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

Role: Value-Chain Development Expert
Region: South Asia (Bangladesh)
Year 2012
Client: World Bank (USAID)

In charge of the design of the value-chain component for the additional financing of the National Agricultural Technology Project (World Bank code P084078).

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

Role: PSD expert
Region: Middle East (Syria)
Year 2010
Client: MAECI

Design / formulation of the second phase of the Industrial Modernization and Upgrading Project Syria implemented by UNIDO and the Syrian Ministry of Industry, expanding the reach from textile to the agri-food industry.

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.

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.

Regional training on laser technologies for SME

Role: Lecturer
Region: Central America (Guatemala)
Year: 2007
Client: ICS UNIDO


Lecturer at training courses on laser technologies for SMEs - course for Regional Intermediary Organisations (Guatemala, Perù, Colombia, Panamà, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Republica Dominicana) 

Policy support to increase the competitiveness of the Russian economy

Role: PSD policy expert
Region: Europe (Russian Federation) 
Year: 2008
Client: CUOA Foundation (European Union – Russian Federation Tacis Programme)

The policy project “Development of financial markets: support to state policy aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Russian economy” (EuropeAid/121435/C/SER/RU) included providing technical assistance to Federal and Regional authorities and development institutions in enhancing investment and investment-monitoring capacity for economic competitiveness. Services provided included (i) the coordination an international Team in the preparation of guidelines for the evaluation of national economy efficiency of investments of federal and regional development institutions in innovation, in consultation with Science and Technology Parks, R&D institutions, Academy of Science, private sector, regional government, regional development institutions and R&D funds; (ii) impact assessment on development institutions investments in inter-regional and inter-sectoral cluster formation; (iii) diagnostic on SME situation with central, regional Government, Chambers and firms, assessment of implications of quality difficulties in supplying to FDI.

Feasibility study for the universalization of internet access in rural environments

Role: Team Leader and Feasibility Study Expert
Region: Southern Africa (Malawi)
Year: 2006
Client: ICS UNIDO

The coordination of a 9-member team led to a complete feasibility study on a national ICT telecentre infrastructure for rural communities, relying on an innovative gender- and age- sensitive quantitative methodology triangulated with participatory approaches that involved 700 community stakeholders and was published. The study included an investment business plan and was structured to be suitable for technical, informative and fundraising purposes. In 10 years, the Country established a network of more 50 telecentres nation-wise providing broadband service access to thousands in rural areas as well as small business development services.

National investment attraction program

Role: Investment Promotion and Coordination Support Consultant
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2004-2005
Client: Sviluppo Italia Veneto Srl (now Invitalia)

After specific training in coordinated local development investment planning for FDI attraction, provided the national investment promotion/attraction programme with sector studies on strategic investment sectors (Machinery and ICT) in the Veneto Region, drafted an opportunity study for the expansion of a Science and Technology Park of Venice to include an ICT-focused wing, provided the Municipality of Venice with technical assistance for the establishment of two business incubators and a manual for the set-up and the start-up of SME incubators; supported the Agency in branch organisation, budgeting and work-planning.

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.

Technology rating index for SME public-financing

Role: SME Development Expert
Region: Europe (Italy)
Year: 2003
Client: Agitec SpA (former Agency for Technology Innovation)

Drafted a technology-rating index for SME innovation project proposals for public financing aimed at increasing public incentive efficiency by prioritizing proposals based on ranking their technological innovation content.

Application engineering and project management in off-highway drivetrain manufacturing

Role: Application Engineer
Region: Europe (Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France)
Year: 1998-2001
Client: Carraro SpA

In the earth-moving, automotive and agriculture OEM tier-1 industry, coordinated innovative drivetrain development projects with Key Account Engineering & Purchasing Teams and corporate Engineering & Sales Department & Management Control Teams, provided technical-sales support.

Quality control in ship-to-shore container train fabrication

Role: Head of Quality Control
Region: Europe (Italy) 
Year: 1996-2001
Client: Officine Meccaniche Galileo Srl

Beginning of work career in the ship-to-shore container crane design and fabrication industry, responsible for the work of 4 senior QC technicians, managed the reorganization and renovation of the Quality Control function, supported the Quality Assurance Director in ISO9001 certification and was trained in non-destructive tests for structural welding.