Sophie De Coninck brings over 20 years of international development, environment, and climate change experience to her role as Manager for the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility, or LoCAL. Designed by the United Nations Capital Development Fund, LoCAL is a standard and internationally recognized country-based mechanism that finances locally led climate change adaptation, active in over 25 least developed countries (LDC) and African countries. Prior to joining LoCAL, Sophie worked on climate issues for the European Union. Her responsibilities included overseeing the “Global Climate Change Alliance”, with a focus was on LDCs and Small Island Development States in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Caribbean regions. Sophie previously worked for the United Nations Environment Programme in Kenya for five years and with the UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative. Sophie also has government experience, working in various ministries in her native Belgium as well as in the private sector. Sophie holds two master’s degrees, one in engineering and applied economics and the other in environmental science and management from the University of Louvain, Belgium. She has worked in over 30 countries worldwide.