Simon Standaert Email & Phone Number

Brussels, Be

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

My role is to provide methodological expertise for the institutionalizing of a new public finance management tool in the Brussels Region, i.e. Spending reviews. • I support the implementation of institutional procedures for inter-administrations collaboration• I conduct the recurring policy evaluations in collaboration with the relevant administrations.

Democratic Republic Of The Congo

I conducted a study on the economic, social and environmental opportunity of the reconstruction of a hydropower plant in the close vicinity of the Upemba National Park. Pro-bono mission on behalf of the Forgotten Parks Foundation.

Atlantic

Skipper on the sailboat “Tembo” during an offshore double-handed voyage in the Atlantic, along the coasts of Europe, Africa and the Caribbean islands.

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

Temporary mission in continuation of my previous job with RDC Environment

Democratic Republic Of The Congo

The Virunga National Park is a UNESCO protected natural area home to a wide diversity of rare species and habitats, located in eastern DRC. The region around the park is densely populated (over 5 M inh.) and consumed by poverty and 30 years of war. See the Oscar nominated Netflix documentary “Virunga”.In this challenging context, the management of the park combines the objective of conservation with an endeavour to improve livelihoods and reduce violence. An ambitious investment program has been set up and the park has proved to be an efficient and reliable partner for international donors seeking development objectives in the region. For example, 4 hydropower plants have been built and are operated, a program of support to agriculture has given birth to a number of mills, a soap factory, a chocolate factory, a brick factory, etc. See article in the NY Times in “Media” section.My job at Virunga was to set up the monitoring and evaluation team, with three goals:- Support the internal decision making by providing solid data, reports and analyses on the evolution of the situation in terms of nature conservation, poverty and violence, and on the impacts of the park’s actions with respect to the major objectives.- Work with external partners, i.e., authorities and donors, on the outcomes of their intervention, and on its monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Donors include the EU, USAID, the World Bank, CDC, HGB and 11th hour foundations, etc.- Take a step back and improve the know-how in the long run. I reached out with academic top level researchers in Oxford and Antwerp to raise their interest in the interactions between conservation, development and violence in the regional context. This process gave birth to an ongoing feed of academic publications, mainly using quantitative economic methods, led by Prof. M. Verpoorten at the Institute for Development Policy, University of Antwerp. As an example, see the article in World Development in “Media” section.

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

RDC Environment is a Brussels-based consultancy specialised in Environmental impact assessment and environmental policy counselling. The team consists of 20+ engineers and economists focused on decision making: no measurement just for the beauty of it.I was the resource person on economics for the consultancy. My job consisted in:- Conducting environmental cost-benefit assessments, e.g., provide the Walloon Region with an environmental, social and economic impact assessment of the introduction of a deposit on beverage cans in Belgium- Conducting economic sectoral studies, e.g., support the French Industry Ministry with data and ideas to foster the competitiveness of 13 circular economy industries in France- Assisting public decision making, e.g., providing the Belgian Ministry of Economic Affairs with policy measures to fight planned obsolescence and extend products lifespan (See Study in the "Media" section. - Conducting various studies for private companies and sectoral federations- Developing RDC’s methods of sustainability assessment and present our findings to international expert panels like at Unep Setac World Congress- Organising and facilitate stakeholders meetings- Writing and defending proposals in front of future clients.

Master'S Degree, Economics

2Nd Year Of The Master'S Degree (Exchange Program), Economics