Key skills and expertise

With 39 years of experience, the expert specializes in agricultural business development, renewable energy, and food processing. Successfully setting up businesses and projects for enterprises, NGOs, and farmer organizations across Africa and Latin America, key skills include training, crop production, agroforestry, and renewable energy systems. Notable accomplishments involve planning a 3GWhe renewable energy system in Ghana and establishing a 250ha production farm. Leadership roles such as Managerial and Technical Advisor have been held, overseeing project implementation and strategic supplier relationships in various international initiatives.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands on international development cooperation projects. Involvement included project implementation, technical assistance, and capacity building in sectors such as agriculture and agroforestry. Projects were carried out on a regional scale in countries like Bolivia and Ecuador, focusing on agroforestry, natural colorants, and agricultural processing. Additional technical assistance was provided for development projects in Africa through the organization Transfer of Technology for Development.

Sectors and geographic focus

Worked across key sectors including rural development, energy, food processing and safety, agriculture, and SME/private sector development. Roles such as Managerial and Technical Advisor, Management Consultant, and Agricultural Expert have been held. Interdisciplinary expertise includes integrating renewable energy solutions in agriculture and enhancing infrastructure in rural development. The work spans regional and country-specific projects in Africa and Latin America, focusing on business development, renewable energy systems, and agricultural production and marketing. Extensive geographic experience includes professional assignments in countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Netherlands, Senegal, Seychelles, and Uganda. There is a deep familiarity with regional development issues, particularly in agriculture and renewable energy projects, with long-term assignments in Ghana, Ecuador, and Bolivia contributing to local governance and cultural dynamics.

Languages and education

The expert is fluent in Dutch, English, and Spanish, utilizing these language skills in diverse international contexts such as in-country work and collaboration with multilingual teams across Africa and Latin America. No formal language certifications are mentioned. The expert holds an MSc in Agricultural Project Management from Agricultural College Larenstein in the Netherlands and the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Additionally, a BSc in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Agriculture, Plant Production was obtained from Royal Agricultural College Deventer in the Netherlands.