MAP
Click the map below to see IEC locations and projects
SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCIES
Zimbabwe – CNFA; November 2019
Provided technical support to proposal capture team for USAID’s Feed the Future “Zimbabwe Food Security and Resilience” project. Assessed private sector/agribusiness opportunities and challenges in meat, dairy and crop value chains; functioning of agricultural markets; access to production finance and inputs supply; extension and education efforts focused on smallholder farmers; and climate-smart and conservation agriculture interventions.
Togo – American Soybean Association; September 2019
Assessment of soybean, soybean meal and feedstuffs markets in Togo and regionally (ECOWAS) as member of a Global Agribusiness Partners team. Reviewed capacities and constraints at the Port of Lomé as well as road and ocean trans-shipment routes in the region, and summarized animal protein (poultry and aquaculture) demand for soybean meal and other feed ingredients.
Dominican Republic – Partners of the Americas; August 2019
Agribusiness development specialist in support of community-based, small-scale start-up enterprises focused on cocoa, compost production, plant nursery, and aquaculture. Developed and delivered a series of workshops to train community leaders in the collection of cost/revenue data and the financial analysis of businesses, as well as a follow-up interactive activity to develop business plans.
U.S. – Cadmus; July 2018; March 2019
Technical specialist on a team tasked with updating the Sector Environmental Guidelines (SEG) for Crop Production for client USAID. Provided technical input and review, writing and editing of SEG narrative, and desktop research into various crop production topics as needed.
Nepal – International Finance Corporation; June 2018
Soybean production and market development specialist for private sector IFC feed manufacturing client Nimbus. Provided technical advice on climate-smart soybean production for Nepal, including financial analysis of smallholder farming systems, sharing of international benchmarking, and identification of global best practices in soybean production; developed a market development program for soybean in Nepal.
Indonesia — Millennium Challenge Corporation; October 2017, March 2018
Agribusiness and supply chain specialist, provided sustainability planning, technical assessment and project evaluation to MCA-I and MCC in support of end-of-compact activities.
Indonesia — Millennium Challenge Corporation; March 2016, October 2016, February 2017, July 2017
Supply chain specialist for MCA-Indonesia; provided technical support to the “Green Prosperity” project team for implementation oversight and evaluation of Partnership Grants with private sector applicants in smallholder oil palm, coffee, rubber and sustainable cocoa value chains.
Namibia — Millennium Challenge Corporation; May 2016
Livestock specialist and project technical lead for the “Community-Based Rangeland and Livestock Management” evaluation activity.
Nigeria and Ghana — Millennium Challenge Corporation; February 2016
Assessment of markets in Ghana and Nigeria for Niger-produced onions and cowpeas in support of the development of an MCC investment compact for Niger.
U.S. – Certified Berkshire Pork; January 2016
Advised owners of CBP in the successful sale of the company to a protein wholesaler. Developed company valuation assessment, supported seller-buyer negotiations, and reviewed legal sales documents and contracts.
Indonesia — Millennium Challenge Corporation; November 2015
Agribusiness specialist for MCA-Indonesia; provided technical support to the “Green Prosperity” project team during Partnership Grant Agreement development and negotiations with private sector applicants in oil palm, cocoa, coffee, and rubber value chains.
Chile – AgroSuper; October 2015
Business development specialist to pork production company; provided guidance on independent contractor issues, contract development, legal and management challenges/opportunities.
Indonesia — Millennium Challenge Corporation; October 2015
Agribusiness due diligence specialist to MCA-Indonesia; provided technical support to the “Green Prosperity” project team to review partnership grant facility proposals.
Moldova – USAID and MCC; June 2015
Assessment of irrigation infrastructure investments made by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and review of USAID’s Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development (ACED) technical assistance program for producers of high-value fruit and vegetables. Helped developed strategy for on-going, post-project investments in the high-value agriculture sector.
Nicaragua – Self-Help International; March 2015
Seed production specialist for U.S. NGO, providing support for Nicaraguan project staff on design and lay-out of research and demonstration plots, soil sampling and analysis, and multiplication of seed of open-pollinated varieties of quality protein maize (QPM).
Indonesia — Millennium Challenge Corporation; September 2014, January 2015
Agribusiness specialist to MCA-Indonesia; provided technical support to the “Green Prosperity” project team to develop grant facility calls for expressions of interest, and evaluation processes/tools for sustainable cocoa partnership concept notes and proposals.
Ghana – ACDI/VOCA; April 2014
Provided agronomy training and technical support to smallholder women soybean farmer cooperative in Chereponi district, northern Ghana for ACDI/VOCA’s “Farmer-to-Farmer” program.
El Salvador — Millennium Challenge Corporation; February 2014
Agribusiness specialist working with a Salvadoran team at Fomilenio (Government of El Salvador) on an assessment of agribusiness investment proposals to be funded through a grant facility under a second MCC compact.
Liberia – Fintrac; January 2014
Agribusiness investment specialist for Fintrac; support USAID/Liberia in a review of current Feed the Future interventions, and identification of commercial opportunities for producers and agro-processors as part of USAID’s updated country development strategy.
Mozambique – Millennium Challenge Corporation; July 2013
Value chain and commercialization specialist for the Millennium Challenge Corporation in support of the Mozambique Farmer Income Support Project (FISP); focus on evaluation of sustainability efforts in the coconut and alternative food/cash crops value chains to support project activities after compact close.
El Salvador – Millennium Challenge Corporation; March 2013
Agribusiness specialist for cocoa value chain development project design in El Salvador for the Millennium Challenge Corporation in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.
Republic of Georgia – ACDI/VOCA; October 2012
Value chain specialist for ACDI/VOCA in the Republic of Georgia for development of an irrigation, farmer association support, and access to finance proposal to USAID.
El Salvador – Millennium Challenge Corporation; May 2012
Technical implementation specialist to MCC’s Production Development Project; assessed technical assistance, training, market linkages, and plant & equipment investments in dairy, horticulture, tourism, handicrafts, apiculture and aquaculture value chains.
Mongolia – Millennium Challenge Corporation; April 2012
Livestock specialist on implementation mission for MCC’s Peri-Urban Rangeland Project; reviewed herder training activities, evaluated livestock husbandry practices by herder groups, and assessed initial results from infrastructure and fodder seed distribution.
Nicaragua – Mendez England & Associates; January/February 2012
Supported Mendez England & Associates evaluation of the USAID-funded Enterprise & Employment (“Empresas y Empleo”) project as trade policy specialist.
Ethiopia – ACDI/VOCA; November 2011
Served as technical consultant to ACDI/VOCA for development of a proposal under USAID’s Pastoralist Resiliency Improvement and Market Expansion (PRIME) solicitation, focused on increasing productivity along livestock value chains, improving market linkages among pastoralist livestock producers, feedlots and end-users, and developing alternative livelihoods for pastoralist “drop-outs” and other vulnerable groups.
Nigeria – Wicklow Group/Nigerian Starch Mills, Ltd.; August 2011
Reviewed current cropping patterns and production practices and provided on-farm recommendations to Wicklow Group/Nigerian Starch Mills, Ltd. to: diversify cassava crop rotations; add corn, soybeans and green manure crops into the cropping mix; and implement soil/water conservation measures and new tillage practices.
Haiti – ACDI/VOCA; June 2011
Assisted with in-field research and proposal development for ACDI/VOCA’s bid for the USAID-funded “Production Plus” agricultural production, watershed protection, and market linkages project; served as team’s value chain technical specialist.
Southern Africa – TechnoServe and Agland Investment Services; February 2011
Analysis of the soybean industry in seven countries of Southern Africa for Agland Investment Services, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; work included review of production practices by large and smallholders, assessment of input supply chains, review of marketing channels, and end-user needs; field research undertaken in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh – ACDI/VOCA PROSHAR Project; December 2010
Supported project start-up activities for ACDI/VOCA’s PROSHAR project, a USAID Title II food aid monetization program. Validated poultry value chain as well as aquaculture and horticulture sub-sector livelihoods activities, and developed scopes of work for rapid impact interventions.
Burkina Faso – ACDI/VOCA Proposal Development; September 2010
Contributed technical agriculture, agribusiness and value chains assessment as proposal development consultant for ACDI/VOCA for a USAID Title II food aid monetization proposal.
Peru –International Labour Organization (Geneva); July 2010
Carried out due diligence and field assessment on Agrobanco/Peru’s crop insurance development grant application for the ILO’s Micro-Insurance Facility.
Bulgaria – Ceres Agrigrowth Investment Fund; June 2010
Assessed in-country crop production practices, crop rotations, pest management, and analyzed crop production costs for the Bulgarian land management and agricultural production company Ceres.
Colombia – ACDI/VOCA Proposal Development; May, August 2010
Participated in the development of value chain, agricultural production, and municipal and local governance development proposals in Colombia for ACDI/VOCA for funding by USAID.
Honduras – ACDI/VOCA Project Analysis; April 2010
Conducted an analysis of the agricultural trade credit (input supplier) system in Honduras as part of ACDI/VOCA’s “Acceso de Crédito para Agricultores” (ACA) project, funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC); developed a course for Honduran input supply companies, “Financial Statements: Their Use and Analysis”.
Moldova – ACDI/VOCA Proposal Development; February 2010
Fieldwork in Moldova undertaken for ACDI/VOCA in support of development of proposals for MCC’s “Transition to High-Value Agriculture” and USAID’s “Agricultural Competitiveness and Enterprise Development” projects.
Paraguay – ACDI/VOCA Impact Evaluation; December, 2009
Carried out an impact evaluation of ACDI/VOCA’s volunteer technical assistance program for agricultural cooperatives in Paraguay under USAID’s Cooperative Development Program (CDP); summarized the results and analyzed the impacts of varied technical interventions at numerous production and service co-ops and apex cooperative organizations throughout the country.
Burkina Faso – ACDI/VOCA Proposal Development; February, 2009
Completed fieldwork in Burkina Faso for ACDI/VOCA in support of the company’s development of proposals targeted to agricultural diversification, livestock production, and increased access to rural finance activities in that country.
U.S. – Certified Berkshire Pork; June-November, 2009
Developed a business strategy and plan, financial models, and financing plan for Certified Berkshire Pork, a start-up niche pork production, processing, and marketing firm in the U.S. Oversaw the development of a funding proposal ($300,000) under USDA’s “Producer Value-Added Grant” program; assisted with application for certification under USDA’s “Process Verification Program.”
U.S. – Producer Retirement Program; May-June, 2009
As project manager, provided strategic analysis, marketing and operational support for a U.S. pork producer-led effort, the Producer Retirement Program, an effort to facilitate voluntary and equitable exit from pork production under a bid/auction system.
Paraguay – ACDI/VOCA Cooperative Program Evaluation; November, 2008
Evaluation of ACDI/VOCA’s USAID-funded, 5-year Cooperative Development Program (CDP), including activities in Paraguay (value chain analysis), Brazil (co-op management), Russia (rural credit co-ops), and the worldwide Center of Excellence (dissemination of co-op development information) – ten days in Paraguay and three weeks US-based research/analysis.
Ukraine – Agro-Soyuz Swine Sector Investment Analysis; May, 2008
Ten-day sector assessment of Ukrainian swine production, pork market analysis, meat processing sector, and review of the investment climate for Dnipropetrovsk-based Agro-Soyuz, an American investment group and a Canadian swine genetics company.
Burkina Faso – Millennium Challenge Corporation Due Diligence; September, 2007
Two-week due diligence assignment, part of MCC’s compact development with the Government of Burkina Faso. Assessed the livestock (mostly beef cattle) production and meat processing sectors, completed a value chain analysis of Burkina’s cattle/meat export markets in the sub-region (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast), and made recommendations on attracting investment into the meat processing sector.
Romania – Christensen Farms Swine Sector Assessment; November, 2006
Ten-day sector assessment of Romanian swine production, pork market analysis, meat processing sector, and review of the investment climate for Christensen Farms.
Chile – Christensen Farms Swine Production; May, 2005
One-week technical exchange with leading Chilean national swine and pork producer, Agricola Super, Ltda. Reviewed and shared swine production practices in feed, sow production, nursery/grow-finish production, and manure/natural resources management.
Spain – Orion Cartridge Company Marketing Plan; May, 2002
One-week in country with approximately three weeks follow-on in the U.S. Developed a U.S. marketing strategy and wrote a multi-year marketing plan for the U.S.-based Orion Cartridge Company (sporting shotgun shells) and its Spanish supplier, UEEC.
Russia – VOCA Swine Production Management; December, 1996
Three-week Farmer-to-Farmer assignment for Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA). Assisted swine producers in three regions – Dmitrov, Volokolamsk and Saratov – with improving their business planning and swine production practices, including feeds and nutrition, breeding systems, baby pig care, sow management, and herd health care.
U.S. — US-Canada Forum for the World Food Summit; June 25, 1996
Member of the USDA – Agriculture Canada panel on free trade and world food security as part of the two-day forum at Michigan State University.
Venezuela – PROTINAL Feed grain and Swine Production; April, 1996
Weeklong consulting assignment for Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA) and Ag Processing, Inc. (AGP) of Omaha, Nebraska. Advised AGP’s Venezuelan joint venture partner, PROTINAL, on improved feed grain production systems, focused primarily on sorghum, and swine production, especially feeding and baby pig care.
U.S. – Conference, “The Future of U.S. Agricultural Exports”; April 4, 1996
Presenter on the situation and potential of the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union as a market for American agricultural products. Conference organized by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council.
Russia – Dmitrov Crop Loan and Marketing Project Implementation; February, 1996
Two-week Farmer-to-Farmer consulting assignment for Land O-Lakes, Inc. International Development Division and the Russian Farm Community Project in Dmitrov Rayon, Moscow Oblast. Finalized implementation plan for a crop production (operating) loan program for local crops farmers, working with RFCP staff, local private farmers’ association members, and bank personnel responsible for funds dispersal. Also assisted with the development of a feasibility study and business planning for a farmer-owned marketing association.
Russia – Dmitrov Crop Loan and Marketing Program Design; December, 1995
Month-long Farmer-to-Farmer consulting assignment for Land O’Lakes, Inc. International Development Division and the Russian Farm Community Project in Dmitrov Rayon, Moscow Oblast. Began implementation of a crop production (operating) loan program and marketing organization for private farmers in the area. Designed loan application and monitoring forms, hired local staff to oversee the program, and initiated training of local staff in the implementation of the loan program. Worked with a newly organized private farmers’ association to identify commodity marketing and business planning needs.
Russia – Development of a Homesteading Program in Dmitrov Region; June, 1995
Two-week Farmer-to-Farmer assignment for the Citizen’s Network for Foreign Affairs and the Russian Farm Community Project in three villages 85-km north of Moscow. Identified and developed contacts with are private farmers (homesteaders) and designed a crop production (operating) loan program utilizing local funds generated by the sale of donated U.S. soybeans.
Russia – Ministry of Finance Agricultural Sector Reform; March, 1995
Two-week policy reform assignment for U.S. Treasury Advisors in the Russian Ministry of Finance. Advised selected MinFin officials on targeting of agricultural subsidies, developed a legislative proposal for the State Duma’s Agriculture Committee on the creation of an agricultural credit cooperative system, and assisted in the development of options for the financing of private sector farmers, with an emphasis on short-term production (operating) loans.
U.S. – Review of USDA’s Beginning Farmer Financing Programs; February – June, 1995
Developed, organized and moderated three focus groups for the Center for Rural Affairs of Walthill, NE as part of a comprehensive, nationwide review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to finance beginning American farmers. The three discussion groups consisted of beginning farmers, lenders and landowners working with beginning farmers, and Farmers Home Administration (USDA-FmHA) personnel at the county, state and national levels.
U.S. – Proposal Preparation for Russian Agricultural Development; January, 1995
Assisted in the development and writing of the agribusiness and agricultural credit sections of the joint DAI/ACDI/VOCA proposal to USAID for the Market-Oriented Farm Support Activity (MOFSA) project in Saratov oblast.
Russia – Review of NGO Development Proposals; March, 1994 and July, 1994
Two, four-day review sessions for World Learning, Inc. to assess, describe and rank proposals for two USAID-funded NGO development project solicitations in Russia. Working as a two-person team, reviewed four to six individual proposals, scored them for programmatic and financial soundness, and presented them before a committee of approximately 30 reviewers. Prepared detailed written summaries of the technical and financial components of each proposal.
Azerbaijan – Assessment of Private Agriculture Sector; October, 1993 and June, 1994
Two 10-day assignments at the request of the American Embassy/Baku and USAID/Moscow to make initial contacts with representatives of the emerging private farming and agribusiness sectors in Azerbaijan, and to provide an assessment of the potential for an American “Farmer-to-Farmer” technical assistance program in the country.
Met with U.S. and Azerbaijani government officials, private farmers, agricultural researchers, and leaders of the newly organized private farming movement (Union of Farmers of Azerbaijan). Provided the American Embassy and USAID with an assessment of the potential for supplying agricultural and agribusiness technical assistance directly to private farmers and rural entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan through experienced American agricultural specialists. Developed three specific, private sector Farmer-to Farmer projects.
Belize – Review of Agricultural Research; August, 1987
Month-long assignment for Devres, Inc. to review agricultural research programs and facilities, and Belizean government efforts to transfer research results to farmers as part of the USAID-funded “Strengthening the Ministry of Agriculture” project. Visited over 20 government and private sector research facilities in every agro-ecological zone of the country. Interviewed agricultural researchers, government workers, farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and private agribusiness representatives involved with all aspects of agricultural research and extension. Reported to USAID on the status and needs of Belizean agricultural research.
St. Kitts & Nevis – Development of Soil and Water Conservation Handbooks; June-July 1987
Researched, co-wrote, edited and published two soil and water conservation handbooks for use by farmers and extension agents on St. Kitts & Nevis, part of a USAID-funded natural resources conservation project implemented by Devres, Inc. Handbooks reviewed basic soil and water conservation principles and described cultural, management and physical interventions to be used in the Caribbean to conserve water and soil resources.