Joaquim Leite

Joaquim Leite is a Senior Country Engagement Specialist for the NDC Partnership. His work focuses on mainstreaming Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Sustainable Development Goals into development strategies, national and sectoral policies, and investment portfolios in African, Asian, and Latin American countries.

Before joining the NDC Partnership, Joaquim worked for more than ten years on diverse climate and sustainability-related projects in developing countries. His experience includes the: (i) integration of sustainability into high-level decision making, investment portfolios, and management systems for leading organizations in the energy, mining, forestry, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors; (ii) design, implementation, and evaluation of sustainable investment projects; (iii) elaboration and support to the implementation and financing of Climate Change and Payment for Ecosystem Services Policies and Programs;  and (iv) multiple projects in the Amazon Region. His experience includes assignments to national and subnational Governments, private sector, research institutions, and international organizations such as the UN Development Programme, World Bank/GEF, and International Finance Corporation. Joaquim has also developed CDM and REDD+ projects, GHG inventories, and tailored climate strategies for leading companies.

He holds a Bachelor's in Engineering with a concentration in Forestry and Ecosystems from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) in Brazil and specialization courses in environmental and development finance, climate change, project management, and business strategy and management. Currently, he is finalizing a Master’s in International Development and Management at Lund University (Sweden). In his free time, he enjoys traveling, cycling, swimming, meditating, and listening to music.