Allbee headshot

Leland Fellow

Rhiley Allbee

10th Class, 2019-2021

Rhiley’s passion lies in facilitating sustainable and harmonious relationships between people and their environments. She completed a MS at Michigan Technological University in Forest Ecology as a part of the Peace Corps Master’s International program in spring 2019. Her master’s thesis focused on local perceptions of forest change over a 30-year period in the region of Kaffrine, Senegal, where she served as an Agroforestry Extension Agent with the United States Peace Corps from 2015-2017. Through this work, Rhiley empowered small-holder farmers by facilitating the implementation of improved practices and techniques related to agroforestry and sustainable agriculture, ultimately leading to increased productivity, yields, and food security. Prior to becoming a Leland Fellow, Rhiley worked for the non-profit organization the Forest Stewards Guild in Santa Fe, New Mexico that promoted sustainable forest management through ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry practices. Her undergraduate degree is in Biology with minors in Sociology and Chemistry from Saginaw Valley State University.

Host Organization: Global Green Growth Institute

First Year Placement
Seoul, South Korea

As an Agroforestry and Investment Specialist based in Seoul, Rhiley worked with GGGI’s Sustainable Landscapes Thematic Area, Impact and Evaluation Unit, Green Investment Services, Climate Action and Inclusive Development, and Green Growth Planning and Implementation teams. She supported these teams with developing projects that were investable, ecologically sustainable, and focused on GGGI’s 6 strategic outcomes: 1) greenhouse gas emission reduction; 2) creation of green jobs; 3) increased access to sustainable services; 4) improved air quality; 5) adequate supply of ecosystem services; and 6) enhanced adaptation to climate change. Such projects included assessing investment readiness of the AFOLU sector in Vietnam, assessing deforestation free agriculture in Laos, improving land-use management around the Narmada River in India, building climate resilience in tea value chains for small tea growers in India, mangrove restoration in Myanmar, and green rehabilitation investment projects for Karakalpakstan Republic from the Aral Sea crisis in Uzbekistan. Additionally, Rhiley worked with GGGI’s Impact and Evaluation Unit to evaluate the outcomes of projects within the Uganda Country Program.

Second Year Placement
Jakarta, Indonesia

With the GGGI Indonesia Team, Rhiley is supporting the third phase of the joint Government of Indonesia-GGGI Green Growth Program. This involves supporting the finalization of business models related to social forestry permits in local provinces for submission to financiers and engaging with key stakeholders such as Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry and provincial governments in order to enable the submission of developed business ideas for financing. Additionally, Rhiley is the current coordinator for GGGI’s engagement with the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Publications & Blog Posts

Agroforestry: Facilitating Food Security and Climate Change Mitigation

Video / 2019-2021

Focusing on the Long-Term: Food Security and Sustainable Growth

Blog Post / March 19, 2021