CURRICULUM VITAE ROBERT HICKSON

CURRICULUM VITAE ROBERT HICKSON

PROPOSED POSITION FOR THIS PROJECT

International Microfinance Policy and Regulation Expert

NAME OF FIRM

Microfinance Services Pty Ltd

NAME

Robert Hickson

DATE OF BIRTH

04/10/1961 CITIZENSHIP Australian

PERSONAL ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NO.
E-MAIL ADDRESS

:
:
:

PO Box 8599 Gold Coast MC, Qld. 4217, Australia

+61 7 5574 3232

+61 400 690966

Robert@MicrofinanceServices.com

EDUCATION

M.Ag.Sc. (Agricultural Economics/Microfinance) University of Qld, 1991.

B.V.Sc., University of Queensland, 1984.

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

AVA

OTHER TRAINING

2000, CGAP Training of Trainers, Sabetta, Kenya

2000, CGAP Financial Analysis, Sabetta, Kenya

2000, CGAP Delinquency and Interest Rate Setting, Sabetta, Kenya

2000, CGAP Business Planning using MicroFin, Sabetta, Kenya

2001, MicroSave Market Research for Microfinance Product Development, Wright, Kenya

COUNTRIES OF WORK EXPERIENCE

Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

10.

LANGUAGE & DEGREE OF PROFICIENCY

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing
English	Mother tongue	Mother tongue	Mother tongue
French	Fair	Good	Fair
Thai	Fair
Lao	Fair

11.

EMPLOYMENT RECORD

FROM 1/07/1993

TO Present

EMPLOYER

Microfinance Services Pty Ltd

POSITION HELD

Managing Director / Consultant

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Overall strategic management, poverty reduction and microfinance consultant.

FROM 1/07/1991

TO 1/07/1993

EMPLOYER

International Development Support Services Pty Ltd

POSITION HELD

Rural Development Specialist

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Livestock agricultural rural finance adviser. Also responsible for advising on NGO development philosophies and approaches.

12.

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE

Robert Hickson has 27 years experience in development consulting with the last 21 years focusing specifically on poverty reduction, micro- and rural finance. He has sound practical experience in HRM & project management, in the role of Team Leader and Project Director. Mr Hickson has undertaken both long and short-term assignments, involving large long-term rural development projects.

An agriculturalist and economist by training, Mr Hickson has, become widely experienced in the fields of rural development, microfinance and microenterprise development. He has extensive experience in design, implementation and evaluation of microfinance programmes as well as in assisting governments and donors in policy development for the support of the microfinance sector. He has been involved in developing and using the CGAP microfinance training and consulting materials including the CGAP Institutional Appraisal Format and Business Planning Format. He is an experienced mentor and trainer. He has strong skills and experience in microfinance market research leading to the development of client-focussed products and cost-effective delivery systems. He also has strong skills and experience in the financial analysis of microfinance institutions and regulation and supervision of microfinance.

Mr Hickson has a specific interest in the design of sustainable microfinance models adapted to the financial needs of micro-entrepreneurs, and which are capable of including the very poor and remote rural communities. Mr Hickson has worked in widely differing environments throughout Asia, the Pacific and Africa. He has worked for the ADB, the World Bank, CGAP, DFID, AusAID, USAID, AfDB, Finnida, UNDP, IFAD, FAO and a variety of international and local NGOs.

13. WORK UNDERTAKEN THAT BEST ILLUSTRATES CAPABILITY TO HANDLE TASKS ASSIGNED

2012-15 PROJECT DIRECTOR, MICROFINANCE CONSUMER PROTECTION, and INFORMATION SPECIALIST – THAILAND – ADB “Development of a Strategic Framework for Financial Inclusion” (10 months intermittent)

Project Director for comprehensive project on the development of policy for financial inclusion incorporating; microfinance and micro-insurance product development microfinance and micro-insurance regulation, consumer protection and financial literacy. Specifically: conduct of quantitative and qualitative research on consumer protection in Thailand leading to the development of new policy; and development of a financial inclusion database for Thailand.

2011 MICROFINANCE and REGULATION SPECIALIST – LAO PDR – ADB “ Northern Region Sustainable Livelihoods Project” (2 mths)

Evaluation of microfinance program under NRSL. Identification of constraints and opportunities for institutional and financial sustainability of microfinance program. Evaluation of Lao PDR microfinance regulation and supervision.

2011 REGULATION SPECIALIST – PALESTINE – USAID “Regulation for MFIs and Specialised (deposit taking) Banks” (2 mths)

Responsible for finalisation of regulation and instructions for MFIs and deposit-taking (Specialised) Microfinance Banks. Mediated regulation discussions with microfinance sector. Provided training to the Palistinian Monetary Authority (PMA) in on and off-site supervision of MFIs.

2011 SAVINGS SPECIALIST – CAMBODIA – IFC “AMK Savings Product Development” (1.5 mths)

Team Leader for team of 3 consultants responsible for review and redesign of existing AMK savings products and design of new products based upon market research and analysis and, financial impact analysis. Development of comprehensive pilot testing and marketing strategy.

2010 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – CHINA – ADB (1 mth)

Analysis of rural finance providers (banks & MCCs) and development of a rural finance statistical system for People’s Bank of China.

2010 MICROFINANCE REGULATION SPECIALIST – MOROCCO – USAID (1 mth)

Led study tour to Bank Al Maghrib (Moroccan central bank) to study microfinance regulation framework and supervision practices to determine appropriateness to the Palestine situation.

2010 MICROFINANCE REGULATION AND OUTREACH SPECIALIST – PNG – ADB “Microfinance Expansion Project” (3 mths)

ADB PPTA. Review of BPNG’s microfinance and Savings and Loan Society legislation, microfinance regulation and supervision practice. Developed extensive recommendations for legal and regulatory reform and improvements to on and off-site supervision. Responsible for designing Phase II project components relating to improving microfinance outreach through financial education campaigns and the development of mobile phone banking technologies.

2009 MICROFINANCE REGULATION SPECIALIST – PALESTINE – USAID (2 mths)

Review and reform of Banking Law as it applies to Microfinance Institutions. Development of new regulation policy and drafting of articles of regulation. Training of Palestine Monetary Authority in On and Off-site supervision.

2009 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – RWANDA – DFID “National Microfinance Strategy Review” (2 mths)

Review of Rwanda’s National Microfinance Strategy achievements and recommendations for Phase II. Review included regulation and supervision policy, MFI sector institutional and financial capacity and savings and loan products, loan guarantee scheme, deposit insurance scheme and integration with capital markets.

2009 TEAM LEADER MICROFINANCE APPRAISAL SPECIALIST –BANGLADESH – AusAID “Evaluation of BRAC North West Expansion Microfinance Project” (2 mths)

Evaluation of a major five-year expansion by the BRAC Bank into the north west region of Bangladesh (50,000 new clients). This programme has been specifically targeted at the extremely poor and has been closely linked to BRAC's renowned Income Generation for Vulnerable Group Development Programme (IGVGDP) which identifies and provides entrepreneurial training and support to the very poorest women in Bangladesh.

2006-08 REMOTE RURAL FINANCE RESEARCH – ETHIOPIA, KENYA, TANZANIA AND MOZAMBIQUE – IFAD “Remote Rural Microfinance Research and Development Programme” (10 mths)

Identification of high potential innovations and conduct of action research in remote rural poverty reduction & microfinance. Studies included alternate financial models for Ethiopian pastoralists. Evaluate lessons from the action research and disseminate for policy dialogue with IFAD, regional governments and central banks with respect to rural finance policy and legislation and IFAD’s rural finance programme monitoring and evaluation procedures.

2006- June 08 DEPOSIT TAKING MFI REGULATION SPECIALIST – CAMBODIA – ADB “Microfinance Deposit Services in Rural Cambodia” (10 mths)

Team Leader for team of 4 consultants responsible for: Conduct of market research to determine demand for micro-savings services; Appraisal of 16 MFIs; Revision of microfinance regulation and legislation including the new regulation for Deposit-Taking MFIs; Training of Central Bank in microfinance legislation and regulation and MFI monitoring & supervision. Training MFIs in market research for product development, electronic banking for microfinance, business-planning, accounting and financial analysis & product marketing.

2005-06 MICROFINANCE REGULATION AND MFI SPECIALIST – CHINA – ADB “Rural Finance Reforms and Development of Microfinance Institutions” (5 mths)

Conduct of market research to determine demand for microfinance services and feasibility of 2 private MFIs. Training of PBOC, RCC and CBRC staff in microfinance ‘best-practice’ & MFI supervision; led national microfinance study tour, drafted tender documents for the licensing of the first private retail financial institution in China.

2005 TEAM LEADER MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – MOZAMBIQUE – UNDP “Evaluation of Upstream Microfinance Project”

Final evaluation of 2-year project designed to enhance capacity of the Central Bank and Min. Planning and Dev. to effectively legislate, regulate and supervise MFIs involved in rural finance in Mozambique.

2005 MICROFINANCE TRAINING SPECIALIST – CHINA – Citigroup “Market Research for Product Development”

Provision of training to 5 MFIs and CICETE in market research, product development and product pilot testing. Product development included analysis & evaluation of product profitability and poverty impact.

2004 MICROFINANCE TRAINING SPECIALIST – BANGLADESH – DFID “FSP Joint Donor Project Design”

Responsible for the development of microfinance sector capacity building component of large multi-donor microfinance poverty reduction project. This involved designing; a capacity building programme for local private sector training service providers, a demand-side subsidy (voucher) scheme and extensive programme impact monitoring and quality control.

2003-04 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST -BANGLADESH- BURO Tangail “Extreme Poverty Programme Evaluation”

Market research, assessment of, and recommendations for Buro Tangail’s pilot “extreme poverty” savings & credit programme.

2003/4 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – MOZAMBIQUE – EU “SME Market Research and Product Evaluation and Design”

Evaluation of existing microfinance products, market research and design of new financial products for small and microenterprises for the MFI AMODER.

2003 MICROFINANCE ANALYIST – MOZAMBIQUE – Min. Ag. &RD “Small Scale Irrigation Project Evaluation”

Evaluation financial viability of small holder irrigation project.

2003 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – KENYA – WORLD BANK “Arid Lands Res. Mngt. Project Phase II”

Evaluation of LRMP Phase I microfinance component. Design of Phase II remote rural microfinance & microenterprise programme incl. training needs assessment & microfinance programme design.

1999-03 MICROFINANCE TRAINING & CONSULTING SPECIALIST – ETHIOPIA, EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA – CGAP/DFID “AFCAP – Microfinance Capacity Building Programme in Africa”

Please refer Section 13 for full list of assignments undertaken/ supervised.

Responsible for training, mentoring and coaching of African-based microfinance consultants and trainers while they provided technical assistance to MFIs operating in Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Approximately 30 assignments and studies mentored and coached covering; microfinance policy development, market research and product development for MFIs (including products for remote rural locations), MFI business planning (Microfin-based), financial analysis, MFI institutional appraisals, management information system (MIS), programme evaluations & design, MFI fraud and internal control diagnostics, impact assessment and performance rating of MFIs (both MicroRate & PlanetRate methodologies). The training of trainer programme utilises the high quality CGAP financial management and analysis courses and MicroSave Africa’s market research for new product development courses.

2001-04 MICROFINANCE PROJECT DIRECTOR - CHINA - AusAID “Chongqing Comp Poverty Alleviation Project”

Project Director for the Chongqing Comprehensive Poverty Alleviation Project Microfinance Programme and assisting GoPRC in development of microfinance policy.

1999 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – PACIFIC REGION – OXFAM - “Feasibility Study for Proposed Oxfam Bank”

Designed and supervised the implementation of “Oxfam Bank” feasibility study in the Pacific Region.

1999 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – KENYA – DFID “Review of Six Microfinance Programmes in Kenya”

Responsible for institutional analysis and evaluation of the microfinance delivery systems and financial products of 6 DFID supported MFIs in Kenya (K‑REP, KWFT, FAULU, WEDCO, COOP Bank Retail, COOP Bank Wholesale).

1999 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – CHINA – AusAID “Guangxi Microfinance Feasibility Study”

Feasibility study and design of microfinance component of a proposed $4 million microfinance programme in Guangxi province. The design included the development of M&E procedures for AusAID.

1999 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – MOZAMBIQUE – AusAID “Country Programming Mission”

Evaluation of AusAID country programme for Mozambique and development of AusAID’s next 4 year bilateral assistance. Specifically responsible for identifying opportunities and policy for AusAID to support private sector development and the microfinance sector. This involved the appraisal of NGO and multilateral programmes.

1999 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – AFRICAN REGION – African Development Bank “Development of a Framework for Country Surveys for Microfinance”

Preparation of guidelines for surveying African countries for the potential to support and develop sustainable MFIs.

1998-2000 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST/PROJECT DIRECTOR - INDIA, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, the Philippines - AUSAID “Training in Microfinance for IMY Microfinance Programme”

Management of Training and capacity building for the Indira Mahila Yojana Microfinance programme. Led team of trainer of trainers TOTs and designed the in-country training programme. The training involved a study tour of MFIs in which participants were trained to undertake a critical analysis of a variety of Asian microfinance programmes.

1998 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - ZAMBIA - USAID “Institutional Review and Training Needs Assessment of the Microfinance Institution - Credit Management Services”

Undertook institutional assessment of CMS programme performance and training needs assessment of staff and clients. In addition, responsible for providing on-site training/tutoring to branch and head office staff in programme management, portfolio analysis, management information systems (MIS) and monitoring and evaluation.

1998 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST/TEAM LEADER - MYANMAR - UNOPS “Mid-Term Evaluation of UNDP Microfinance Projects”

Evaluation of 3 UN funded Microfinance programmes in Myanmar. This included a review of their: programme management, portfolio analysis techniques, management information systems (MIS) and monitoring and evaluation systems.

1998 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - BANGLADESH - UNDP “Research Paper: Reaching Extreme Poverty; Financial Services for the Very Poor”

Study of innovations in which microfinance services have been adapted to the needs and conditions of extremely poor households. This study will form a chapter in a book to be produced by the UNDP-SUM titled “Private Finance for Human Development”. The paper was presented by the author at the Second Annual Seminar on New Development Finance in Frankfurt in September 1998 and published in the Small Enterprise Development Journal.

1998 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - PAPUA NEW GUINEA - UNDP “Liklik Dinau Institutional Review and Phase 2 Project Design”

Member of a team of microfinance / microenterprise specialists responsible for reviewing the Liklik Dinau MFI and design of Phase 2 of UNDP support to the PNG microfinance sector. The review focused upon design issues relating to targeting and sustainability, and examined closely past financial performance and projections, institutional capacity and staff training needs of MFI. The project design supported the development of a MFI policy and regulatory environment and support to existing and emerging MFIs and Apex organisations.

1997 MICROFINANCE TRAINER - AUSTRALIA - AusAID (Australian Agency for International Development) “AusAID’s in-service Microfinance Training Programme”

Preparation and presentation of materials for 2 training courses; “The Fundamental Principles of Microfinance” and “Analysis and Evaluation of Microfinance Programmes”. The first course provided a foundation for understanding the core elements that contribute to microfinance programme success. The second course was designed to aid AusAID staff in the analysis of microfinance project proposals with regard to institutional and financial sustainability.

1997-8 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – Australia, United Kingdom, Italy and USA – OXFAM INTERNATIONAL “Feasibility Study for an Oxfam Development Finance Institution”

Investigation of the feasibility of the establishment of a global facility capable of providing commercial finance and technical support to MFIs. This study reviewed the institutional capacity of the Oxfam group and their local partner organisations. It explored potential avenues of grant and commercial financing, developed an outline of the likely institutional and capital structure of the proposed entity and gave an indication of the financial and technical products which may be provided. Discussions were held with AusAID, ADB, World Bank, DFID and IFAD.

1997 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – PNG– AusAID “PNG Microfinance Sector Review”

Review of microfinance policy and institutions in PNG with particular reference to the social & financial performance of the Liklik Dinau/Abitore Trust microfinance programme in the Eastern Highlands of PNG. Assessment was made of the opportunities and constraints facing microfinance development in PNG. Detailed analysis was made of LLDAT’s financial performance, its achievements against objectives and the programme’s long-term sustainability.

1997 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST – AFGHANISTAN - ODA - “Afghanistan Rural Development Project”

Design of a savings and credit programme to assist Afghan villagers re-establish small and micro-enterprises based upon the use of a temporary note of exchange tied to the local price of wheat. Undertook a detailed TNA of project staff. The programme has been developed in a high inflation environment where commodity bartering has replaced currency as the medium for commodity exchange. The credit programme conforms to strict laws of Islamic banking.

1997 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST and TRAINER – LAO PDR. World Bank/Finnida “Forest Management and Conservation Project”

Development of microfinance schemes for use by villagers participating in the Forest Management and Conservation Project. These schemes are assisting the development of off-farm enterprise and are reducing village dependence upon the harvesting of timber and non-timber forest products. Undertook a training needs assessment of the APB and the Lao Women’s Union; prepared and delivered training in microfinance for these staff. This microfinance programme is noteworthy for its decentralised approach, which involves the encouragement of autonomous village level financial institutions, which operate as commercially sustainable enterprises run by village women.

1996-97 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - CHINA AusAID “Inner Mongolia Grasslands Project”

Responsible for the design and establishment of a microfinance facility to allow economic diversification through microenterprise development, including detailed monitoring and evaluation procedures. The project was designed to reduce the dependence upon pastoralism and thus reduce grazing pressure on the fragile grasslands in the project area.

1995 - 97 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST and TRAINER - CHINA AusAID “Qinghai Community Development Project”

Review of microfinance policy of the Agricultural Bank of China, RCCs and RCF. Responsible, subsequently, for the design, implementation and ongoing monitoring of the QCDP microfinance programme. This included the conduct of a training needs assessment for project staff and clients and provision of training of trainers courses. Training for staff focussed upon programme marketing and information dissemination, planning and budgeting, appraisal of loan proposals, portfolio analysis, development of responsive management strategies and programme M&E. This MFI provides a range of innovations that allow much greater flexibility and usefulness of the service to its primarily women clients. The programme is designed to promote asset accumulation and entrepreneurship particularly among the poorest section of the community. A number of the innovations relate directly to the enhancement the financial sustainability of the programme such as contracting of village level financial intermediation responsibility to local women.

1996 MICROFINANCE TRAINING SPECIALIST - VIETNAM, PHILIPPINES AND BANGLADESH - AusAID - “Microfinance Training Programme”

Led a group of 6 officials from the Agricultural Bank of China through 10 microfinance projects in Asia to analyse and evaluate microfinance delivery mechanisms under differing social, political and economic environments. The importance of this role was to facilitate analysis by group members of how different schemes attempted to achieve their objectives of targeting and sustainability through manipulation of the credit and savings delivery mechanism (ie. loan terms and conditions such as loan size, eligibility criteria, maturities, interest rates, repayment schedules etc.).

1993 - 96 TEAM LEADER/MICROFINANCE TRAINING and MONITORING & EVALUATION SPECIALIST - BANGLADESH - ADB “Research and Development Project”

Responsible for leading a team of 6 consultants supporting a large ADB funded microfinance programme executed by the Ministry of Youth and Sport using a Grameen Bank model of credit delivery. The TA undertook extensive research in Bangladesh and developed innovative approaches to problems limiting the effectiveness of this model. Responsible for developing the programme’s MIS, capacity to gather and analyse data and to act upon these findings. Established an internal M&E system and undertook a detailed independent evaluation of the social and economic impact of the project (PBME).

1995 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - PAPUA NEW GUINEA - WORLD BANK “Agriculture Sector Review”.

Member of multi-disciplined team reviewing agriculture sector; research and extension institutions, industry corporations, microfinance institutions and NGOs. Particular focus was placed upon identifying means by which small-holders could better access support from these institutions. Specific responsibilities were to; evaluate the experience of microfinance in PNG, analyse constraints and identify opportunities for development of this sector in order to accelerate the impact of this tool for smallholder development.

1993 - 95 TEAM LEADER / INSTITUTIONAL AND RURAL CREDIT SPECIALIST - PAKISTAN ADB “Livestock Sector Development Project”.

Responsible for leading a team of 3 consultants on the Sindh component of the Livestock Sector Development Project. Responsible for the development of an agricultural extension system within the Department of Livestock. This involved assisting in policy development, training needs assessment, human resource development, identification of appropriate technologies and supervision of the preparation of extension material. The project established producer organisations (as a means of channelling extension inputs and for marketing of livestock production outputs, primarily milk) and credit and savings cooperatives designed to mobilise local capital resources for micro-entrepreneurs.

1994 AGRICULTURIST / MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - TIBET, CHINA AusAID, “Tibet Poverty Project Feasibility Study”.

Responsible for the design of microfinance, agricultural and environmental components of an AusAID funded poverty alleviation project. Key tasks were to consult local villagers and relevant officials in order to assess the viability of a community managed land rehabilitation programme. This programme involved re-vegetation of degraded lands and development of alternative income generating activities to allow reduced grazing of vulnerable ecological zones.

1989-93 MICROFINANCE SPECIALIST - AUSTRALIA - International Development Support Services.

In-house consultant providing technical and administrative support to IDSS managed development projects in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines and Sri Lanka.

1992 TEAM LEADER / NGO SPECIALIST - BANGLADESH - ADB “Role and Impact of NGOs”

Responsible for leading a team of consultants contracted by the ADB to conduct a comparative assessment of the social and economic impact of a number of Government and NGO projects (particularly microfinance) in Bangladesh. Particular attention was given to the distinguishing features between the Grameen Bank's "minimalist" credit and savings model and other more "comprehensive" NGO models. Review of the performance of NGOs and their capacity to engage in ADB financed projects. Developed specific recommendations on potential modalities for collaboration.

1992 AGRICULTURIST - INDONESIA - IDSS “Project Preparation for Upland Tree Crops Project”

Preparation and design of ADB funded uplands tea development project proposal, Java & Kalamantan.

1991 AGRICULTURIST / SOCIAL ANALYST - CHINA - AusAID “China Australian Mine waste Management Research Project”

Appraisal of economic and technical feasibility (agricultural) of a China Australia Mine Waste Management Research programme and its impacts upon local communities, in Anhui and Shaanxi provinces. This project aims to develop environmentally safe methods of mine waste disposal and rehabilitate existing tailings dams to safe agriculture use. Responsible for social and environmental impact assessment, gender analysis, financial budget preparation and benefit analysis.

1991 AGRICULTURALIST / ECONOMIST - ASIAN REGION - WORLD BANK “Study of Agricultural Development Projects for Small Land holders”

Preparation for the Economic Development Institute / World Bank a series of case studies of Government livestock and farming projects in various parts of Asia in which there was significant NGO and community involvement. The studies focused upon the effectiveness of microfinance delivery and agricultural extension strategies of both GOs and NGOs and the scope of their integration in collaborative ventures. The case studies covered India and Thailand in particular, and were discussed with various large NGOs, the Grameen Bank and the Ministry of Livestock in Bangladesh. Discussions focused primarily on the issue of sustainability of government projects and the potential of promoting a community-based orientation to such projects, with NGOs serving in the role of community mobilisers.

1989-90 AGRICULTURALIST / ECONOMIST - THAILAND - GRM Int. / ESARN DAIRIES CO. “Farming and Dairy Development Project”

Member of a team of 4 international consultants to manage and develop an intensive farming and large scale dairy development project in Nong Khai Province, North East Thailand; Responsible for training project staff in fodder / farming production, dairy nutrition, animal husbandry and reproduction. Also responsible for; initial feasibility study and budget, preparation of 10 year development plan and cash flow projection, risk analysis and reduction strategies, development of linear programmed least cost feeding strategies and strategies for profit optimisation.

1989 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST / COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST - CHINA - OXFAM / CAA “Livestock and Community Development Project”

Feasibility study of the Yunnan Livestock Development Project, Xundian County, Yunnan Province. Responsible for socio-economic feasibility study, budget development and project design including medium term cash flow projections.

1988 RANGELAND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST / AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST – KENYA/ SUDAN - OXFAM UK&I “Rangeland Cattle and Agriculture Development Project”

Responsible for feasibility study, design and initial implementation of a Rangeland Cattle and Agriculture Development Project, South Sudan, Africa for very poor farmers and pastoralists affected by the civil war.

1987 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT / LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST - INDIA - OXFAM “Various Rural Development Projects”

Team Leader of multi-discipline team providing design and management advice to a series of Dairy, Sheep and Goat Management Projects, South and Western India.

1985 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST - INDIA - OXFAM “Small Farmer Development”

Planning and preliminary studies for Small Farmer Development Project at Anand Niketan, Gujarat, financed by CAA / OXFAM. Responsible for both social as well as technical assessments leading up to project design.

1985 LIVESTOCK SPECIALIST - MALAYSIA - Government of Malaysia

Contracted by GRM Int. to supervise livestock exports.

1982 DAIRY SPECIALIST - INDIA - OXFAM / CAA “Dairy and Pasture Development Project”

Planning and design of dairy and pasture development, Vbrindaban, Uttar Pradesh.

13. OTHER- Assignments undertaken/supervised as AFCAP Director of Coaching & Mentoring