Value-chain development
Intercultural management in business
Gender-sensitive value-chain mapping in the MENA region
Role: Team Leader
Region: MENA (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia)
Year: 2018-2019
Client: UNIDO
Team Leader of a team of seven National Experts in regional gender-sensitive value-chain mapping in seven countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia in the framework of the project “Promoting Women’s Empowerment (PWE) for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in the MENA Region” (phase II).
Investment promotion for an Industrial Innovation Hub
Role: FDI and domestic investment promotion expert
Region: Italy (Trieste)
Year: 2018-2019
Client: Area Science Park
The goal of ARGO, a multi-year programme, financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, Ministry of Economic Development and the Regional Government of Friuli Venezia Giulia, is to build an open and inclusive innovation system that incorporates research and industry and brings economic development by coordinating the local high-tech R&D system with digitalization and high-end training in order to optimize resource use and attract domestic and foreign direct investments in new strategic projects based on a clear industrial development strategy. The programme has four components: Industrial innovation Harbour (port and industrial zone); High Impact Net (technopark, incubators and accelerators); Industry platform for digitalization (big data, IoT, advanced manufacturing solutions, data optimization and simulation); Technology platforms for applied and industrial research [open source description].
In the Industrial Innovation Harbour component, as a Consultant, my responsibilities include: 1) contributing models for the strategic planning of an Industrial Innovation Harbour including investments and based on the circular economy logic; 2) drafting the organizational model for and training personnel of a One Stop Shop to target and cater domestic or foreign direct investments.
Semi-formal business registration reform feasibility study
Start-up proposal technical assessment for public financing
Formulation of the Uplands Rural Development Project (URDP)
Role: Rural Market Analyst
Region: Western Asia (Turkey)
Year: 2017
Client: IFAD
A market study was prepared on mountainous product value-chains in the framework of the design and formulation of a new project (Uplands Rural Development Project) aimed at retaining youth on mountainous areas. Together with conventional market study elements such as market channels, tradeable volumes and proposing a marketing strategy and responsibilities, the work encompassed a risk-assessment on typical smallholder mountainous produce based on historical demand-price curves by priority local commodity, a through analysis of organic agriculture potential and of applicability of quality certifications and branding.
SME law drafting technical assistance
Role: PSD Policy Expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam)
Year: 2016
Client: Chemonics International (USAID financing)
In the framework of USAID Governance for Inclusive Growth, advice was provided on different regulatory topics requested by the Agency for Enterprise Development in charge of drafting the first national SME law, in particular on: the rationale for SME support and for an SME law; institutional coordination, monitoring; comparative analysis of different SME support models; industry and measure prioritization aimed at increasing economy competitiveness.
Private Sector Development Cluster Project (PSDCP) knowledge management
Role: PSD Expert
Region: Middle East
Year: 2016
Client: Icon Institut (AFD)
In the framework of the Private Sector Development Cluster Project (PSDCP) financed by the Agence Française de Développement, the draft national cluster policy was assessed against state-of-the-art cluster policy international cases and benchmarking systems, considering the local context. Together with such analysis, further technical assistance was provided to assess public-private dialogue mechanisms, to expand range of Customs and VAT handling in export, and in capitalizing the five-year cluster project knowledge.
Regional RIS3-based private sector internationalization
Role: SME Internationalization Expert
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2016
Client: Invitalia (financed by the European Commission)
different studies were carried out to provide technical assistance to a central institution and four regional governments to enhance private sector internationalization through their Research and Innovation Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3) in the framework of the National Governance Programme for the Public Administration Reform and Administration financed by ERDF. Analysis was carried out on identifying value-added products and prioritizing high-potential markets.
SME agglomeration policy assessment
Role: PSD Policy and Feasibility Study Expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam)
Year: 2015
Client: Asian Development Bank
The ADB requested a through assessment of the potential for a national SME agglomeration policy (Corporate Synergy Systems) aimed at increasing inclusion of national SMEs in international value-chains and economy competitiveness through joint investments and collaboration with large enterprises. The assessment included regulatory framework, road map of achievements, comparative analysis of potential in 10 industries against different indicators, industry prioritization based on Input-Output national accounting tables forward- / backward-linkage industry assessment, involvement of national research centers, and benchmarking with international experiences. The assessment was completed with planning and budgeting.
National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) implementation support and supervision
Role: Value-chain development expert
Region: South Asia (Bangladesh)
Year: 2011-2014
Client: IFAD
The National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) cofinanced by WB, IFAD and the national government had four components supporting extension, livestock, fishery, and value-chain development. The implementation support, supervision and technical assistance work focused on the value-chain development component and spanned three years through no. 6 implementation support and supervision missions including a Mid-Term Review (MTR) and an institutional assessment of the Horticulture Export Promotion Foundation (Hortex). Among others, such experiences allowed providing technical assistance to Hortex in enhancing their value-chain development effectiveness. An impact evaluation estimated that the project benefitted 1.2 million smallholders with a significant net income increase for those taking part to the value-chain development activities in a number of sub-Districts (Upzillas) nationwise.
National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) design – additional funding
Agribusiness Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center feasibility study
Role: Stakeholder facilitator and PSD expert
Region: Western Africa (Senegal)
Year: 2011
Client: World Bank (Finland)
The feasibility study for a national Agribusiness Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (AIEC) focused on business modelling, services, critical factors, location, target clients and stakeholders, governance, business plan and involvement of different stakeholders including MSME, private sector, national R&D centers and public specialized agencies. Services provided included stakeholder facilitation and design and analysis of a quantitative survey on agri-processing SME and licensed micro- entrepreneurs.
Internationalization of Tunisian enterprises
Role: SME Internationalization Expert
Region: Middle East North Africa (Tunisia)
Year: 2011
Client: CUOA Foundation (financed by MAECI)
Under the coordination of the Tunisian Export Promotion Center (CEPEX), a through analysis of trade and investment flows between Tunisia, Italy and the UEMOA region was carried out to identify high-potential industries and markets for joint Italian-Tunisian private sector investments.
Financial Sector Program Loan 2 ex-post evaluation
Role: Evaluation manager and expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam),
Year: 2011
Client: WoDA Srl (AFD)
As Managing Director of WoDA Srl managed bidding proposal and was awarded an international tender by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for the ex-post evaluation of the second phase of a 15-year financial sector reform program focused on non-banking financial sector such as securities and insurances. A team composed of national and international financial experts and economists was selected, hired and fielded. The evaluation gauged relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and additionality.
Industrial Modernization and Upgrading Project formulation 2
PLateforme d’Appui au développement du SEcteur PRIvé (PLASEPRI) project formulation
Role: PSD Expert
Region: West Africa (Senegal)
Year 2008-2009-2010
Client: MAECI
Aimed at stimulating investment, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for the Senegalese diaspora in Italy and the entrepreneurs of Senegal, the designed project (Plateforme d’Appui au Développement du Secteur Privé et à la Valorisation de la diaspora Sénégalaise en Italie -PLASEPRI, in short-) provided an array of services conceived together with three Ministries: access to finance with different products capable to serve micro- enterprises by re-financing microfinance network portfolios and SME by on-lending to commercial banks and leasing companies through based on an inter-governmental soft-loan, which would re-lend to individual SME at facilitated conditions; technical assistance to beneficiary firms; and, calls for proposal for grants aimed at entrepreneurship and local development.
EU market entry of a Jordanian SME
Role: Marketing Expert
Region: Middle East North Africa (Jordan) and Europe (United Kingdom)
Year: 2009
Client: Jordan Upgrading Modernization Project (financed by the European Commission)
The market study was requested by a Jordanian SME on highest potential EU markets for their product lines. A market analysis and a 110 respondent research were carried out in UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg to prioritize access markets and draft an access strategy.