Judith A. Towle
OVERVIEW
Judith Towle has over 35 years experience in public sector management and international development, primarily in the small islands of the Eastern Caribbean.
With a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University, Judith Towle has served as the chief administrative and financial officer of Island Resources Foundation since the organization’s establishment in 1972. She co-founded the Foundation with her husband, Edward Towle, and shared with him its management and development for more than three decades. Her more than 30 years of Caribbean experience have focused on institutional development, non-governmental organizations, public policy and financial management. Judith is IRF’s senior writer and editor and is regionally recognized for editing the eight-volume Country Environmental Profile series for the Eastern Caribbean. She was the editor for eight years of NGO NEWS for the Eastern Caribbean, a quarterly publication serving the NGO community in the Eastern Caribbean.
From 1991-2004, Judith served as a member of the Board of Trustees (Chair from 1997-2004) of the Mukti Fund, a private U.S. philanthropic foundation whose grantmaking focused on St. Kitts and Nevis. In 2003, the Judith A. Towle Environmental Studies Fund was established in recognition of her work in the Caribbean. The $70,000 endowment funds annual internships, research, workshops and publications in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Coordinator of Euan P. McFarlane Environmental Leadership Award Program. The McFarlane Award was established by Island Resources Foundation in 1987 to provide recognition for persons demonstrating initiative, resourcefulness and leadership in promoting conservation and enhancement of the environment in the insular Caribbean. Endowment provided by Laurance S. Rockefeller.
Author (1995) of "Widening the Circle of Leadership: Strengthening Conservation NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean" , which summarizes Island Resources Foundation’s experiences and findings following almost a decade of focused institutional development assistance to conservation NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean. It provides a descriptive analysis of the region’s environmental NGOs and summarizes the key lessons learned about and characteristics of the Eastern Caribbean’s most effective conservation NGOs and the donors who support them.
Editor (1987-1993) of eight “Environmental Profiles” for Caribbean countries (Anguilla, Antigua-Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). The Profiles represent over 1,500 pages of descriptive analysis, sector-specific assessments, and hundreds of policy recommendations dealing with the "state of the environment" in each of the eight target countries (funded by USAID and UNDP).
Author of “Environmental Agenda for the 1990s”, a 71-page synthesis volume which summarizes the Country Environmental Profile series for the Eastern Caribbean and provides ready access to Profile findings and recommendations.
Author of institutional assessment chapters for the Eastern Caribbean Environmental Profile (CEP) series. Provided detailed analysis of the extant institutional framework for environmental management in six CEP target countries (both public and private sectors), plus policy guidelines and recommendations. Institutional analysis provided for Antigua-Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent.
Member of the Board of Trustees (1991-2004) of the Mukti Fund, a private U.S. foundation whose philanthropic grant-making focused on the Eastern Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. Chair from 1998-2004.
Co-director (1986-95) of an institutional development program for Eastern Caribbean non-governmental organizations, funded by World Wildlife Fund-US, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and USAID. By providing institutional development assistance to selected NGOs, the program was designed to target and strengthen private sector environmental organizations in the region.
Created and served as editor of a quarterly newsletter entitled “NGO News for the Eastern Caribbean”. The publication (1987-1994) provided news about NGO and donor activities in the Eastern Caribbean pertaining to the environment, while concentrating on a variety of institutional development topics from “how to run an effective meeting” to “how to buy the right computer”, as well as topics with more complex themes like “financing strategies and techniques for NGOs” and “leadership and managerial skills for NGO leaders”.
Member of study team (under contract to the Government of St. Kitts-Nevis and funded by USAID) which carried out an environmental assessment and land use management planning effort (1985-86) for a 4,000 acre undeveloped peninsular area on the island of St. Kitts. Towle had specific responsibility for public sector institutional analysis, and her recommendations led to the creation of a national Conservation Commission.
Principal investigator for an external program evaluation and institutional assessment of the Eastern Caribbean Natural Resource Management Program (ECNAMP), contracted by World Wildlife Fund-US and Rockefeller Brothers Fund (1985); evaluation focused on a multi-million dollar, decade-old resource management program supported by WWF-US and RBF in the Eastern Caribbean.
Project director of a five-year development program (1980-1985) focusing on the use and management of historical resources in the Eastern Caribbean (funded principally by Rockefeller Brothers Fund). In 1983, Towle organized and directed the first Caribbean workshop on the uses of historical resources for Caribbean island development (convened at the Brimstone Hill Fortress, St. Kitts).
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Participation in a variety of funded programs implemented under the aegis of Island Resources Foundation, including: curriculum planning and teacher training in ethnic heritage studies (U.S. Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean); survey, documentation and assessment of extant cultural features and historic sites (Caribbean); community-based environmental education (U.S. Virgin Islands); historical resource development (Dominica, St. Kitts-Nevis, Eastern Caribbean); development and dissemination of environmental education materials (Caribbean); experiential education focusing on island folklore and cultural traditions (U.S. Virgin Islands); instructional materials design for career education (U.S. Virgin Islands, Eastern Caribbean).
Planned and directed community development projects, managed public information programs, participated in the design and management of workshops and conferences, and worked with non-print media as the co-producer of a 12-part career education television series for West Indian young people.
OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE
Judith Towle has lived and worked in the Caribbean for over 30 years. Direct experience in the following islands: Barbados, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua, Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent. Experience includes association with both government agencies and private sector organizations, including regional and indigenous NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Ms. Towle received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University (1982), with an area of concentration in international development administration. Graduate studies at the University of Maryland (cultural history) and a BA degree (1966) from the University of Wisconsin in history and education.
PAST PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
Vice President of the Island Resources Foundation (1976 to present)
(Caribbean offices in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Tortola, British Virgin Islands; development office in Washington, DC). The Foundation was established in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the early 1970s, dedicated to the premise that islands are special places with particularly fragile environments and exceptionally vulnerable development options. Its central mission has been to assist small islands to meet the challenges of social, economic, and institutional growth while protecting and enhancing their environments.
Director of Special Projects, Alisal School District, Salinas, California (1973 to 1975)
Responsibilities for the development, management and implementation of all federally and state-funded educational programs in a low income, heavily migrant school district.
Administrative Officer, Island Resources Foundation, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (1972 to 1973)
Involved in the founding and early development of Island Resources Foundation, including responsibilities for program development, fund raising, organizational structuring, personnel management and public relations. Returned to the Foundation in January of 1976.
Independent Consultant, based in U.S. Virgin Islands (1971 to 1972)
Variety of assignments, primarily for the Caribbean Conservation Association and the Virgin Islands Conservation Society, related to program design, public education, and environmental publications.
Chief Beautification Officer, Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (1971)
Responsible for the development and direction of environmental education programs for the USVI Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs. Supervised summer youth employment program, directed island-wide beautification campaign, and instituted public information program on conservation issues.
Projects Coordinator, Caribbean Research Institute, College of the Virgin Islands (1967 to 1970)
Responsible for the administration of research programs based at College facilities on the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.
Office Staff, Senator Frank Church, United States Senate, Washington, DC (1967 and 1968)
Constituent case work, legislative research, participation in the Senator's 1968 reelection campaign.
PUBLICATIONS
“Sustainable Development and Small Island States of the Caribbean” (with E. Blommestein, B. Boland, T. Harker, and S. Lestrade). In: George Maul, ed., Small Islands: Marine Science and Sustainable Development, 1996. Coastal and Estuarine Studies (51), American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC. 36 pp.
Widening the Circle of Leadership: Strengthening Conservation NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean. A publication of Island Resources Foundation, 1995, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Review of findings and lessons learned by Island Resources Foundation after almost a decade of focused institutional development assistance to Eastern Caribbean environmental NGOs. 45 pp.
The Donor Directory: Donor Organizations and Technical Assistance Programs. A guide to who is supporting sustainable resource development in the Eastern Caribbean. Published by Island Resources Foundation’s NGO Institutional Development Program, 1995. 86 pp.
The NGO Directory: A Guide To Environmental Non-governmental Organizations Supporting Conservation and Resource Management Programs in the Eastern Caribbean (with Bruce Horwith). Published by Island Resources Foundation’s NGO Institutional Development Program, 1995. 54 pp.
Environmental Profiles for Anguilla and Montserrat. Editor of and member of research team for Environmental Profiles prepared for Anguilla (141 pp.) and Montserrat (124 pp.). Prepared for the Governments of Anguilla and Montserrat, with funding provided by the United Nations Development Program. Published 1993 by Island Resources Foundation.
Fiscal Management for Non-governmental Organisations: A Manual To Assist Environmental NGOs In the Eastern Caribbean. Published by Island Resources Foundation’s NGO Institutional Development Program, June 1992. 41 pp.
Country Environmental Profiles for the Eastern Caribbean. Series Editor of Profiles for:
Antigua-Barbuda (198 pp.), Dominica (212 pp.), Grenada (252 pp.), St. Kitts and Nevis (252 pp.), St. Lucia (304 pp.), and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (212 pp.). Prepared for the Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA), the respective island governments, and the United States Agency for International Development/Regional Development Office/Caribbean (USAID/RDO/C). Published 1991 by CCA and IRF.
Author of chapters on "The Institutional Framework for Resource Management" for the Antigua-Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent Environmental Profiles. Author of chapters on "Heritage Protection" for the Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent Environmental Profiles. (See above entry for publication information.)
Environmental Agenda for the 1990's: A Synthesis of the Eastern Caribbean Country Environmental Profile Series. Prepared by Island Resources Foundation for the Caribbean Conservation Association and USAID/RDO/C, September 1991. 71 pp.
Directory of Environmental NGOs in the Eastern Caribbean (with Bruce Horwith). Prepared by Island Resources Foundation's NGO Institutional Development Program, April 1991. 46 pp.
Organizational Profiles of Who Is Doing What In Support of Programs for Sustainable Resource Development and Environmental Management in the Eastern Caribbean (with Bruce Potter). A guide to donor organizations and technical assistance agencies. Prepared by Island Resources Foundation's NGO Institutional Development Program, February 1989. 109 pp.
Summary Report on Eastern Caribbean Non-Government Organizations (with Bruce Potter and Edward Towle). Prepared under the aegis of IRF's Eastern Caribbean NGO Institutional Development Support Project, funded by World Wildlife Fund-US and Rockefeller Brothers Fund, June 1987. 54 pp. Based on a survey of non-governmental organizations in eight target islands (October 1986-February 1987); over 100 NGOs evaluated on basis of demonstrated leadership qualities, long-term viability, and concern about the significant environment/development issues confronting the region.
Land Use Management Plan for the Southeast Peninsula, St. Kitts, West Indies. Prepared for the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis with funding from USAID/RDO/C, 1986. 220 pp. Co-editor of final document, with specific responsibility for preparing sections on regulatory and management considerations and a proposed institutional framework.
The Uses of Historical Resources in Eastern Caribbean Island Development: A Workshop Report (Proceedings of a meeting held at Brimstone Hill, St. Kitts in October 1983). Published by Island Resources Foundation under a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, 1985. 75 pp.
Evaluation Report on the Eastern Caribbean Natural Area Management Program (ECNAMP) (with Edward Towle). Prepared for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and World Wildlife Fund-U.S., 1985. 77 pp.
"Management Analysis of the Eastern Caribbean Natural Area Management Program." In: John Lien and Robert Graham, eds., Marine Parks and Conservation: Challenge and Promise. Published by the National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada, 1985. 9 pp.
Historic Site Preservation in the Caribbean: A Status Report. Published by the Island Resources Foundation with the assistance of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration and the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1978. 58 pp.
Project Editor, environmental education field guides published by Island Resources Foundation and Virgin Islands Conservation Society under a grant from the U.S. Office of Environmental Education, 1978-1979.
"Visual Pollution: Beautification Programs in the Caribbean." In: Caribbean Conservation Association's Environmental Newsletter, August 1972. 16 pp. (Reprinted: In-touch, The Caribbean Magazine, December 1973.)
Project Editor, Virgin Islands Conservation Society's environmental education series: Topics in West Indian Natural History, 1971-1973.
