Dr Lidia Brito
Director for Science Policy and Sustainable Development, UNESCO.
Born in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, Dr Brito has more than thirty years working experience in the field of Science Policy, STI development plans, monitoring and assessment of STI policies and instruments, Forestry, traditional energy (Biomass and Charcoal), Higher Education management, Technical-Vocational Education, ICT for Development, as a University professor, researcher, consultant and senior management both at national, regional and international institutions, combining academic with hands-on experience in promoting sustainable development. In November 2009 she was recruited as the Director for Science Policy and Sustainable Development of UNESCO, a post she is occupying until today. Dr Lidia Brito has worked extensively in the advancement of STI for sustainable development, and in building the interface between science-policy and society. She co-chaired the biggest scientific event for the preparation of Rio+20, Planet under Pressure Conference (London, 2012); she organized several events during Rio+20 as part of UNESCO activities during the Summit.
In the post of Director for Science Policy and Capacity Building at UNESCO, she had the opportunity to further work with all the regions and at international level in areas related to Science for Sustainable Development, STI policies and related instruments, promotion of University-Industry Partnerships, incubators and techno parks, SIDS development plans and Basic Sciences programmes. She was also involved in several international and regional initiatives related to STI. As the first Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Mozambique and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) extensive experience was accumulated in the fields of Higher Education, Science, Technology, ICT and innovation policies and programs, from identification, design, implementation and evaluation Experience in managing high-level professional teams (with national and expatriate expertise), conduct participatory consultative processes in Mozambique and abroad. Extensive diverse experience working with local, national, and international organizations mainly in technical expertise and political support in good governance issues, energy, higher education, science and technology, ICT and their impact on social development. As served as member of many boards, such as the IHE-UNESCO Governing Board, UN University Council, of the Advisory Board of the Community Development Carbon Fund, Board of Directors of the Development Gateway Foundation, Board member of the Stockholm Environment Institute, The African Forester’s Forum, Bioversity ( a CGIAR center) among others. Dr Lidia Brito is the founding member and the first Coordinator of the Consultancy and Research Group on Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity (GRNB) at the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry of Eduardo Mondlane University, in 1995. She carried out consultancy work for several national and international institutions and organizations, participated directly in the design and implementation of national policies in Forestry, Higher Education, Research, innovation and development. She is invited by several groups (World Bank, Swiss Cooperation, ACP – Coimbra Group, NUFFIC and others) to comment their proposals on Forestry, Community Development, Higher Education, Science, ICT and Innovation and to share her experience in those fields. Dr Brito has particular experience and skills in Strategic planning, development of national and regional vision, policies and programs, in particular in Sustainable Development, Forestry sector, Energy sector (Biomass), Environment, Higher Education, ICT, Science and Technology; strong experience in Institutional development and Capacity building; in training and building skills; good experience in negotiating in the international arena and with different donor agencies; Experience in Project identification, Design and implementation; in program monitoring and evaluation; in community based approach to sustainable development; and she has specific technical skills in the areas of Forestry, Environment, Higher Education and Science, Technology and Innovation.
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