Patrick Kipalu

Director, Africa Program
Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI)

Patrick has a strong background and interest in natural resources management and human rights in Africa. He has experience supporting civil society organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa, including on human rights, natural resources exploitation (lands, forests, and mines), and climate change. Prior to joining RRI, Patrick was the Country Manager for Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Prior to joining FPP, Patrick worked for the Africa Program at Bank Information Center (BIC), and for the Equity and Governance Program (EGP) at World Resources Institute (WRI).

He has experience strategizing, building capacities and coordination with governments, private companies, civil society organizations, communities and international development agencies to improve land and forest management, integrate climate change components into policies and programs, and to secure the rights of local and indigenous peoples in forest and climate change related initiatives. Patrick has a Master’s degree in Global Environmental Policy from the American University (AU) in Washington DC, and a bachelors’ degree in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management from the University of Kinshasa in DRC.