
Laura F. Kowler, PhD
social equity | forest governance | monitoring and evaluation | impact assessment | responsible and sustainable sourcing practices | supply chain governance | collaborative governance
Overview
An interdisciplinary researcher and program manager with a background in environmental sociology and natural resource governance, committed to developing innovative and effective tools for monitoring and evaluation and impact management for food and agricultural supply chains. Twelve years of experience working with rural communities, producer organizations, companies, and government and non-government entities in the tropics to address governance challenges and opportunities around conservation and development, sustainable and responsible supply chains, and participatory planning. Committed to working with organizations and companies to measure impact and develop best practices and metrics to track equitable and sustainable sourcing practices within their supply chains.
Education
PhD, University of Florida, School of Natural Resources & Environment
MSc, University of Florida, School of Natural Resources & Environment
BJA, University of Georgia, Grady College of Journalism
Research
My research focuses on:
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multi-stakeholder engagement processes;
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equitable decision-making processes;
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organizational development;
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natural resource governance;
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supply chain governance;
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responsible and sustainable sourcing practices;
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impact management
Consulting
I focus on developing research methods and coordinating research projects on equitable benefit-sharing arrangements in the context of low-emissions development programs, working with rural agricultural organizations and communities to capture their perceptions of conservation programs as well as well as working with food companies on standards for responsible and sustainable sourcing practices in addition to impact management.