Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 16 years of experience in agriculture and rural development, the expert has honed skills in project management, value chain analysis, and policy advisory. With a decade dedicated to international development, they have contributed significantly to projects with organizations like the World Bank and FAO, focusing on regional and national initiatives. Key qualifications include expertise in trade promotion, private sector development, and monitoring and evaluation. Responsibilities have included leading desk and primary research, providing implementation support, and guiding project design and strategy formulation, resulting in impactful contributions to value chain projects in countries such as India, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and International Finance Corporation (IFC). The expert's involvement has spanned project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building in sectors like agriculture, rural development, and private sector development. These projects have been both regional and national in scope, with geographic coverage including India, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh, and Djibouti. Career highlights include enhancing value chains, improving livelihoods, and conducting agribusiness diagnostics.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in agriculture, rural development, trade, and private sector development, the expert has held roles such as Agribusiness Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, and Value Chain Specialist. Responsibilities have included project design, policy advisory, and implementation support. They possess cross-cutting expertise in value chain analysis and agronomy, integrating infrastructure and digitalization in rural development. The expert's geographic experience spans Africa and South Asia, with work in countries like India, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Bangladesh, and Djibouti. They have demonstrated deep familiarity with regional development issues, particularly in agriculture and rural development, through long-term assignments and significant contributions to projects involving local governance and cultural dynamics.

Languages and education

Fluent in English, the expert has utilized this skill extensively in international development projects and collaboration with multilingual teams. Basic proficiency in Spanish, an official UN language, has facilitated communication and project implementation in diverse linguistic environments. The expert holds an International Masters in Industrial Management specializing in Agribusiness from the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Course, conducted at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Politecnico di Milano, and KTH – Royal Institute of Technology. Additionally, they are pursuing a Postgraduate Certificate in Agricultural Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Their educational background also includes a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), India.