Monika Schneider

Projects

• Organic certification in Romania, set up of a Romanian inspection and certification body, Ecoinspect
  
• International market study for organic products from Ukraine
  
• Enhancing marketing opportunities for organic and fair trade products from Central America, Ecomercado
  
• Organic land use- and Mycorrhiza-based participatory development of sustainable land use and livelihood systems in agroecosystems of the humid tropics

Activity areas

• Eastern Europe, Latin America
  
• Project management
  
• Inspection and certification
  
• Market development
  
• Institutional building
  
• Training
  
• Low input agriculture
  
• Plant production

Training / professional career

• Since 2003 at FiBL
  
• 2002 to 2004: Training in mediation, (Modulare Ausbildung Mediation) Swiss Development and cooperation (SDC), Inmedio,
  
• 1995 to 2003 Program officer in the NGO Swiss Labour Assistance (Schweizerisches Arbeiterhilfswerk), responsible for the development co-operation program in Central America (Nicaragua and El Salvador). Main subjects: Professionalisation of agricultural cooperatives, land rights, sustainable resource management, organic coffee production and commercialisation, credit systems, gender work and empowerment of women, fight for violence free life for women and children, support of training programs of unions, human and civil rights. Humanitarian aid and reconstruction after Hurricane Mitch.
  
• Since 1997 auditor for FiBL-Kontrolldienst and later on Bio.inspecta: inspection of farms in Switzerland, governmental regulations for agro environmental programs, animal welfare, organic production and private regulation Biosuisse, KAG.
  
• 1990 to 1994: Expert in a Swiss Development cooperation (SDC) project in the governmental agricultural extension service in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. Main subjects: participative approach of the extension service, sustainable resource management, erosion, watershed management, agro forestry.
  
• 1987 to 1988: staff member of NGO Servicios Multiples de Technologias Apropiadas (SEMTA) in La Paz, Bolivia. Main subjects: Training and advisory work for horticulture, potatoes (seed funds), fodder corps in the Andes (Altiplano).
  
• 1987 to 1989: postgraduate study of international development cooperation, (NADEL) at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich.
  
• 1979 to 1985: Study of agricultural engineer with specialisation in plant production, at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zürich.

Membership in advisory bodies / other activities

• Member of the project commission "Brücke Le Pont?