Dirk-Jan Koch

Netherlands

Prof.dr. Dirk-Jan Koch is an expert in the field of development cooperation. From 2011 until 2014 Dirk-Jan Koch worked for Search for Common Ground as Country Director in the Democratic Republic of Congo after which he transitioned to the position of Regional Director of for West and Central-Africa.

Since 2014, he has been the special envoy for natural resources for the Dutch government. He is a member of the international board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and leads the implementation of the EITI in the Netherlands.

Dirk-Jan is also chairman of the board of the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM). This is a multi-stakeholder initiative of companies, civil society organizations and governments aimed at stimulating responsible mineral extraction. He worked for the European Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In addition to his duties as envoy, Dirk-Jan is affiliated as an extraordinary professor at Radboud University. He teaches and conducts research, including on the relationship between commodity trading and economic development.