Michael Simsik Email & Phone Number

Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire

Currently leading a 20-member Washington-based compact development team on all aspects of the preparation of a $322.5 million concurrent compact focused on Cote d’Ivoire’s regional integration into the West African energy market. Coordinating compact development efforts with energy entities of the Government of Cote d’Ivoire (i.e., Ministries, utilities, and regulator) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS, including the West Africa Power Pool and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority). Develop systems, processes, and reporting procedures to facilitate monitoring and assessment of, and communications about, compact development. Ensure the development of a compact focused on regional integration with the goal of preparing Cote d’Ivoire to play a leading role in the implementation of a regional day-ahead energy market. Coordinate MCC technical leads while liaising with officials of the Ivoirian government and staff from the regional entities on project conception and development, the execution of due diligence work, contract solicitation and management, and communications while assuring that milestones are achieved within the targeted time periods. Lend support to the overall operations and activities of the MCC Cote d’Ivoire Resident Country Mission (RCM). Serve as a Diplomatic Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan at a rank equivalent to the Senior Executive Service (SES).

Ouagadougou, Centre, Burkina Faso

Led the MCC Burkina Faso RCM and a Washington-based team, while also providing guidance and support to government of Burkina Faso partners (the Millennium Challenge Account, or MCA) on all aspects of the pre-implementation of a $450 million energy-focused compact between the U.S. and Burkinabe governments. Created systems, processes, and reports that facilitated ongoing monitoring, assessment, and communication on the compact pre-implementation progress. Liaised between MCC Technical Leads and MCA on project management, contracting, and communication issues and coordinated with them to keep milestones on schedule. Tracked large scale infrastructure and services contracts signed between the MCA and private firms. Managed the day-to-day tasks and activities of the MCC Burkina Faso RCM, including supervising local staff, arranging, and leading MCC missions, monitoring budget and resources, participating in official U.S. Embassy functions and liaising with Embassy offices on intra-Mission activities. Liaised and coordinated with international donors working in the energy sector in Burkina Faso, as well as with other USG agencies and private firms. Assured that the compact was developed to address specific goals of the (Burkina Faso) national social and economic development plan. Provided advice and guidance about compact development during technical briefings and presentations to the government of Burkina Faso, MCC, USG agencies, and others. Represented MCC during meetings with Ambassadors, high-level USG officials and visiting delegations, senior foreign government officials, MCA Board of Directors, and MCA program directors. Worked at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou, also serving there as a Diplomatic Attaché and a senior member of the U.S. Embassy country team, and at a rank equivalent to the Senior Executive Service (SES). Left position after compact was terminated following a coup d’état in January 2022.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Led all aspects of the development of a second compact for Burkina Faso focused on energy infrastructure (power generation, transmission, and distribution) and initially budgeted at $304. Led and manage a matrixed (multidisciplinary) MCC Country Team of 22 individuals while also providing oversight, guidance, advice, technical feedback, and support to the Burkinabe Core Team, which was responsible for compact program development in Burkina Faso. Ensured that compact development was done in accordance with MCC policies and quality standards and interfaced frequently with high-level Burkinabe and USG stakeholders, including the Burkinabe Prime Minister, the MCC focal point within the Burkinabe government (Minister of Economy and Finance), the Minister of Energy, the U.S. Chief of Mission (Ambassador), and the Burkinabe Ambassador to the U.S. Regularly reported on compact development progress to key internal and external stakeholders. Assisted in the management of MCC-hired contractors. Prepared and supervised the execution of country team work plans and provided oversight on the management of Country Team travel and post allotment budgets. Ensured compliance of MCC and USG procedures. Responded to inquiries from MCC management, Congress, and other USG agencies regarding progress on compact development. Provided day-to-day management and supervision of 1 LES staff (Administrative Assistant) based at the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou. Left position when promoted within the same agency to the position of Resident Country Director in Burkina Faso.

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

IFDC is a science-based public international organization working in 30 countries to alleviate global hunger by introducing improved agricultural practices and fertilizer technologies to farmers. As Chief of Party of the USAID-funded West and Central Africa Four Country Cotton Partnership (C4CP) Project based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, managed a budget of $15 million, a team of 19 staff, including 11 direct reports. Responsibilities included ensuring adherence to the terms of the Cooperative Agreement between USAID and IFDC and that the technical services provided through the project were of the quality required to achieve the desired results. Coordinated and led the effective and timely implementation of all project functions including: strategic planning; program development and implementation; financial, administrative and staff management; negotiating, establishing, and strengthening partnerships; communications and outreach; representation of the project and organization; and monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on project performance, deliverables and results to project stakeholders including donors, regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral missions of USAID, host-government ministries, technical government agencies, private sector, and NGOs. Liaised with and traveled to IFDC headquarters and West Africa regional offices in the U.S. and Ghana, respectively, as well as with the IFDC country offices outside of Burkina Faso involved in the project (Benin, Chad, and Mali). Left position as project was nearing its end date.

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo

Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit environmental organization that uses science, policy, and partnerships in countries, communities, and with companies to facilitate the creation of 1,200 protected areas across 78 countries, safeguarding more than 730 million hectares of land, marine, and coastal ecosystems. As Chief of Party (CoP) managing a budget of $14 million, led a consortium of 4 international and national organizational partners, and 46 staff including 7 direct reports, on the conservation and management of the 25-million-acre Maiko-Tayna-Kahuzi-Biega Landscape in the challenging work environment of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This project (the Central Africa Forest Ecosystems Consortium, or CAFEC) was funded through a USAID Cooperative Agreement as part of the long-standing Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), with the goal of reducing biodiversity loss within the Congo Basin. As CoP ensured the effective coordination of project administration and operations, financial management including budget planning and pipeline monitoring, developing and implementing annual work plans, monitoring and reporting on progress against indicators, evaluating and assuring project deliverables and results, creating and managing partnerships, communicating about and representing the project and organization to institutional partners and stakeholders including donors (USAID and the Norwegian government’s International Climate and Forest Initiative) and the Congolese government. Served as the primary point of contact for the coordination with CI headquarters office in Arlington, Virginia, and the Africa & Madagascar Regional Field Division in Nairobi, Kenya. Carried out these management duties at CI’s main (national) office in Kinshasa as well as at the project office in Goma, North Kivu Province.

Washington, Dc

Provided leadership for and day-to-day management of operations of Peace Corps programs in Africa consisting of 26 countries, 3,000 Peace Corps Volunteers, 75 U.S. direct hire staff, 800 host-country national staff, and an annual appropriated budget of over $75 million. Provided thought leadership on improving performance of field programs while addressing complex operational issues including staffing, administration, volunteer support, policy compliance, and safety and security. Supervised, led, mentored, and built the capacity of all 12 Country Desk Officers covering the Africa Region. Ensured that posts in the Africa Region had the resources needed to effectively support the work of staff and volunteers, while also ensuring that agency resources were efficiently managed. Monitored and ensured compliance of posts in Africa with agency policies, standards, and procedures, as well as conforming to recommendations of evaluation and audits conducted by the Peace Corps Office of the Inspector General. Liaised with various headquarters offices on a wide variety of issues, in particular working closely with those responsible for Volunteer safety and responding to security incidents. Left position when my term-limited appointment with Peace Corps was completed.

Dakar, Senegal

Demonstrated inspiring leadership to staff while guiding them in the implementation of activities collectively implementing a strategic vision for Peace Corps operations in Senegal. Responsible for all aspects of management and oversight of 50 staff, a $4.5 million annual appropriated budget, and as many as 270 Peace Corps Volunteers. Provided guidance and leadership to staff on strategic planning designed to ensure Volunteers had meaningful site assignments and maximum support. Identified and proposed solutions to management problems that were of major importance to planning program directions. Counseled, encouraged and inspired Volunteers toward high performance standards. Approved and facilitated Volunteer projects and programming to assure Volunteer productivity, positive impacts and host country support. Established and maintained collaborative relations with host country government officials and local authorities, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, and headquarters staff at Peace Corps-Washington. Worked with aforementioned individuals and organizations to advocate for and identify resources to enhance program operations and impacts. Worked collaboratively with USAID/Senegal personnel on the renewal of a Participating Agency Program Agreement (PAPA) to enable the continuation of Peace Corps’ food security program. Represented the Peace Corps as a senior member of the U.S. Mission country team. Established and maintained relationships with personnel of the U.S. Mission that fostered cooperation and helped to ensure the safety of Volunteers. Assisted in the organization and execution of representational events raising public awareness of the work of Peace Corps in Senegal, including an event during which U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton swore-in new Peace Corps Volunteers. Continued to lend support to Peace Corps staff in Mali following the evacuation of Volunteers and suspension of the program in April 2012.

Bamako, Mali

Responsible for all aspects of management and oversight of 64 staff, a $4.1 million annual appropriated budget, and as many as 200 Peace Corps Volunteers. Provided leadership on strategic planning and collaborated with Malian Government Ministries and host-country partner organizations in the development and execution of work agreements. Approved and facilitated Volunteer projects and programming to assure Volunteer productivity, positive impacts and host country support. Established and maintained relationships with host country government officials and local authorities, representatives of NGOs, staff at the U.S. Embassy, and colleagues at Peace Corps-Washington. Worked with aforementioned individuals and organizations to advocate for and identify supplementary resources to enhance and promote the Peace Corps program. As a result, secured a total of $1.4 million in funding from USAID/Mali for the creation of two programs within Peace Corps-Mali; a nonformal education program focusing on basic education and literacy, and a four-year program to improve community food security. Also successfully advocated for and received $200,000 annually from USAID/Mali for the funding of small grants submitted by Volunteers, while providing oversight and management of these and other grants and contracts. Ensured that program impacts were assessed against measurable performance indicators. Represented the Peace Corps as a senior member of the U.S. Mission country team in Mali. Established and maintained relationships with the Chief of Mission, Regional Security Officer, and others within the U.S. Mission that fostered the cooperation and coordination necessary to achieve Peace Corps' goals while ensuring the safety of Volunteers. Successfully achieved agency mission while ensuring Volunteer safety during period of heightened security concerns in northern Mali. Also managed a large evacuation of Volunteers from Mali in April 2012 following a coup d’état.

Bamako, Mali

Provided overall direction and leadership to the Peace Corps-Mali Programming and Training (P&T) Team in the implementation of post strategic and operation plans. Led the P&T Team through the creation of a shared vision ensuring all staff, as well as the Volunteers they managed, understood their contributions to the Peace Corps mission. Directly managed and supported a P&T team of six locally engaged staff and one U.S. Direct Hire staff while also assisting in the supervision of 150 Peace Corps Volunteers. Fostered a culture of communication, mutual support, performance, work ethics, and enabling volunteer resilience. Led the P&T team in the development of strategies and action plans to meet the training, programming, and support needs of Volunteers. Built team capacity while leading them in the development and execution of strategic goals and program objectives. Coordinated activities for five technical programs insuring that the work of Volunteers followed sector project plans and individual job descriptions. While continuing to work in assigned role as Deputy Director also served as Acting Country Director for 4 months and Acting Administrative Officer (AO) for 7 months. As Acting AO was responsible for the discharge of budgetary and accounting operations as well as the recruitment, hiring and training of staff. Initiated and led strategic partnerships with government and non-government entities relevant to Peace Corps’ mission. Provided leadership to staff and Volunteers on the design and delivery of cross-cultural and diversity training, resulting in a more inclusive work environment. Communicated in a timely and effective manner with staff and Volunteers in both English and French. Represented Peace Corps and provided expertise during interactions with various stakeholders in a variety of venues. Served as a member of the Peace Corps team that traveled to Sierra Leone to conduct an assessment of the agency’s return to the country.

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Responsible for all aspects of effectively leading and managing the Peace Corps-Madagascar Environmental Program, including the work and activities of 40 Volunteers and a Programming and Training Assistant. Provided program with positive leadership, supervision and guidance, through consultation and the provision of technical assistance. As a member of the Peace Corps Senior Staff, assisted in the elaboration and implementation of the annual strategic and operations plans for post (country program). Wrote a 5-year environmental project plan and ensured its implementation, resulting in more focused programming and greater impacts. Conducted a comprehensive program evaluation that determined impacts and courses of action to foster improvements. Ensured volunteer compliance with the major components of the project plan including work goals, objectives, task analysis and reporting procedures for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) purposes. Responsible for and implemented all aspects of program M&E including design, development, monitoring, reporting, evaluation, dissemination of results, application of learning, and program revision. Demonstrated critical thinking skills and problem-solving ability in addressing Volunteer issues, resulting in effective program management. Established, maintained, and strengthened productive working relationships and led strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, leading to greater impact of our programming and achievement of our mission. Identified and built an in-country network of resource persons then organized them into an Environmental Program Advisory Committee resulting in an increase in the visibility of Peace Corps’ programming among environmental actors. Served as Acting Country Director (CD) in the absence of the CD from post and successfully executed the duties associated with post management. Represented Peace Corps to the U.S. Embassy as well as at conferences, meetings and other venues.

New York, Ny

Provided leadership in the creation and management of the Urban Food Systems Program. Directly managed four staff working on community extension and education related to sustainable agriculture. Led staff in strategic planning to identify new program initiatives in urban agriculture. Established, maintained and strengthened relations with program partners and other stakeholders engaged in sustainable agriculture to share information, strengthen network and identify funding opportunities. Collaborated with campus-based faculty and staff, as well as with community-based organizations, in developing applied research, extension and educational initiatives in community agriculture. Served as the Principal Investigator on three grant proposals and managed projects linking producers to urban markets via sale of produce and value-added products at farmers’ markets and for community-supported agriculture. Worked with educators on incorporating aquaculture and hydroponics technologies into high school science curricula. Served on the advisory boards of the New York City Regional Food Network as well as the Cornell University Community Food and Agriculture Program.

New York, Ny

Managed the implementation of projects and public education programs related to natural resource management and environmental revitalization. Collaborated with Cornell University faculty on the implementation of two applied research studies on urban forestry and youth engagement in environmental actions. Managed one staff member and 3 student interns and assisted with proposal development. Left position when promoted to Program Leader within the same organization.

Amherst, Ma

Facilitated educational workshops on grant proposal writing and grant seeking techniques to graduate students. Served as campus representative for the Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Award of the Fulbright-Hays Program and was responsible for recruiting and screening program applicants. Also gathered information via on-line research that was compiled and disseminated to postdoctoral scholars to assist them in meeting their financial needs.

Ankazobe, Madagascar

Conducted a research project in collaboration with a Malagasy non-governmental organization (NGO) on the linkages between the livelihood practices and socioeconomic status of rural people, and the condition of local biodiversity in the highlands of Madagascar. Collaborated with Malagasy colleagues on the planning and implementation of the research project. Trained NGO staff in participatory research and rapid rural appraisal methodologies. Developed and implemented research protocol and questionnaires, and also conducted oral interviews with stakeholders. Coordinated and facilitated meetings and training sessions with local authorities concerning the research project. Recruited and supervised a team of five people to work as surveyors to administer questionnaires to 60 households for the socioeconomic aspect of this study. Also recruited and supervised a Malagasy interpreter while conducting a total of 30 focus group and in-depth individual interviews.

Amherst, Ma

Facilitated educational workshops on grant proposal writing and grant seeking techniques to graduate students. Served as campus representative for the Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Award of the Fulbright-Hays Program, responsible for recruiting and screening program applicants.

Amherst, Massachusetts

Planned, publicized and presented informational meetings and other public outreach events about the Peace Corps throughout the Five-College area of Western Massachusetts. Liaised with campus career services in the organization and presentation of informational sessions on their respective campuses. Interviewed applicants and evaluated their suitability for volunteer service. Reported to the Dean of the College, as well as to colleagues at the Peace Corps Regional Recruiting Office in Boston.

Fort Dauphin, Madagascar

Provided leadership for all aspects of the Rural Development Program on the Andohahela Reserve Integrated Conservation and Development Project, including the conception, planning, and implementation of rural development and agricultural activities in communities adjacent to the reserve. Directly managed and evaluated the performance of a diverse team of 15 rural extension agents serving as field-based community educators. Assessed staff training needs then built staff capacity through the development and delivery of technical training activities. Conducted site visits to villages targeted by project activities to evaluate impacts. Mentored staff, including a colleague to become a Program Manager following my departure. Represented the WWF to project partner organizations and stakeholders including host government agencies, donors, and NGOs. Worked collaboratively with these entities on the monitoring and evaluation of project activities and impacts in targeted communities.

M.F., Forestry

Activities and Societies: Research work is summarized in the following book chapter: West, P.C., Fortwangler, C. L., Agbo, V., Simsik, M..

B.S., Forest Management

Activities and Societies: Student Member of the Society of American ForestersForestry major

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Forestry

Ed.D., Education, Policy, Research And Administration (Epra)

Activities and Societies: Conducted a dissertation field research project in collaboration with a Malagasy NGO on the linkages between.