United Nations Foundation | Executive Director, Sustainable Development | 0 United States
Erika Harms is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Program at the United Nations Foundation. In this role, Ms. Harms oversees programs dedicated to preserving and protecting World Heritage, and promoting sustainable livelihoods for communities in and around these sites. Ms. Harms has focused on creating platforms to bring together the private and public sector in support of the United Nations’ conservation priorities, and has spearheaded initiatives such as the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism and the Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. She joined the UN Foundation in 2001, previously serving as Partnership Development Officer.
Before joining the UN Foundation, Ms. Harms came to the United States as Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, D.C and Consul General by the Government of Costa Rica. Previous to her diplomatic career, she worked for Monsanto Corporation as marketing manager for Central America and the Caribbean. From 1989 to 1995, she developed her passion for and knowledge of environmental issues while serving as a consultant in environmental law and policies for the government of Costa Rica, the World Bank, and local and international NGOs.
Ms. Harms is a member of the WHA Governing Body, the GSTC Steering Committee, the Temporary Executive Board for the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council, the Board of International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), the Board for UNDP’s Equator Initiative, and the Board of Friends of Osa. She has served as a judge for the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow awards, the National Geographic Geotourism Challenge, the Travel and Leisure Global Vision Awards, and Smithsonian Travel. In 2008, Conde Nast Traveler recognized Ms. Harms as a “Trail Blazer” in Sustainable Tourism.
A 1991 graduate of the University of Costa Rica’s Law School, Ms. Harms holds a degree of Attorney at Law and Notary Public. In 1995, she obtained her masters degree in Natural Resource Management from INCAE, Central American Institute of Business Administration, in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Born in Costa Rica, Ms. Harms native languages are Spanish and German.
