Roland Sundstrom
Practice Lead, Program Delivery, and Special Advisor to the Chief Scientist, Office of the Chief Scientist
Roland Sundstrom is Practice Lead for Program Delivery and Special Advisor to the Chief Scientist at CGIAR. In his role, Roland coordinates CGIAR’s shared 2025—30 science and innovation Portfolio that brings together 15 CGIAR Research Centers in more than 90 countries to transform food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis.
Before taking on his current role in 2024, Roland served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor with a focus on fostering stronger integration and collaboration across CGIAR’s Centers and partners.
Prior to joining CGIAR in 2019, Roland spent more than eight years at the World Bank in Washington, DC, as Senior Policy Officer (from 2016) and Climate Change Specialist/ Program Manager (from 2011) at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Secretariat; coordinating the development of institutional strategy and policy, managing part of the GEF's portfolio on climate change adaptation and food systems, and representing the GEF in negotiations on climate finance and adaptation under the UNFCCC.
Before joining the World Bank, Roland helped shape the first integrated policy on environment and natural resources management at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
A Finnish national, Roland holds Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Development Studies from the University of Helsinki.
