Charlene Watson
About Charlene Watson
Charlene Watson is a Research Associate specializing in public climate finance and its effectiveness. She has extensive experience in environmental valuation and has worked with various organizations, including the Overseas Development Institute and The World Bank.
Current Role at ODI
Charlene Watson currently serves as a Research Associate at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) since 2015. In this role, she focuses on monitoring and tracking public climate finance, analyzing the flows, sources, and instruments at both national and international levels. Her work involves exploring the effectiveness of climate finance expenditures and supporting the integration of adaptation strategies into community development plans. Watson has also participated in fieldwork in rural India, advocating for participatory, bottom-up development approaches in climate finance.
Previous Experience at ODI
Before her current position, Charlene Watson worked at the Overseas Development Institute as a Senior Research Advisor from 2012 to 2015. During this time, she contributed to various research initiatives related to climate finance and policy. Her experience at ODI laid the groundwork for her ongoing research and analysis in public climate finance.
Educational Background
Charlene Watson has an extensive educational background. She earned a Master of Arts in Zoology from the University of Cambridge, studying from 2001 to 2004. She later pursued a Master of Science in Economics and Politics at the Dyson School of Design Engineering, completing her studies in 2007. Watson also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics, which she completed from 2007 to 2011.
Consulting Experience
Charlene Watson has held several consulting roles prior to her current position. She worked as a Short-term Consultant for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2009 for four months in New York. Additionally, she served as a Short-term Consultant at The World Bank from 2008 to 2009 for eight months in Washington, D.C. These roles provided her with valuable insights into international climate finance and policy.
Research Contributions
Charlene Watson has made significant contributions to academia, multilateral institutions, and non-governmental organizations. She has authored academic papers, written blogs, and designed infographics. Notably, she co-authored a piece on locally-led adaptation finance in rural India and has engaged in focus group discussions in Indian villages, emphasizing her commitment to participatory approaches in climate finance.