Gene Peuse Email & Phone Number

Tanzania

Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to co-design, negotiate and manage public/private partnerships and awards aimed at strengthening the private health sector and public health sector implementation of health and HIV programs. Major responsibilities include: (a) serve as senior USAID representative to liaise with relevant Government of Tanzania agencies, private sector entities, and multi-national and bi-lateral development partners in exploring and co-creating partnerships that leverage local and international private sector resources with USG funds for sustainable development, (b) promote cross-sector partnerships (e.g. agriculture, natural resources, education, health) in the response to HIV/AIDS, and (c) monitor and report on financial and program performance of public-private partnerships. The major accomplishment to date has been the development of nine partnerships that have leveraged US$ 26 million for the USG investment of US$ 22.5 million in the agriculture, health, insurance, mining, and power sectors that, in several instances, has contributed to economic and institutional development while at the same time addressing the HIV and AIDS pandemic

Pretoria, South Africa

Based in Pretoria, South Africa to direct the program for 175 Volunteers, to lead a staff of 35 American and South African employees, and to oversee the development and use of a $2.9 million annual budget. Major responsibilities included: (a) representing the agency as part of the US Government Mission to South Africa while yet retaining sufficient autonomy as legislated by Congress, (b) serving on the US Government head-of-agencies management team to determine use of PEPFAR funds (President’s Emergency Funds for AIDS Relief), (c) ensuring that agency internal financial and other management control systems were utilized in office, program and project implementation, (d) developing and maintaining projects that were responsive to host country development needs and that provided meaningful work for Volunteers, and (g) establishing structured/formal opportunities for Volunteer and staff input into program management and direction. Major accomplishments were (a) significantly revising the program so that Volunteers could engage in multi-sector HIV/AIDS relief activities through a small grants program and (b) establishing ongoing assessment and feedback mechanisms [e.g. Volunteer Advisory Committee meetings, annual field surveys, scheduled and spot field visits] to ascertain needs and performance of Volunteers and their host partner organizations.

Pretoria, South Africa

Based in Pretoria, South Africa and employed by the U.S. Peace Corps to provide assistance to country offices in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (for 18 months also Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda). Major responsibilities included: (a) assisting Country Directors and staff in the design, monitoring and evaluation of projects, (b) mediating conflict and fostering teamwork, (c) designing and implementing staff development workshops and individual coaching sessions, and (d) providing consulting support in the development of strategic and budget plans. Major accomplishments included (a) transforming the position to one of mentoring incoming Country Directors and addressing critical performance issues [e.g. mediating staff conflicts, unanticipated budgetary issues], (b) redesigning the pre-service training program for incoming Volunteers so that cross-culture, personal safety/security, and technical subject areas (e.g. agriculture, business, education, health and natural resources) were presented in a more integrated and practical fashion, and (c) designing and facilitating sector-specific staff workshops in agriculture, business, education, health, and natural resources aimed at creating more uniform project systems and practices within the sub-region.

Windhoek, Namibia

Based in Windhoek, Namibia to implement a $3 million USAID-funded activity. Major responsibilities included: (a) working with the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indigenous Peoples Business Council to identify programs to improve the skills of groups and small businesses historically disadvantaged by apartheid, (b) working with the Prime Minister’s Office to identify programs for previously disadvantaged groups within the public service who, through training and follow-up support, would be able to assume higher level management responsibilities, (c) strengthening the capacity of business and professional associations to perform research, advocacy, and membership services, (d) convening monthly public/private sector Steering Committee meetings to review project policy and major implementation issues, (e) submitting financial and semi-annual progress reports to USAID, IIE headquarters and key private and public sector partners, and (f) supervising a team of third country nationals and local staff. Major accomplishments included (a) enabling the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish a public education programs aimed at helping large businesses comply with affirmative action legislation, (b) strengthening the capacity of the Indigenous Peoples Business Council to conduct research and advocacy on behalf of small, black businesses, and (c) establishing Total Quality Management systems and practices in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Mbabane, Swaziland

Based in Mbabane, Swaziland to implement the $11 million Swaziland Training and Institutional Development Project (STRIDE) project funded by the Government of Swaziland and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Major responsibilities included: (a) establishing an in-country business management training program in collaboration with a Steering Committee comprising the Federation of Swaziland Employers, Swazi Pulp, Ministry to Labour, and USAID, (b) conducting assessments of institutional performance and human resource development needs of target organizations, (c) liaising frequently with political leaders, senior government officials, business leaders, and labour union representatives to ascertain policy concerns and develop commitment to project activities, (d) supervising a team of Americans, third country nationals and local staff. The major accomplishment was transforming the project from being a generic management training endeavor to one focused on strengthening institutional systems [e.g. Parliament, Central Bank of Swaziland] and addressing key national policy and legislative issues [e.g. Industrial Relations Act]. Through policy conferences, tripartite workshops, and informal/formal industrical mediation, the project was instrumental in mobilizing large networks of key stakeholders concerned about industrial relations policy, democratic governance, and economic issues.

Accra, Ghana

Based in Accra, Ghana. Accomplishments included: (a) establishing an office in the Association of Ghana Industries for technical assistance and training outreach to private firms involved in non-traditional exports [e. g. pineapple, textiles, shrimp, crafts], (b) designing and facilitating fora and plant visits to bring together public and public sector representatives [e.g. equipment dealers, producers, exporters, bankers, government agencies, and consultants/trainers], (c) ascertaining major production and export constraints by sector, and (d) preparing management reports, scopes of work, requests for proposals, and sub-contracts for short-term technical assistance and training.

Washington, D.C. Usa

Seconded to USAID Africa Bureau in Washington DC under a Participating Agency Service Agreement. Major responsibilities and accomplishments included: (a) directing activities of a $55 million regional Human Resources Development Assistance (HRDA) project, which provided academic and short-term training to more than 14,000 Africans [40% of whom were women and 60% of whom were from the private sector], (b) conducting training needs assessments and impact evaluations, leading to USAID private sector development strategies and implementation plans, (c) writing position descriptions, scopes of work, requests for proposals, and indefinite quantity contract orders to acquire short-term project expertise, (d) directing the development, installation, and testing in USAID Missions in Africa of a computerized Participant Training Management System for collecting data on all AID-funded training throughout the world, and (e) serving on multi-agency committees that included representatives from the World Bank, U.N., U.S. federal agencies, and other bilateral donors for the purpose of coordinating human resource development activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Washington, D.C. Usa

Seconded to International Training Office, USAID Administrator, based in Washington DC. Accomplishments included: (a) directing the development, installation, and testing in USAID Missions in Africa of a computerized Participant Training Management System for collecting data on all AID-funded training throughout the world and (b) assisting USAID Missions in developing five-year Country Training Strategies.

Mbeya, Tanzania

Based in Mbeya, Tanzania, on a USDA project funded by USAID to implement the $16 million Training for Rural Development project. Major responsibilities included facilitating management training workshops and providing follow-up advisory support to regional development teams in four regions, supporting and advising principals and trainers at village outreach training centers in each of the four regions, and preparing financial and progress reports for submission to USAID and the Ministry of Manpower Development that was the host agency for the project. The major accomplishments were (a) helping the Government of Tanzania to decentralize operations and devolve authority in five regions from central government and (b) developing regional cross-ministerial development teams (e.g. agriculture, livestock, health, community development) and at the regional training centers, which then could coordinate and deliver more integrated services to the villages.

Mbeya, Tanzania

Based in Uyole, Tanzania on a USAID-funded project. Achievements included the introduction of animal traction technology and new cropping techniques in the villages and the development of a village outreach program involving students and researchers at the Uyole Research and Training Institute. Agricultural researchers were induced to conduct applied research in the villages in collaboration with local agricultural extension agents. In addition, the project led to a change in the curriculum that allowed students to work with farmers in the villages and to acquire a more practical education.

Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Usa

Based in Urbana IL. Accomplishments included hiring/managing staff of 15, directing public affairs activities in Illinois and Indiana, and overseeing volunteer placement activities into domestic and international programs. Introduced staff recruitment specialization and interview strategies that yielded the best applicant-to-volunteer ratio in the 14 state Midwest region. From 1973-74 served as an Area Recruiter for ACTION: Peace Corps/VISTA which entailed participating in TV, radio, and newspaper interviews as well as face-to-face meetings with individuals and organizations

Kumba, Cameroon

Based at the Agriculture Regional Office in Kumba, Cameroon. Specialized in poultry and swine husbandry extension work. Three former client farmers have since expanded their profitable poultry operations and diversified into other agribusiness ventures.

Orange City, Iowa

Born and raised on a small family farm on the outskirts of a town of 3,600 (1970 census) that prides itself in its Dutch heritage. http://orangecityiowa.com/ 4-H was an important part of my high school years, which was used to participate in competitions each year to help advertise my father's Spotted Poland China boar sales.

Phd, Edm, International Agriculture Ed/Extension

Graduate focus was on institutional development and project management in developing countries.

Ba, English And Creative Writing