1. A History of my
International Career…

2. Who am I?
• Clara Whyte
• Economist and Policy
Analyst
• Specializations:
International
Development,
Environment and
Resource Management,
Rural Development &
Agri-Food.

3. Where do I come from and why
did I choose that profession?
• An international family:
• French mother passionate about Hispanic cultures
• British father born and raised in India and Britain
• Paternal grand-mother who traveled the world
• I was exposed to diverse cultures from early infancy
• I developed an interest for foreign languages /
intercultural communication and a preocupation for
socio-economic development issues

4. • As a teen, I wanted
to become an
ethnomusicologist,
but I was advised to
go for a « safer »
career
• So I decided to aim
at becoming either
a diplomat or an
international civil
servant
• Chose to go into
Economic Analysis
and Policies to
prepare for that
career

5. Studies and Diplomas
• I finished highschool majoring in
Economics and Social Sciences
(1995)
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics
and Policy Analysis from the
University of Grenoble, France
(1998)
• Master’s degree in Environmental
and International Development
Economics from the University of
Versailles, France (2001)
• Master’s degree in Political Science
(with emphasis on international
relations and trade) from the Paris
Institute of Political Studies, France
(2003)

6. • Because I was so used
and passionate about
traveling, I started to
move around a lot very
early
• As a child, I would
spend some time every
summer in Britain or
Ireland
• As a teen, I also went
several times to
Germany

7. • In 1998, I managed to
get a first internship
in international
business development
in Montreal, Canada.
• How did I do that?
• I went on holidays to
Montreal for the
summer and
conducted intensive
research there
• Then I managed to
get a temporary work
visa through the
« France-Quebec
Association »

8. • During that internship, I would:
• Make cold calls to potential
customers in Canada
• Join senior consultants in their
meetings with customers
• Contact potential product
sellers in Europe and the
United States
• Help plan the business trips to
Europe and the United States
• During this time, I also
volunteered for a community
centre aimed at elderly people in
downtown Montreal. I would
deliver hot meals to isolated
people.

9. Lessons learned:
• Major cultural differences
between Northern
American people and
European people in their
way of doing in business
• I began to learn about the
institutions in Quebec and
Canada, and how they
worked (ex. BDC, Export
Development Canada etc.)
• I also learnt more about
bilateral exchange
programs between France
and Quebec.
• I discovered the important
role played by community
organizations in Quebec.

10. • In the summer of 1999, I decided
to open up new skylines for me,
so I arranged a first internship in a
developing country.
• I hesitated between 2 projects,
one in India and one in
Guatemala.
• I chose to go to Latin America
because from the point of view of
my family history, I was opening
new paths since nobody had ever
been to Latin America.

11. • I was not disappointed by
my choice since I got to
work on a wonderful
project, with wonderful
people and in a
marvelous coutry.
• UPAVIM (Unidas Para
Vivir Mejor):
• The mission of the
organization is to
empower the women
of the community of
La Esperanza – a
shanty town in
Guatemala City giving them an
opportunity to
improve their quality
of life, for themselves
and for their families.
• www.upavim.org

12. At the time I was there, the
main programs of UPAVIM
included:
• A Montessori preschool
• A tutoring program for
children attending local
public primary schools
• A dental clinic
• A prenatal and postnatal
clinic for mothers and their
children
• A pharmacy and a medical
laboratory
• A handicraft workshop
UPAVIM was funded throught
grants and partnerships, and
money would also come in
from selling the women’s
products to export markets.

13. UPAVIM is a member of
the Fair Trade Federation
which is an Alternative
Trade Organization in the
United States promoting
fair trade in Canada and
the US.
www.fairtradefederation.org
UPAVIM has sent
representatives from
Guatemala and the US to
many of their conferences
over the years.

14. • My role there was to:
• Participate in fundraising
activities to finance the
projects of the Center
• Provide tutoring support
for children of the
community
• Visit the families within
the community to identify
their needs and define
how to better serve them
This first experience was
decisive for the next steps I
took in my career, like
getting into development
economics.

15. • Especially, because UPAVIM had
been founded and was supported
by some of the most inspiring
people I have ever known
Lessons learned:
• Fair Trade markets can help
improve the living standard in
Southern countries but they are
tough markets
• Extreme inequalities within the
country
• Although poor, I noted a lot of
happiness and education in
many children: social capital is
very strong  coping strategy
from which countries in crisis
should learn

16. • In the summer of 2000, I
identified a great project in
forest restoration and
agritourism in Brazil
• At the beginning I was a bit
reluctant to go to Brazil but,
once again, I was not
disappointed with my choice
• I really fell in love with
Brazil, its people, its
cultures, its nature, its rural
areas etc. and Portuguese
was just really easy to learn
for someone who could
already speak Spanish

17. •
So, I spent my summer 2000
working on 2 rural
development projects in
Minas gerais, Brazil.
•
The first one still exists. It is
called Iracambi and has
many great projects in place
to promote reforestation of
former native forest areas, to
improve environmental
awereness and provide
environmental education
programs etc.
•
The second project was to
create agritourism options
for a fazenda of the same
area. I am not sure if the
project still exists.

18. At the time I was there,
Iracambi mainly had the
following projects going on:
• A reforestation project
(Mata Altântica) with a tree
nursery
• An environmental
education centre
• A research centre
Since then, the organization
has expanded a lot and you
can find out more about
their current projects on
their website:
http://br.iracambi.com/site/

19. My tasks:
• Define development opportunities for agritourism
projects on a dairy farm and a fish farm in the State
of Minas Gerais
• Assess the impacts of the projects on local
communities
• Develop financial backing to implement the projects

20.  Lessons learned:
• Impacts of agriculture on native forests
• Conflicting interests around natural resources and various land
use options
• Difficulty to restore degraded forest areas
• Traditional role of « fazendeiros » (major agricultural landlords)
in rural Brazil (paternalism)
• Water pollution issues linked to agricultural and aquaculture
activities
• Richness of Minas Gerais cultural heritage: Fazendas, colonial
cities, literature (Joao Guimaraes Rosa) etc.
• Brazil is much more than just Carnival, soccer and beaches!

21. • During the summer 2001, I was
hired as an intern by a research
centre named CIRAD
• I was in charge of the
systematization of a successful
cluster of organic producers in
Southern Brazil.
• The cluster was organized around a
cooperative of organic producers
named AGRECO, which still exists
today and has expanded
• http://www.agreco.com.br/site.html
• This internship was also a very
enriching experience

22. • The Agreco is a cooperative of
organic producers located in a
mountainous area in the state of
Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil.
• It is organized around a network
of micro-agro-industries that
each produce different products,
but get together to join their
marketing efforts. That makes
the products of small producers
profitable even outside of the
state of Santa Catarina.
• As a part of their marketing
strategy, they created an
agritourism cooperative that
helps then attracts tourists and
promote their products.

23. My tasks:
• Conduct research on an innovative local
production system based on organic
farming (interview the main stakeholders,
researchers, specialists of the region’s
history etc.; gather statistical data from
various sources including the IBGE;
gather relevant books, documents and
articles)
• Organize participatory workshops with the
farmers
• Examine the institutional backing required
for this type of project to operate in a
sustainable perspective
• Assess the potential opportunities offered
by export markets for Brazilian organic
products
• Identify precise niche markets that may
offer opportunities for small farmers, and
referencing the key players in these
markets

24. Lessons learned:
• Selling cooperatives are key to making
small producers’ products profitable on
the markets. They can only work if a
strong culture of cooperation is promoted
among the local producers
• Small producers need to rely on
differentiation strategies
• Promoting sustainable agricultural
production can help improve local socioeconomic development while preserving
the environment
• Marketing strategies are key to letting
consumers know about the differential of
the products so that they are ready to pay
a premium to get them
• Several markets can be targeted: city
consumers who want to live on a healthier
diet, institutional markets (schools), etc.

25. •
From 2003 to 2004, I worked for a
year for the Trade and
Environment Program of the WWF
in Brazil.
•
I was hired to support a
permanent Senior officer of the
organization for a year in his work
to transfer the new program to
Brazil
•
How did I get there?
•
About two month before finishing
my 2nd Master’s I launched a huge
emailing campaign through the
internet. I sent hundreds of CVs
with the idea of arranging a job for
me in Brazil. I eventually got about
5 offers, including 3 in Brazil and 1
in Laos.
•
I chose the WWF because « the
Panda » was sort of a mythical
organization for me

26. • The main project I was involved
with was aimed at tackling the
social and environmental impacts
of soybean and cattle expansion
in the Amazon region
• Several organizations and
partners were working at building
up the Roundtable on Responsible
Soy that still exists today.
http://www.responsiblesoy.org/
• Today it is complemented in Brazil
by a working group on
sustainable livestock.
http://www.pecuariasustentavel.o
rg.br/

27. My tasks:
• Monitor the trade negotiations at
the WTO and between Mercosur and
the European Union
• Participate in government
information sessions on Brazil’s
trade and agricultural policies
(Ministry of Environment, Itamaraty
etc.)
• Organize multi-stakeholder
workshops to engage in discussions
and find creative solutions to
increase the sustainability of the
agricultural sector in Brazil
(particularly in the Amazon region)
• Identify the main commercial and
financial policies of Brazil (and other
Mercosur countries), assess their
effects in terms of sustainability and
formulate proposals to improve
them

28.  Lessons learned:
• Once again, the existence of conflicting interests around natural
resources and various land use options
• Importance of promoting dialogue and implementing multistakeholder initiatives
• Had the chance to travel and get to know various Brazilian
ecosystems and the various environmental issues that they were
facing
• The extreme carefulness with which any public announcement
would be made or the famous Panda logo would be used

29. • During my time in Brasilia, I
also got very actively
involved with the Society of
Saint Vincent of Paul. A
Catholic organization aimed
at helping poor people.
• We would meet every
Friday night and would go
on Saturdays to distribute
food and visit families in
communities located in
shanty towns around the
city.

30. Lessons learned:
• Importance of the Catholic
Church as a social actor in
Brazil
• Severe land use issues
around the major cities also
(not only in the country
side)
• Food security issues were
still important for lowincome families at that time
• Many other social issues
were also prevalent such as
teen pregnancies or single
mothers raising many
children alone

31. From 2004 until 2008 I worked
in Montreal, Canada as a
consultant on issues related to
environmental economics and
policies, resource management,
agricultural policies and markets,
international development and
gender.

32. I also got involved on many committees
as a volunteer:
• 2009-2011
Member of the Steering
Committee of the Agricultural Caucus
of the Canadian Environmental
Network
• 2007-2011
Research Associate to
the Institute of Research in Feminist
Studies (IREF) of the University of
Quebec in Montreal (UQAM)
• 2006-2011
Member of the Women
and Development Committee of the
Quebec Association of Organizations in
International Cooperation (AQOCI)
• 2007-2010 Member of the Board of
Directors of FEM-International
• 2005-2008
Member of the Women
and Trade Committee of the Quebec
Women’s Federation (FFQ)

33.  Lessons learned:
• Conflicting issues around natural resources also occur in Canada,
especially around First Nations lands, but not only
• Importance of agricultural Federations in Quebec
• High interest in environmental and international development
issues, generally
• The promotion of gender equality was rather high on the agenda
in Quebec

34. • In 2006, I got
married to a
Canadian man who
had originally
imigrated from
Lebanon.
• I took a break in
2007 on the occasion
of the birth of our
son

35. • From 2008 until 2010, I
worked for a Montrealbased Canadian NGO in
Oruro and La Paz, Bolivia.
• I worked on inclusive
business projects mainly
with rural Aboriginal
women

36. My tasks:
• Travel to rural Aboriginal
communities and identify their
leaders
• Engage with Aboriginal women’s
groups in order to identify their needs,
as well as their strengths and
weaknesses as producers
• Facilitate workshops and training
sessions to teach the women how to
write business plans, funding proposals
etc.
• Assist the women in the
development of basic skills by
helping them to open their first bank
accounts, organizing workshops in
accounting, computer literacy or good
food management practices etc.
• Conduct market studies in order to
identify potential niche markets for the
women’s products as well as their
requirements

37. Challenges faced:
• Assigned to a partner
organization with
severe governance
problems
• High levels of
analphabetism among
Aboriginal women
• Lack of resources in
the communities and
remoteness

38. Lessons learned:
• Importance of letting local authorities
know that you are going to be working with
some women of their community
• Finding innovative ways to transmit
knowledge to women who can hardly read or
write
• Finding appropriate ways to approach
women that are extremely shy at the
beginning
• Women are very motivated to improve the
situation for themselves and their families
• Cultural differences have to be taken into
account
• Export markets are not always an option

39. I returned to Montreal, Canada
and worked as a consultant once
again, including on some CSR
projects aimed at supporting
Canadian entrepreneurs willing
to invest in developing
countries.
Many funders nowadays require
that investors follow a series of
social and environmental
criteria, and that relations with
local communities be managed
in an appropriate way (ex. IFC
Standards).
That requires to have a long
term strategy in place
associated to relevant action
plans and the necessary
monitoring and evaluation tools.

40. At the same time, I continued to be
involved with some organizations as a
volunteer.
• 2010-2012
Member of the
Steering Committee of the
International Program of the
Canadian Environmental Network
(RCEN)
• 2010-1011 Member of the National
Council and of the Board of Directors
of the Canadian Environmental
Network (RCEN)
• 2010-2011
Member of the Board
of Directors of the Quebec Association
for Impact Studies (AQEI)

41. • From 2012 until 2013
(with a break for
Christmas), I went on a
business trip of several
months to Brazil.
• I went to Brasilia (DF),
Belém (PA), Belo
Horizonte (MG),
Ribeirao Preto (SP) and
Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
• Main lesson learned:
Brazil has changed a
lot over the past
decade taking millions
out of poverty =>
expanding middle class

42. Finally, in 2013, I arrived in
Vancouver, Canada for the
first time in my life, and
here I am!
Thank you!
E-mail:
c_h_whyte@yahoo.com

43. Many pictures in this presentation are mine, but others are not.
Here come the references of the pictures that are not
mine:
Slide 4 :
Asian musicians: http://www.celebratevancouver125.ca/2011/06/summer-live-artists/
Alain Daniélou, famous ethnomusicologist: http://www.find.org.in/into-the-labyrinth/ourorigins/alain-danielou/
Slide 5:
Université de Versailles-Saint-Quentin: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1360335
Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris : http://www.fplusd.org/schule-und-studium/studieren-impartnerland/sciences-po-die-schule-von-der-die-jungen-franzosen-traeumen/
Slide 6 :
Irish Cross: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland
Herd of sheep: http://www.exploringireland.net/discover-ireland-2/
Greetings from Ireland: http://english4fun.altervista.org/3ireland/?doing_wp_cron=1391536814.8399651050567626953125
Neuschwanstein Castle in Bayern, Germany:
http://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/objects/neuschw.htm
Munich: http://vimeo.com/58832279

44. Slide 7:
Montreal, QC, Canada (picture 1): http://www.isihconference.com/2013-montreal/
Montreal (picture 2): http://adriannatravels.blogspot.ca/2013/01/o-canada-quebec.html
Slide 9:
Export Development Canada: www.edc.ca
Business Development Bank of Canada: www.bdc.ca
Association France-Québec: www.quebecfrance.qc.ca
Slide 10:
Handicrafts Market of Guatemala City :
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2010.05.12.120416_Mercado_artesan%C3%ADas_Guatemala_City.jpg
Entry stairs of the Biotopo del Quetzal: http://www.guate360.com/galeria/cat-biotopo-del-quetzal-259.htm
Salama, Guatemala: http://mgmttravels.blogspot.ca/2009/10/salama-guatemala_10.html
Quetzal bird: http://www.revuemag.com/2012/09/the-symbol-of-liberty/
Slides 11,12 and 14:
Pictures from the website of UPAVIM: www.upavim.org
Slide 13:
Handicrafts from UPAVIM: www.upavim.org
Logo of the Fair Trade Federation: http://www.fairtradefederation.org/
Handicrafts from UPAVIM: http://www.thengolist.com/upavim-guatemala.html

45. Slide 15:
Guatemala City at night: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala
Logo of UPAVIM: www.upavim.org
Slide 17:
Iracambi (picture from their website): http://en.iracambi.com/
Entry gate to Iracambi: http://www.goabroad.com/providers/amigos-de-iracambi/programs/iracambi-atlanticrainforest-research-center-15105
Slide 18:
Iracambi’s former logo
Slide 21:
Agreco’s logo: http://www.agreco.com.br/site.html
Picture from Agreco’s website: http://www.agreco.com.br/site.html
CIRAD’s logo: www.cirad.fr
Slide 22:
Picture from Agreco’s website: http://www.agreco.com.br/site.html
Slide 23:
Picture of the Encostas da Serra Geral: http://www.santarosadelima.sc.gov.br/turismo/item/detalhe/11608
Picture of the Church of Santa Rosa de Lima, SC: http://www.panoramio.com/user/4769416/tags/Ingazeira

46. Slide 24:
River of Santa Rosa de Lima: http://ricardoribas.photoshelter.com/image/I0000fFRQauybwFo
Main street of Santa Rosa de Lima: http://br.distanciacidades.com/distancia-de-seara-a-santa-rosa-de-lima-santacatarina
Slide 25:
Picture of the Pantanal (picture 3): http://pantanal-lodge.blogspot.ca/
Slide 27:
Soybean: http://www.agricultura.gov.br/vegetal/culturas/soja
Roundtable on Responsible Soy:
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/soy/responsiblesoy/soy_roundtable/
Slide 31:
Montreal, Qc, Canada: http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~sera2010/Montreal.html
Olympic Stadium of Montreal: http://www.montreal-travelguide.com/hochelaga-maisonneuve/Montreal-TowerOlympic-Park/
Slide 32:
Logo of the AQOCI: www.aqoci.qc.ca
Logo of FEM-International: www.feminternational.org
Logo of the Quebec Women’s Federation: www.ffq.qc.ca
Slide 40:
Logo of the RCEN: http://rcen.ca/home
Logo of the AQEI: http://www.aqei.qc.ca/