Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 23 years of experience in irrigation and rural development, the expert is a dedicated Agricultural Economist known for leading projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Career highlights include roles as Commercial Manager for Lindsay Africa and Head of the Irrigation Unit at GRM International. Responsibilities have included strategy management, financial planning, and technical irrigation design. The expert successfully managed the Efficient Irrigation Technology Fund for 8000 small-scale farms and launched a social media marketing campaign across Africa. Skills encompass project management, financial modeling, and agricultural extension.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has worked extensively with international donors, notably collaborating with USAID through the USAID-IRAP program in Iraq. This involvement included project management and quality control on irrigation system assessments, capacity building, and technical assistance to agricultural NGOs. The projects focused on irrigation and agricultural development in the Anbar Province of Iraq. Additionally, the expert contributed to training programs under the USAID-Inma program, emphasizing investment in irrigation, feedlots, and greenhouses.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in diverse sectors such as environment and natural resource management, food security, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, research, agriculture, and marketing, the expert has held roles including Commercial Manager, Agricultural Economist, and Head of Irrigation Unit. These roles involved strategy management, project management, and technical design. The expert's interdisciplinary expertise includes digitalization in agriculture and infrastructure development in rural settings. The work spans regional and country-specific projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The expert has extensive experience in South Africa, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, providing deep familiarity with local governance and cultural dynamics. Business trips have been conducted to Afghanistan, Botswana, Ethiopia, Greece, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda, and the United States, enhancing understanding of regional development issues.

Languages and education

The expert is a native Afrikaans speaker and fluent in English, with a DELF A2 certification in French from the Alliance Française in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the expert has basic proficiency in Arabic and Sesotho, utilized in diverse international settings, including work in multilingual teams across Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The expert holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Management - Mixed Farming (crops and livestock), both from the University of the Free State, South Africa. Additionally, the expert is a Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist, certified by the Irrigation Association in 2015.