Alexander Koch, Associate Programme Officer, UNEP. Alexander Koch works with the Carbon Finance Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Paris. He helps develop UNEP’s activities in the areas of carbon forestry and bio-energy. Among others, Alex co-manages the “CASCADe” programme (www.cascade-africa.org) that strengthens capacity for the development of A/R, bioenergy and avoided deforestation projects in 7 African countries from PIN stage to validation with the CDM and voluntary carbon market. He currently also helps prepare a follow up programme to CASCADe to facilitate investment in carbon forestry and REDD+ projects globally. Alex is the focal point for the area of REDD+ for UNEP Paris. From 2007 to 2008, Alex managed carbon projects in Latin America, Africa and South Asia with OneCarbon International. In 2006, he developed an efficient cook stoves project for the World Food Programme in Kenya. From 2005 – 2007, Alex was also part of UNEP’s environmental policy and regulation team in Nairobi, focusing on biodiversity and climate change. Alex holds a Master of Law from Humboldt University of Berlin.