An Dewaele (°1972) is an agronomist specialised in tropical agriculture, with a Masters degree in tropical forestry. Through long-term missions in Peru, Madagascar, the Gambia, Namibia and Uganda she has acquired a wealth of field experience on the use and development of participatory methods, methodological and technical training and project management. Since she joined the South Research team as a consultant (in April 2001), she has been actively involved in the evaluation of development interventions involving NGOs and public authorities both in Belgium and in the South. An also has experience in guiding organisations during their strategic planning process. She speaks fluent Dutch, French and English and has a good knowledge of Spanish and German.

 

 

 

Karen Mingelers (° 1975) is a consultant with South Research with experience mainly in programme management, sustainable development and gender mainstreaming. She has a Master’s degree in sociology from the University of Leiden (Netherlands) and a Master’s degree in International Development Studies from Radboud University in Nijmegen (Netherlands).
She was programme head for the Philippines and the Sahel with a Belgian NGO for a number of years, assisted with the official government position on gender mainstreaming within the government for the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and worked on the same subject for Voluntary Services Overseas in Vanuatu. She speaks Dutch, English and German fluently and French well.

Bob Peeters (°1955) is an agronomist and has specialised in rural development. After completing his studies he spent four years working for ATOL, which was then a centre for applied technology. He was then responsible for the agriculture section of a development project in Tanzania for 6 years. Together with local farmers he developed agricultural extension programmes and agricultural projects. Since 1989 he has been working through South Research for organisations involved in and associated with development activities in the South and North. He speaks fluent Dutch, French and English and has a good knowledge of Kiswahili.

 

 

 

 

Barbara Simaeys (°1971) ) is an engineer in international technological development. From 1997 to 1998 she spent 7 months in Ecuador, where she carried out a study for a local NGO on small-scale rural electricity supply. Barbara has been working as a consultant for South Research since 1999. Until 2002 she also worked half time as an evaluator for the Flemish NGO umbrella organisation 11.11.11 on behalf of the Instituut voor Ontwikkelingsbeleid en -beheer (IOB – Institute for Development Policy and Management) of the University of Antwerp. Barbara Simaeys is actively involved in various evaluation missions and gives training in project cycle management (PCM) and strategic planning, both in Belgium and in the South. Language skills: Dutch (mother tongue), Spanish, English and French.

 

 

Dirk Van Esbroeck (°1953) is a socio-economist and has more than 25 years' experience in development co-operation. After completing his studies he worked for six years in Indonesia in an integrated rural development project. During that period he also represented the Belgian NGO Coopibo. Upon his return in 1983 he worked as a freelance consultant. In 1984 he was one of the founding members of South Research. Since then he has carried out a wide range of work for development organisations in some thirty countries - in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe - as well as continuing to play an important role in the development of South Research. He speaks fluent Dutch, English, French and Indonesian.