UNCLAS LIMA 000272

SIPDIS

FSI FOR MKELLER, RWINCHESTER, SHALLET

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AFSI KSCA AFSN TSPL ECON PE

SUBJECT: 2009 ESTH FSN COURSE - LIMA NOMINATION

REF: STATE 15409

Post greatly appreciates reftel invitation to nominate an FSN for
the 2009 Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) Course
and hereby proposes post's sole ESTH FSN:

a. Name & Grade of Nominee: Esteban Sandoval, FSN-9
b. DOB: November 8, 1972
c. Nationality: Ecuadorian
d. Passport Number: 1706466305
e. Agency: State Department, Economic Section
f. Position Title: Economic Assistant
g. American Supervisor: Marcos Mandojana, Deputy Economic Counselor
& ESTH Officer, MandojanaMC@state.gov

h. Education, Experience, Responsibilities: Mr. Sandoval has a
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of
Miami, a post-graduate degree in administration and management from
Harvard University and an MBA from Boston University. Before
joining the US Embassy in 2006, he worked for Peru's Development
Finance Corporation, a textile export firm, and an Ecuadorian bank.
At the Embassy, he spends 90% of his time on the complete range of
ESTH issues as well as renewable energy. The key issues he works on
include: environmental policy, sustainable forestry, climate
change, scientific research vessels, biodiversity, water and marine
issues, biofuels, and other renewable energies. He has helped
implement Environmental Law Enforcement training, conferences on
Sustainable Biofuels Development, a pig waste biodigestor project
that supplies gas to a poor community, and numerous speakers and
International Visitors Program participants on ESTH issues.

i. Value of Course: As Peru is one of the world's mega-diverse
countries, possessing the third largest tropical forest in the
world, environmental issues are central to our bilateral relations.
This is now truer than ever, as Peru has established a Ministry of
Environment that needs our help and as our Free Trade Agreement,
with the most ambitious environment chapter in history (with the
corresponding Congressional scrutiny), entered into force in
February. As our sole FSN on ESTH issues, and a key interlocutor
with State, other USG agencies and the regional ESTH Hub on these
issues, training Mr. Sandoval is a sound investment. We attempted
to nominate him for the officers' ESTH course last year, and sending
him to this course is our section's top training priority.

j. Suggestions for Course Content: Useful topics from our
perspective could include: sustainable forestry, climate change,
impact of extractive industries, promoting scientific/ university
exchanges, renewable energies, environmental law enforcement, and
urban air quality.

k. FSN's Previous Training: None.
MCKINLEY