Jairo Guzman
Tübingen
Summary
I am a seasoned professional with 15 years of global experience in environmental and peacebuilding operations, now specializing in advanced statistics and data analysis. My expertise spans geographical assessments, econometrics, sustainability research, resilience of productive systems, and project management. Recently, I led a multiscale sustainability assessment of agricultural systems, integrating complex GIS analyses with advanced statistical modeling in R. This work evaluated the impacts of climate change and human pressures on multifunctional landscapes, delivering actionable insights for sustainable development. I am passionate about leveraging data-driven solutions to address global challenges in sustainability and resilience.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Researcher
European Union CostAction NEXUS
11.2023 - Current
- Active participation in the European-COSTAction under the European Commission focused on researching the resource nexus (water, energy, food, soil) in the context of extreme events triggered by climate change.
- Contribute to collaborative research efforts and interdisciplinary dialogue aimed at developing integrated strategies for resilience and sustainability.
- Joint research with research centers and universities from more than 8 European countries
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to conduct comprehensive studies and generate valuable insights.
- Gathered and organized information for research purposes.
- Conducted thorough literature reviews to identify gaps in knowledge and inform future research directions.
UN Personal Service Agreement (PSA), Researcher
UNU-FLORES
11.2021 - Current
- Conducted and published research on the impacts of armed conflict on productive landscapes and ecosystem services with local governments in Tolima, Caqueta and Cundinamarca municipalities - Colombia, contributing to developing policies and strategies for sustainable natural resource management in post-conflict regions.
- Work in cooperation with UN agencies such as UNEP on the STRATA project to support research aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas of climate action (SDG 13), life on land (SDG 15), peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16).
- I Led workshops and training sessions in cooperation with Colombia government (Ministry of agriculture, Parq), and community leaders to transfer knowledge and build capacity among local communities, practitioners, and stakeholders in post-conflict areas, focusing on socio-economic sustainability and resilience-building initiatives.
- Active engagement with local governments (Tolima, Caqueta and Cundinamarca-Colombia), NGOs, and community organizations in conflict-affected regions to facilitate dialogue and promote sustainable practices aligned with broader peacebuilding efforts.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to conduct comprehensive studies and generate valuable insights.(Research collaboration with Smart-water-domain project which it involved environmental organizations from Japan, Czech Republic, Poland and Germany).
- Conducted thorough literature reviews to identify gaps in knowledge and inform future research directions (Publications in peer-review journals).
- Managed multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.
- Utilization of statistical models to analyze data and create visualizations.
Consultant
UNU-FLORES
03.2021 - 08.2021
- Engage with Strategic Stakeholders: Establish and maintain strong working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local government officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community leaders, international development agencies, and private sector representatives.
- Data Collection and Analysis: Collect both qualitative and quantitative data through field surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and stakeholder consultations in Colombia. Utilize advanced statistical and spatial analysis tools to interpret data, identify trends, and draw conclusions that support evidence-based policy-making.
- I conducted an Ecosystem Services assessment in productive landscapes, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities in Planadas, Marquetalia, and Gaitania (Southern Tolima). This research culminated in a peer-reviewed publication.
Field Ecologist
University of Hohenheim
11.2019 - 10.2020
- Contributed to the development of environmental policies based on scientific understanding of ecological processes.
- I monitored invasive species using spatial analysis and provided strategic insights to mitigate their spread. My responsibilities included microscopic analysis and maintaining research materials, contributing to developing data-driven approaches that support environmental security and reduce potential threats from ecological imbalances.
- Developed Strategic Insights for Environmental Security.
- Published Peer-Reviewed Research: Co-authored and published a peer-reviewed paper titled "Development of a Shore Typology of Lake Constance (Germany) Using Spatial Analyses," presenting a novel typology framework that integrates spatial data to classify and manage shorelines, thereby informing regional conservation efforts and policy-making.
- Enhanced Understanding of Ecosystem Dynamics: Utilized spatial analysis tools to monitor ecological changes, generating valuable data that informed decision-making processes for environmental management in post-conflict and high-risk areas.
Environmental Peacebuilding Expert
Colombian Ministry of Defense
01.2010 - 09.2016
- (2005-2006) As peacebuilder in La Guajira I supported 03 humanitarian missions with the indigenous community Wayu (logistics, mediation, community engagement) on the Colombian-Venezuela border. Supporting more than 80 people in disadvantage conditions.
- (2007-2009): I led units in peacekeeping operations in Nariño-Colombia, specifically in Tumaco, managing environmental recovery projects and implementing productive initiatives. I was responsible for the administration of public resources exceeding USD 200,000.
- I led peacekeeping operations in South Colombia (Ipiales - Tumaco), working closely with local authorities and international organizations to mediate conflicts and support environmental recovery.
- (2009)Supported Ecosystem Restoration in Partnership with UNODC: Collaborated with UNODC to support ecosystem recovery efforts following the eradication of more than 300 ha of illegal crops. In fieldwork, I supported the implementation of new productive alternatives and markets (Borojo, yuca, pineapple) in 03 armed-conflict regions in Colombia. Benefiting about 60 families in rural and peri-urban areas.
- (2010) Led Ecosystem Recovery Efforts in Tumaco-Narino: Directed ecosystem recovery processes following natural disasters caused by terrorist attacks, such as pipeline sabotage aimed at oil theft. These incidents resulted in over 15 hectares of protected natural areas being devastated by oil spills. I supported the implementation of strategic plans to rehabilitate the affected ecosystems.
- (2011-2013) Facilitated Community-Government Mediation: I engaged with more than 50 rural communities in several regions in Colombia (Boyaca-Huila-Tolima-Caqueta-Guajira-Narino) to mediate between their needs and government support initiatives, ensuring that both parties effectively communicated and collaborated to address local challenges.
- (2013-2015): I coordinated inter-institutional activities in Planadas, Gaitania, and Marquetalia, working with local authorities and international organizations to support vulnerable communities and implement land restoration projects. For instance more than 80 families were trained in agroecology, i.e. use and production of innovative organic compost for coffee crops, implementation of vermiculture, furthermore increase implementation of added value to local agricultural products.
- (2015) Successfully launched and managed 20 productive projects in rural areas in Yopal to replace illegal crops with sustainable agricultural alternatives, contributing to local economic development and environmental conservation.
- (2015) Contributed to the Peace Agreement Process: I Played an active role in the peace negotiations between the government and the FARC guerrilla group, including supporting Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) efforts. Assisted in the reintegration of approximately 500 ex-FARC combatants into civilian life, providing guidance and support to facilitate their transition
- I am self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- I worked effectively in highly-stress environments.
- I am skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Education
Ph.D. - Integrated Management of Water, Soil, And Waste
UNU-FLORES - Technique University of Dresden
Dresden, Germany04-2025
Master of Science - Landscape Ecology
University of Hohenheim
Stuttgart, Germany03-2020
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration
Universidad Cooperativa De Colombia
Bogota, Colombia09-2015
Skills
- Sustainability measurement
- Data analysis
- MS office, R, ArcGIS, QGIS
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Data collection and organization
- Team collaboration
- Research planning
- Strong work ethic
- Fieldwork experience
- Vulnerability analysis
Languages
Spanish
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
German
Upper intermediate (B2)
Conferences/Symposium participation
Speaker, Global Peacekeeping (Geneva - Switzerland)
Speaker, Sustainability Summit (Hamburg-Germany) 2023
Speaker, Brazilian German Sustainability Symposium (Germany) 2024
Speaker, Sustainability Research Innovation Summit (Helsinki, Finland) 2024
Assistant, WASAG Congress (FAO´s HQ - Rome) 2024
Active Member, Europe Union Cost Action (Malta Forum) 2024
Urban resilience and sustainability training, Thessaloniki, Greece 2024
Sustainability retraining, European Union-UNU-FLORES, North Macedonia 2024
Timeline
Researcher
European Union CostAction NEXUS
11.2023 - Current
UN Personal Service Agreement (PSA), Researcher
UNU-FLORES
11.2021 - Current
Consultant
UNU-FLORES
03.2021 - 08.2021
Field Ecologist
University of Hohenheim
11.2019 - 10.2020
Environmental Peacebuilding Expert
Colombian Ministry of Defense
01.2010 - 09.2016
Ph.D. - Integrated Management of Water, Soil, And Waste
UNU-FLORES - Technique University of Dresden
Master of Science - Landscape Ecology
University of Hohenheim
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration
Universidad Cooperativa De Colombia
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