Kosovo

Hello, Vibrant Community!

I’m Marie, and since February 2022, I’ve been steering the ship here as the Community Manager of Capacity4dev.

A wanderer at heart and by profession, my academic and work journeys have whisked me across five European nations and allowed me to dip my toes into professional adventures in seven countries globally. During my BA studies at the Metropolitan University of Prague, I carved out a little piece of history as the first student to navigate through the Erasmus+ program at the International BURCH University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Quite a ride, I must say!

Your stories, projects, and experiences are the heartbeats of Capacity4dev, and I’m here to ensure they echo throughout our online spaces, sparking connections, inspiring projects, and fostering our growing web of international cooperation.

Feel free to drop me a line at marie.zamecnikova@meldea.eu. I’m here to chat, assist, or explore collaboration opportunities that will elevate our collective efforts on this platform.

Eagerly awaiting our shared journey ahead,

Marie

Juliane is working as international expert in the forest and timber sector. With more than 28 years of experience, she has worked extensively in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, focusing on sustainable development and international trade. Currently, Juliane supports smallholder farmers in meeting sustainability standards with innovative, technological solutions enabling them to access international compliance markets. Previously Ms Lemcke worked in strategic support and communications for the EU FLEGT Facility implementing key aspects of the international forest program FLEGT in EU partner countries. Earlier in her career, Ms Lemcke lived and worked in South Africa, where she led SGS’s timber legality and traceability program. She has in-depth knowledge of timber regulations, expertise in due diligence, forest and legality certification, and responsible trade practices. She fosters sustainable value chains, conducts trainings, and builds strategic partnerships, bridging stakeholder interests across government, industry, and NGOs. Ms Lemcke holds an MSc in Wood Science & Technology and has industry experience in international import and export. She is fluent in German, English and Spanish and can communicate in French in both, speaking and writing.

Please use my second email for contact: christinaandersson0@gmail.com

Austrian Development Agency Representative in the Practitioners Network of European Development Cooperation

Johan van Geijn has a unique track record as a specialist in international corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the world of sports, particularly in football and international development cooperation. With more than 25 years of experience – heading the international programs at the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) since 1998 to build local capacity through football in developing countries and low-income countries. More than 20,000 young volunteer coaches have been able to improve themselves in their local environment through programs developed by Johan.
As founder of the WorldCoaches program, Johan has proven many times how sport can serve as a means for social development. Using football as a catalyst for social cohesion, for the position of girls and women in society, for awareness of communicable diseases, drugs and addictions or clean water.
With the international challenges surrounding migration and refugees, using football as an initiator for programs to tackle youth unemployment in these countries. A range of thematic social challenges where Johan has been able to let football contribute to the approach and often to the solution.

Head of Operations at the Vienna-based Innovation in Politics Institute and CEO of the European Capital of Democracy NPO. Work experience in the non-profit, start-up, business and political field. Leadership skills in managing mixed and networked teams with a focus on developing disruptive products and growing innovative organisations.