Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 30 years of experience in international development cooperation, the expert specializes in agriculture, agri-processing, and food safety management systems. Responsibilities have included managing donor-funded projects, developing micro-finance strategies, and implementing blended finance models for SMEs. Previously held roles such as Senior Business Advisor and Programme Manager have involved overseeing technical assistance programs, conducting market research, and establishing food safety systems. Career highlights include delivering training sessions and workshops, enhancing organizational capacity, and promoting gender mainstreaming. The expert's extensive project experience spans Europe, Asia, and Africa, contributing to significant advancements in SME development and private sector growth.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as the European Commission, USAID, USDA, and the Dutch Government. The expert's involvement includes project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building across sectors like agriculture, food safety, and SME development. Managed donor-funded assignments on a regional and national scale in countries including Malawi, Uganda, Mozambique, and Kosovo. The expert's work has focused on enhancing the competitiveness of the food processing sector and supporting economic growth through micro-finance and business development initiatives.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in key sectors including agriculture, food processing, food safety, SME development, and micro-finance, the expert has held roles such as Senior Business Advisor, Programme Manager, and Technical Advisor. These roles have focused on project management, strategic planning, and capacity building. The expert's interdisciplinary expertise includes integrating financial systems with agricultural development and implementing food safety management systems. The geographic scope of work has spanned regional and country-specific projects in Africa, Asia, and Europe, addressing diverse challenges such as post-conflict economic recovery, gender mainstreaming, and enhancing the competitiveness of the food processing sector. Extensive geographic experience across Africa, Asia, and Europe includes significant involvement in Malawi, Uganda, Mozambique, Suriname, and Kosovo. The expert has developed deep familiarity with local governance and regional development issues, particularly in the agricultural and micro-finance sectors. Long-term assignments include managing projects in Malawi and Uganda, contributing to SME development and food safety initiatives. Work in Kosovo and Suriname has focused on post-conflict economic recovery and women's empowerment, equipping the expert with a nuanced understanding of cultural dynamics and regional challenges.

Languages and education

The expert is a native Dutch speaker and demonstrates fluency in English at a C2 level. Proficiency includes B2 in German and B1 in Portuguese, with basic conversational skills in Chichewa, Bahasa Indonesia, and Sranan Tongo. Language skills have been utilized in various international development projects across Europe, Asia, and Africa, working with multilingual teams and engaging in cross-cultural communication to effectively manage and implement projects. The expert holds a Master of Science in Food Science, specializing in Dairy Technology, from Agricultural University Wageningen in the Netherlands. Additionally, a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology was earned from the University of Applied Science, Bolsward, also in the Netherlands. This educational background in food science and technology provides a strong foundation for an extensive career in agri-processing and food safety management.