climate resilience, finance, sustainable development and global policy action.

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Get in touch

Let's work together

I am currently available for consulting assignments, advisory roles and expert contracts — individually or embedded within your team.

Email
pendo@drpendomaro.com
Phone
+32 495 28 14 94
LinkedIn
Dr. Pendo Maro
Based in
Brussels, Belgium