Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 20 years of experience in tropical crops with specialization in the coffee industry, the expert is a seasoned agroforestry program leader specializing in strategic industry development, export market access, and private sector development. He has successfully led international projects, securing over $1 billion in combined foreign investment and new export value. Responsibilities have included developing national agriculture strategies for high value crops, advising multilateral institutions, and enhancing market and credit access for farmers and women-owned MSMEs. His skills include program leadership and implementation, budget management, and stakeholder relationship management, with a focus on capacity building, market access, and trade facilitation.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated extensively with prominent international donors such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), UK Department for International Development (DFID), European Commission (EC), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), World Bank Group IFC, and USAID. His involvement in international development cooperation projects has encompassed project implementation, technical assistance, and capacity building, with thematic areas focused on agriculture, inclusive finance, and sustainable development. These projects have spanned national and regional scopes, with geographic locations including South Asia / Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, East Africa, and the Middle East.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in rural development, agriculture, marketing, and trade, the expert has held leadership roles such as team leader and senior advisor, concentrating on strategic industry development, program management, and market access. His interdisciplinary expertise includes enhancing agricultural value chains and implementing climate-smart practices. The geographic scope of their work is extensive, covering regional and country-specific projects in Asia-Pacific, East Africa, and Latin America, where they have driven initiatives for sustainable production and export growth. They possess deep familiarity with local governance and regional development issues, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, East Africa, and Latin America, often involving long-term assignments in countries like Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.

Languages and education

The expert is a native English speaker from the United States. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Global Challenges at the University of Edinburgh, UK, expected to complete in 2026. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business with a concentration in Agricultural Resource Economics from Colorado State University, USA, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. His educational background is rooted in agriculture, business, and global development studies.