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).
Operational monitoring of migration-related development projects
Role: Monitor
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal, Ethiopia, Sudan)
Year: 2018-2019
Client: invitalia
Operational monitoring on different projects financed by the Italian Government in migration -origin or -transit countries aimed at enhancing livelihood through entrepreneurship or employment generation, strengthening of civil status and registry systems, establishment or strengthening of protection systems for unaccompanied minors.
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.
National Agricultural Technology Project 2 (NATP2) design
Role: Agricultural Marketing Expert
Region: South Asia (Bangladesh)
Year: 2014
Client: IFAD
Value-chain development and marketing Team Member in a Team constituted by local government, IFAD, World Bank, IFC and USAID members, took part in identification, preparation and pre-appraisal missions for the design of the National Agricultural Technology Project 2 (World Bank code P149553) with a budget exceeding USD 200 millions.
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
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.
Value-chain portfolio analysis for the formulation of the Programa de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Rural
Role: Team Leader And Value-Chain Development Expert
Region: Southern Africa (Mozambique)
Year: 2009
Client: MAECI
Team Leader of a Team of 12 international Agricultural Engineers, Forestry Engineers, Economists and Survey Enumerators, delivered a value-chain study of 6 aggregate agro-value-chains with a panel of 25 products (horticulture, oilseeds, dairy, poultry, timber). The study included the creation of a value-chain database including enterprise investment and dimensional data gathered through a questionnaire survey administered to 224 formal agricultural SMEs in three Provinces. The study provided the input for the formulation of a three-year rural development project.
Contratti di filiera / Value-chain development joint-investments
Role: Value-Chain Investment Analyst
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2004
Client: Progetto Verde Srl
The service rendered encompassed analyzing investments for the improvement of quality certification and marketing consortia in the framework of a joint inter-regional value-chain investment, to be financed by a public scheme for value-chain development (Contratti di Filiera) aimed at enhancing quality vs. volumes. The EUR 43 million investment plan aimed at benefitting 120 SME and a few typical origin protection consortia in three Italian regions: Veneto, Piedmont, Tuscany.
Technical assistance to the Jordan Investment Board
Role: Investment Promotion Expert and Deputy Head of Investment Promotion Unit
Region: Middle East (Jordan)
Year: 2001-2003
Client: UNIDO (MAECI financing)
Long-term resident and International Expert of an investment promotion unit nested in the Jordan Investment Board, contributed to train local Investment Promotion Officers in dealing with the private sector, in selecting and communicating FDI and partnership opportunities to be promoted through a Mediterranean network of investment promotion offices and helped interested international investors with location and interaction support services. Helped 15 Jordanian SME to access a soft-loan-based credit line intermediated by commercial banks through business planning support that included strategic assessment, financial modelling (discounted cash flow) and bankable business plan preparation for investment financing. Supported the Central Bank of Jordan in monitoring performances of the credit line.