Janek Vähk

Janek Vähk

Zero Pollution Policy Manager

Vorst, Brussels Region, Belgium
4K followers 500+ connections

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About

As an experienced and dedicated environmental policy professional, I have been instrumental in shaping and implementing strategies for pollution reduction and sustainability. Currently serving as the Zero Pollution Policy Manager at Zero Waste Europe, I have successfully aligned organisational initiatives with the European Green Deal goals, driving comprehensive frameworks for waste management, renewable energy, and recycling. My expertise extends to managing operating grants, such as the LIFE programme.

Previously, I have excelled in various roles including Fundraising Coordinator at Friends of the Earth Europe, where I honed my skills in income projection, resource allocation, and networking. My freelance work as a fundraising expert with Justice and Environment, coupled with my role as Project Officer at Humana Spain, further solidified my ability to secure funding from diverse sources including the EC, DFID, AECID, and DANIDA.

With a strong academic foundation in Environmental Sciences and Policy (MSc) from Central European University and a Postgraduate Degree in Charity Marketing and Fundraising from Bayes Business School, I bring both strategic vision and practical expertise to the table. Proficient in multiple languages including English, Spanish, and French, I am equipped to navigate and influence international environmental policy landscapes.

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Experience

  • Zero Waste Europe Graphic

    Zero Pollution Policy Manager

    Zero Waste Europe

    - Present 9 years 1 month

    Brussels Area, Belgium

    Responsible for strategic planning and implementation of ZWE's climate, energy and air pollution policy work, including
    - Leading on climate, energy and air pollution policy work in Brussels,
    - Supporting communications and strategic planning,
    - Representation of Zero Waste Europe in coalitions,
    - Leading in networking and partnerships,
    - Seeking out, researching, and cultivating of potential new donors,
    - Capacity building of staff in development work.

  • Friends of the Earth Europe Graphic

    Fundraising Coordinator

    Friends of the Earth Europe

    - 2 years 10 months

    Bruselas y alrededores, Bélgica

    Responsible for the coordination of fundraising efforts of Friends of the Earth Europe 5 programmes (Resource and Consumption; Climate and Energy Justice, Economic Justice, Food, Land and Biodiversity and Network development programmes).

    Tasks included: preparation of regular income projections, prospect identification and networking, proposal development, monitoring and reporting. I have experience with a wide range of DGs and calls for proposals (LIFE, LIFE+, EACEA civil society…

    Responsible for the coordination of fundraising efforts of Friends of the Earth Europe 5 programmes (Resource and Consumption; Climate and Energy Justice, Economic Justice, Food, Land and Biodiversity and Network development programmes).

    Tasks included: preparation of regular income projections, prospect identification and networking, proposal development, monitoring and reporting. I have experience with a wide range of DGs and calls for proposals (LIFE, LIFE+, EACEA civil society projects, Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, DEVCO, DG AGRI Information measures, etc.), private foundation and European governments.

  • Funding Officer

    Justice and Environment

    - 7 months

    Madrid Area, Spain

    The task was to coordinate the network´s partnership efforts, including proposal development and reporting to institutional and private donors eg LIFE NGO Operating grants, EACEA, etc.

  • Fundacion Pueblo para Pueblo Graphic

    Programme Manager

    Fundacion Pueblo para Pueblo

    - 3 years 5 months

    Bacabal y alrededores, Brasil

    The job was to devise, develop and pursue funding strategies for multilateral, bilateral and private institutional funders. The work consisted in identifying funding options for the development programmes of Humana People to People southern member organisations and in carrying such strategies successfully through to contracts for funding. The concerned funds included EC, DFID, AECID, DANIDA etc. Apart from the international development work I was responsible for coordinating development…

    The job was to devise, develop and pursue funding strategies for multilateral, bilateral and private institutional funders. The work consisted in identifying funding options for the development programmes of Humana People to People southern member organisations and in carrying such strategies successfully through to contracts for funding. The concerned funds included EC, DFID, AECID, DANIDA etc. Apart from the international development work I was responsible for coordinating development education and awareness raising programmes applications for EC in Europe.
    Additional info: I developped and managed a 18 million donor strategy. Developed successfully UK strategy over the 3 years. We managed to raise approx. 3 million funding per year from mainly from EC and established working relations with more than 20 NGOs from UK, Germany and Spain, and have sent in more than 10 applications with new partner organisations.

Education

  • Cass Business School Graphic

    Cass Business School

    Postgraduate diploma Charity Marketing and Fundraising

    -

  • DNS The Necessary Teacher Training College

    Bachelor's Degree Education

    -

    Thesis on "Teaching mutual understanding through history lessons" (Evaluated “B").

  • Central European University Graphic

    Central European University/The University of Manchester

    Master's Degree Environmental Science and Policy A

    -

    Activities and Societies: Students representative

    Theses on "the Evaluation of Environmental Management Systems´ support systems in Estonia" . Superviser - Aleg Cherp

  • Academy Nord

    Bachelor's Degree Public administration and EU studies B

    -

    Activities and Societies: Assistant to Free Europe Center

    Theses on "Approximation of Estonia´s air quality acts to EU environmental acquis". During my studies I was students' representative in Academic Council. I received two scholarships: one for excellence in studies "Andrus Park" and another for an essay in Philosophy.

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

Publications

Courses

  • EU Environmental Law

    -

  • Environmental Policy and Politics

    -

  • Marketing and Fundraising

    -

  • Resource Management

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  • Strategic Marketing

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  • Strategy, Diversity and Governance

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  • Voluntary Sector Policy

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  • Waste Management

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  • Water resources

    -

Projects

  • Livelihoods and food security project in Oio.

    -

    The project aims to improved livelihoods for 1.500 poor families in the Oio region through increased food security and enhanced income-generating opportunities. This outcome will be measured through the following indicators:
    1) 40% increase in household income from agriculture related activities in the target area
    2) 40% increase in yields of major crops in target area
    3) 20% in value added in the agriculture sector in the target area
    4) 40% decrease in proportion of…

    The project aims to improved livelihoods for 1.500 poor families in the Oio region through increased food security and enhanced income-generating opportunities. This outcome will be measured through the following indicators:
    1) 40% increase in household income from agriculture related activities in the target area
    2) 40% increase in yields of major crops in target area
    3) 20% in value added in the agriculture sector in the target area
    4) 40% decrease in proportion of under-nourished population in the target area
    5) 80% of the households are food secure (by having 3 meals a day)
    6) 25% increase in adult literacy for women and man in the target area increased

    The project will target 1,500 farmers and at least 70% female (1,050) and compare the results to the baseline data and to non-participating farmers. In order to achieve the 70% involvement of females, the project will hold meeting with local and traditional leaders and visit all the women headed households in the area.

    Other creators
    • juda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo na Guiné-Bissau
    See project

Languages

  • Español

    Professional working proficiency

  • Inglés

    Full professional proficiency

  • Estonio

    Native or bilingual proficiency

  • Portugués

    Limited working proficiency

  • Ruso

    Elementary proficiency

  • French

    Limited working proficiency

Organizations

  • Institute of Fundraising

    -

    - Present

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