Supporting MSME growth in Waterford, Ireland

Accelerated Growth for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (AGS) Programme. Funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, implemented under the Ministry of SME Development, Zambia. Supported the revision of the SME Development policy. Implemented two Government trade missions to DR Congo resulting in confirmed contracts of $45m, and trade missions to Finland. Key B2B matchmaking events, including three Finland Business Weeks, leading to 35 long-term partnerships between Finnish and… Show more Accelerated Growth for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (AGS) Programme. Funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, implemented under the Ministry of SME Development, Zambia. Supported the revision of the SME Development policy. Implemented two Government trade missions to DR Congo resulting in confirmed contracts of $45m, and trade missions to Finland. Key B2B matchmaking events, including three Finland Business Weeks, leading to 35 long-term partnerships between Finnish and Zambian companies. Led Ministerial level visits to Finland, including Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Zambia. Implemented three opportunity studies; circular economy, forestry and mining services. Trained 400 SMEs in the ILO SIYB curriculum and acceleration services. Provided EUR 1.5m in equipment grants to SMEs. Over 400 jobs created, revenues increased over 230%. Appointed to the President’s Public-Private Dialogue Forum Financial Services Technical Working Group. Show less

Rural Finance Expansion Programme (RUFEP), funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Established the Rural Finance Unit (RFU) in the Ministry of Finance. Supported the Bank of Zambia on an SME finance study. Developed RUFEPs grant policies and procedures. Provided technical assistance on access to finance, including SME finance, mobile money, and savings groups.

Provision of technical assistance to financial service providers to; improve financial inclusion for smallholders, including savings-group linkages; SME product development; mobile money and agent channels; MIS selection and implementation; and risk management projects. Developed and managed technical assistance projects in Benin, Burundi, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Provided technical support to USAID’s office of HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR), USAID local missions (South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria and Haiti), and implementing partners on economic strengthening activities. Provided support to the Nigerian OVC financial inclusion sector coordination group. Published a household economic strengthening guide for local and international NGOs in Nigeria. Advised the Department of Health in South Africa and Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia on household… Show more Provided technical support to USAID’s office of HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR), USAID local missions (South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria and Haiti), and implementing partners on economic strengthening activities. Provided support to the Nigerian OVC financial inclusion sector coordination group. Published a household economic strengthening guide for local and international NGOs in Nigeria. Advised the Department of Health in South Africa and Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia on household economic strengthening. Show less

Designed strategy for global economic opportunity interventions, including investment and governance of microfinance institutions, financial inclusion, village savings and loan programmes, cash for work and asset restoration. Delivered technical support to an agricultural development and village savings and loans programme in South Sudan. Provided technical oversight to three microfinance institutions; Finance Salone, Sierra Leone; Liberty Finance, Liberia; and Finance Sudan, South Sudan… Show more Designed strategy for global economic opportunity interventions, including investment and governance of microfinance institutions, financial inclusion, village savings and loan programmes, cash for work and asset restoration. Delivered technical support to an agricultural development and village savings and loans programme in South Sudan. Provided technical oversight to three microfinance institutions; Finance Salone, Sierra Leone; Liberty Finance, Liberia; and Finance Sudan, South Sudan. Chairman of Liberty Finance, and board member of Finance Sudan. Show less

Managed a network of nine microfinance institutions, three community managed savings and loan programmes, community-managed agribusinesses, and value chain development programmes. Provided technical support to agricultural development programmes in Malawi, Mozambique & Haiti. Provided capacity building to senior managers and board members of microfinance institutions. Served on five boards; BZMF, Kosovo (Chairman); CREDIT, Cambodia; Turame Community Finance, Burundi; URWEGO Opportunity Bank… Show more Managed a network of nine microfinance institutions, three community managed savings and loan programmes, community-managed agribusinesses, and value chain development programmes. Provided technical support to agricultural development programmes in Malawi, Mozambique & Haiti. Provided capacity building to senior managers and board members of microfinance institutions. Served on five boards; BZMF, Kosovo (Chairman); CREDIT, Cambodia; Turame Community Finance, Burundi; URWEGO Opportunity Bank, Rwanda; and Hekima, Eastern DR Congo (Chairman). Show less

June – September 2007Consultant, MFI Appraisal and Proposal Development, World Relief, MozambiqueCoordinated the due diligence process for an international microfinance bank network looking to purchase World Relief Mozambique’s microfinance program.April – June 2007Lead Microfinance Consultant, Evaluation of WACT Program and New Program Development, UNDP, PakistanEvaluated the effectiveness of UNDP’s Women’s Access to Capital and Technology (WACT) Program. Provided… Show more June – September 2007Consultant, MFI Appraisal and Proposal Development, World Relief, MozambiqueCoordinated the due diligence process for an international microfinance bank network looking to purchase World Relief Mozambique’s microfinance program.April – June 2007Lead Microfinance Consultant, Evaluation of WACT Program and New Program Development, UNDP, PakistanEvaluated the effectiveness of UNDP’s Women’s Access to Capital and Technology (WACT) Program. Provided strategic advice for UNDP to strengthen its engagement within the local microfinance sector, including developing a strategy for promoting branchless banking in Pakistan to reach unbanked and vulnerable communities. Show less

Primary representative to donor organizations including DFID, KfW and EIB, and at network forums including the Microfinance club of London, and the British Government’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Microfinance. Responsible for new business development, including expression of interest and proposal development. Served as banking procedure development specialist for the First MicroFinance Bank, Tajikistan. Responsible for documenting all aspects of the bank’s procedures and providing… Show more Primary representative to donor organizations including DFID, KfW and EIB, and at network forums including the Microfinance club of London, and the British Government’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Microfinance. Responsible for new business development, including expression of interest and proposal development. Served as banking procedure development specialist for the First MicroFinance Bank, Tajikistan. Responsible for documenting all aspects of the bank’s procedures and providing technical assistance on the development and improvement of the procedures. Show less

Responsible for all aspects of the business including redesigning both the financial and non-financial products and service offerings to better meet the needs of the clients, and redeveloping all the policies and procedures to improve operations and reduce risk. Coordinated with the Central Bank, local community, vocational trainers and NGOs to deliver effective integrated programming. Successfully developed proposals to UNCDF and BPRM. Managed grants, and ensured resources were allocated… Show more Responsible for all aspects of the business including redesigning both the financial and non-financial products and service offerings to better meet the needs of the clients, and redeveloping all the policies and procedures to improve operations and reduce risk. Coordinated with the Central Bank, local community, vocational trainers and NGOs to deliver effective integrated programming. Successfully developed proposals to UNCDF and BPRM. Managed grants, and ensured resources were allocated effectively and objectives achieved. Show less

Developed the internal communications strategy and facilitated external communications for the Permanent Secretary. Liaised with Senior Civil Servants and Politicians.

Responsible for managing all aspects of the financial inclusion programme. Redesigned the financial products and services, internal procedures and policies. Developed a curriculum for training clients in basic business development services and financial literacy. Opened a second branch of the programme, increasing the client base by 110% while maintaining portfolio quality. Designed and developed the programme’s management information system.