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.

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.

Semi-formal business registration reform feasibility study

Role: Team Leader, PSD Policy Expert and Feasibility Study Expert
Region: South East Asia (Vietnam)
Year: 2017-2018
Client: UNIDO (SECO financing)

Coordination of a through study on the feasibility of a household business registration reform.

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.

Wind-energy system drivetrain metrology development research

Role: Research Assistant
Region: Europe (Denmark)
Years: 2012-2017
Client: Technical University of Denmark DTU (financed by European Commission FP7, Danish Innovation Fund)

In the framework of three research contracts, industrial metrology research was carried out at the Mechanical Engineering Department controlled condition laboratories aimed at large-size wind energy system drive- train component development in the “Drive Train Project” financed by Danish government and the “Traceable measurement of drivetrain components for renewable energy - ENG56” financed by the European Commission (FP7). Such research work encompassed planning, laboratory implementation, analysis and no. 3 peer-reviewed publications. Support was also given in drafting a Horizon 2020 proposal.

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 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.