David has over 20 years’ experience working in the food and agribusiness sector, focusing on value chain analysis, development and financing, policy analysis, market analysis, international trade and trade data analysis, and business management. He is an expert in using business models for profitable market linkages among actors to create jobs for youth and women, and wider business development in the food industry.
Throughout his career, he has managed numerous projects related to cereals, legumes, vegetables, horticulture, and dairy value chains, plantation and export management, and quality control and assurance. David has previously worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the FAO Regional Office in Ghana.
Background
Prior to working with Farrelly & Mitchell, David has held multiple senior management positions within international blue chip organisations such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Agriculture & Finance Consultants, ACDI/VOCA/USAID, The Food and Agriculture Organization and AMEX International, where he led a range of design and implementation of programs and projects in relation to agribusiness and value chain development and the writing of grant applications and proposals, forming a partnership with donors, governments and private sector, and wider food industry.
He also worked with farmer-based organisations, strengthening, and working to transform them into corporates, by linking farmers to markets and value chain actors for a wide number of crops and producer groups. He has provided capacity building, programme/project management, agricultural development, grant and proposal writing and business plan development to these farmer groups along with technical assistance in agricultural value chain developments, strategic reviews, industry restructuring and start-up projects in West and East Africa.
Areas of expertise
- Hands-on design and implementation of programs and projects in relation to agribusiness and value chain development, writing of grant application and proposals, forming partnership with donors, governments and private sector, and wider food industry
- Hands-on general management and consultancy experience in a variety of challenging business environments and roles
- Practical experience and knowledge in value chain of many crops and working with farmer-based organizations, producer groups and value chain actors
- Developing and implementing strategies and policies for SMEs, and corporate clients as well as start-ups in international markets
- Project managing organisational change and operational improvement programmes
- Strategic leadership and consultancy services to several off takers, large-scale export companies, dairy, and agribusinesses in West and East Africa
