A new team for IFGR!

Last November, IFGR celebrated the arrival of Sophie Gardette to take over the general management of the association, replacing Marie-Cécile Grisard, who took over the position of European Public Affairs Manager of CNR. This was an occasion to thank Marie-Cécile for the four years during which she devoted all her energy to developing and consolidating the association. The action Living with Rivers organised by Marie-Cécile, her intern Camille Larminay, and the partners of IFGR, have enjoyed great success (we will say more in the newsletter of December).

Sophie was previously the manager of APAD (Association for the Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture) for 7 years. APAD is an association of farmers that promotes and aids the development of tomorrow’s agriculture: Soil Conservation Agriculture. This new mission in IFGR following her previous post, with its links between the health of soils and that of rivers, seems a logical step her. At IFGR, Sophie will coordinate the network of members, develop partnerships, obtain funding and the carry out overall management of the association’s activities. She will also ensure the operational implementation of the strategy determined by the management board.

The new general secretary, Clémence Aubert, was appointed to this post last July for a period of three years. In addition, she is the Manager of CNR’s Missions in the General Interest. Sophie and Clémence work in tandem and benefit from each other’s reflections. The team also includes Célia Lefèvre, a new intern who arrived at the beginning of March. She is responsible for communication on networks and public awareness, in particular with the development of new tools.

What does not change at IFGR is its Chairman, Erik Orsenna, always involved and engaged in giving a voice to great rivers. This is what he did at the event dedicated to the Fouta Djallon Massif organised in parallel with the United Nations Water Conference, the headline event of our newsletter. Erik is also supporting the candidacy of the Senegal River Development’ Organisation (OMVS) for the Nobel Peace Prize: in his interview with us, the High Commissioner of the OMVS told us of his first impressions on meeting our chairman.