Have provided consulting and expert professional services to the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Fabretto Children's Foundation, Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs (BHA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and others in value-chain, rural development, post-disaster, humanitarian assistance and food security interventions.Overall management of family-owned organic and bird-friendly coffee farm in Diriamba, Carazo, Nicaragua.

Provide leadership to the Agriculture and Rural Development department of ANF (American Nicaraguan Foundation). Coordinate with local partners and field-based agronomists in the Madriz, Nueva Segovia, Estelí, Matagalpa and Jinotega departments of the Dry Corridor in Nicaragua to increase income for bean farmers, promote bio-digester use with pig farmers, increase honey production, expand greenhouse use for selected horticulture crops and exhibit effective technologies at model farm in Tipitapa. Established long-term commercial linkages for dragon fruit farmers and cocoa farmers with two leading export companies.

Conducted research with NGOs, private sector and cooperatives with recent or ongoing experience in five value-chains (coffee, cocoa, horticulture, dairy and taro) in Matagalpa, Jinotega and RAAS in Nicaragua related to smallholders and their participation in higher value markets, in the framework of ICRAF’s involvement in the CGIAR Global Research Program on Policies, Markets and Institutions (PIM). Activity 1: Review of value chain approaches: part of a multi-organizational collaboration to identify opportunities for better supporting those engaged in value chain development. Activity 2: Value chains as complex systems: examines the complexity inherent in value chains and implications for design of interventions to support value chain development research with selected NGO, private sector and cooperatives.

Peru and Nicaragua: Presented findings of two case studies from Peru and literature review of Small Producer Business Models as part of the Agriculture Value Chains Field-Based Learning Exchange. August - October 2015.El Salvador: Conducted a value-chain mapping of drip irrigation equipment suppliers and financial intermediaries for potential Impact Investment opportunities with Cocoa Alliance producers. June 2015.Mexico & Ecuador: Conducted value-chain analysis and mapping exercise of producer groups supplying Ben&Jerry´s Ice Cream Company with coffee from Mexico and bananas from Ecuador as part of a Producer Development Initiative. April – June 2014.

Provided overall leadership to World Relief programs in Haiti, guiding the transition from post-earthquake humanitarian response into long term development interventions. Lead the activities and programs of World Relief throughout Haiti and developed a new country strategy to implement Integral Mission, in line with World Relief’s mission vision and values. The new strategy contemplates improved systems and structures, policies, strong financial and programmatic management. Oversaw and developed strong partnerships with local institutions, government agencies, donors and other implementing partners. Primary focus in agriculture was to support producer associations involved in the poultry, rice and coffee value-chains. In the areas of Health and Education, primary interventions were with Mother and Child Health care and cholera response with partner organizations.

Conducted a feasibility study on the reintroduction of sisal production in the Northeast to include the potential value or contribution towards improving economic livelihoods and ensuring food security for small scale producers. Made contact with key stakeholders, government institutions, private sector firms, farmers, Universities, producer groups and micro-financial institutions in order to map the sisal value chain and suggest a strategy which would enable optimum participation for farmers and producer groups in the sisal value-chain.

My assignment was to advise the Brigade HQ staff of Combined Task Force 4/2 (Kandahar) in order to fulfill Commander’s intent to strengthen the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) in the Task Force Area of Operations, particularly with regards to Transition, Agriculture & Economic Growth and enhanced capacity of state institutions. Provided advice to Brigade staff regarding USAID projects and initiatives in Agriculture and Economic Growth, Counter-Narcotics, Infrastructure and Education/Health. Specific examples of my involvement included promoting alternative crops for farmers during the 2012 planting season, supporting initiatives to distribute certified seeds and inputs during Fall 2012 planting cycle, encouraging the expansion of private sector Farm-Service Centers, strengthening farm-to-market access for producer groups and expanding the presence of storage facilities for identified high-value crops.

Provided overall leadership to the Agriculture Technology Matching Grant Fund project in Nicaragua. This included initial review of grant proposals, follow-up on business plan preparation and organization of project activities.

Overall responsibility for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Unit in Nicaragua, including initiatives in resource mobilization and disaster risk management. Main responsibilities were to Establish operational structure; Ensure collaboration and coordination with UN system, NGOs and donors; Liaise with donors and represent FAO; Implement policies and strategies; Prepare project profiles and project documents; Monitor financial management.

Responsible for overall administrative and financial management of CDN2.9 Million, four-year Sesame Production and Marketing Value-Chain Project (PRODUMER II) which benefitted more than 1000 producers, cooperatives, processors and exporters in western Nicaragua.

Provided leadership to the MCC Job Creation Program in Bangladesh which establishes permanent employment opportunities for poor rural women by strengthening links between international fair-trade companies and women artisans in rural Bangladesh. Supervised logistical support and administrative oversight of volunteers assigned to different project sites.