Key skills and expertise.

Bringing over 30 years of experience in international development, the expert excels in managing donor-funded projects with a focus on agricultural production, food security, resilience, climate-smart agriculture, and conflict-sensitive programming. Career highlights include leading initiatives across Asia, such as the USAID Avansa Agrikultura Project in East Timor, where participant incomes significantly increased. Responsibilities have included roles as Chief of Party and Senior Advisor, emphasizing strategic development, capacity building, and enhancing community resilience in challenging environments.

Project experience and donor exposure.

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as USAID, UNDP, World Bank, and GTZ. The expert's involvement spans project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building. Thematic areas covered include agriculture, food security, governance, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian aid. Projects have been executed on both national and regional scales across countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, Pakistan, and the Philippines, with roles encompassing the management of large-scale initiatives, overseeing monitoring and evaluation processes, and providing strategic leadership.

Sectors and geographic focus.

With a background in sectors such as agriculture, food security, humanitarian aid, conflict resolution, and private sector development, the expert has held leadership roles managing large teams and complex projects. Interdisciplinary expertise includes climate-smart agriculture, market systems development, and disaster risk reduction. The expert has operated regionally in Asia and the Middle East, contributing to projects that integrate infrastructure and rural development, enhancing resilience and food security in post-conflict environments. Geographic experience extends across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, with notable long-term assignments in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste, gaining deep familiarity with local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues.

Languages and education.

As a native English speaker, the expert also has fair proficiency in Khmer and Chavacano, with basic understanding of Tagalog. These language skills have been utilized in various international development projects, facilitating communication in multilingual teams and enhancing collaboration with local stakeholders. The expert holds an M.S. in International Agricultural Development from California Polytechnic State University, USA, and a B.S. in Biology from SUNY Oneonta, USA. Additionally, an A.S. from the State University of New York, Cobleskill, USA, focuses on agricultural development and biological sciences, providing a strong foundation for an extensive career in international development and agricultural projects.