My Journey
Professional Experience
Over 30 years of executive leadership in humanitarian response, food security and rural development — from ICRC field delegations across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia to my earliest roles in Rwanda.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) — 2005 to 2026
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Sept 2023 – April 2026Yaoundé, Cameroon
Highlights
- Directed integrated Economic Security, Food Security and Livelihoods programmes reaching more than 650,000 conflict-affected people, combining emergency response with long-term resilience, agricultural recovery and economic development across northern Cameroon.
- Provided strategic leadership for the delegation's Economic Security and Food Security portfolio, leading design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of evidence-based programmes.
- Secured, negotiated and operationalized a three-year AFD-funded livelihoods programme, creating a sustainable transition from humanitarian assistance to resilient livelihoods.
- Led the integration of climate risk into humanitarian programming as Delegation Climate Lead, introducing Climate-Smart Agriculture approaches and climate adaptation pilot projects.
- Strengthened partnerships with MINADER, MINEPIA, FAO, WFP and research institutions, including leading implementation of the ICRC–WFP Transfer Agreement.
- Managed a multidisciplinary team of four technical experts and more than fifteen field officers, with full accountability for programme quality, financial management and compliance.
Focus Areas
Economic SecurityFood SecurityCVAMEALClimate-Smart AgricultureDonor Negotiation
Regional Agronomist and Climate Lead
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
August 2021 – Sept 2023West Africa, Sahel Region & North Africa
Highlights
- Provided strategic, technical and operational leadership for food security, agriculture and livelihoods programming across six ICRC delegations (Sahel, North Africa, Cameroon, CAR), with field missions in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Cameroon.
- Authored the Regional Climate Risk Analysis for Agriculture across the Sahel and West Africa, developing technical guidance on climate-smart agriculture, drought-resilient crop varieties and water harvesting.
- Authored the Niger Agricultural Strategy (2022–2024), Burkina Faso Agricultural Strategic Plan (2022–2025), and Nigeria Agricultural Strategy for Conflict-Affected Areas (2022–2024).
- Led high-level technical assessments, evaluations and conflict analyses across Chad, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, informing programme redesign and government investment decisions.
- Represented the ICRC with ECOWAS, PRAPS, CILSS, FAO, WOAH and the EU on pastoral resilience, transboundary animal disease control and pastoral mobility governance.
- Co-led the Regional Agro-Livestock Workshop for more than 46 technical specialists and led recruitment, mentoring and technical coaching of agro specialists across multiple delegations.
Focus Areas
Regional StrategyClimate Risk AnalysisPolicy DialogueCapacity BuildingPastoral Resilience
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Dec 2018 – July 2021Niamey, Niger
Highlights
- Directed a multidisciplinary team of 4 technical experts and 16–17 field officers, delivering integrated food security, livelihoods and livestock programmes assisting more than 105,000 conflict-affected people (approx. 15,000 households).
- Supported the vaccination of over 3.5 million livestock against major transboundary diseases across Diffa and Tillaberi under highly constrained security conditions.
- Led programme innovation and digital transformation — expanding e-voucher assistance, introducing biometric beneficiary identification, and launching the EcoResilience Initiative in Tillaberi.
- Led negotiations for the ICRC–Grameen Foundation Microfinance Memorandum of Understanding and oversaw implementation of the ICRC–WFP Transfer Agreement.
- Developed the 2022 Economic Security Strategy and Planning for Results (PfR), including the delegation's first strategic analysis of transhumance.
Focus Areas
Digital Transformatione-Voucher & BiometricsFinancial InclusionLivestock VaccinationStrategy
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
May 2017 – Nov 2018Bangui, Central African Republic
Highlights
- Directed the Delegation's Economic Security and Food Security portfolio, shaping strategic orientation on food security, livelihoods and economic recovery.
- Led a multidisciplinary team of 5 technical experts and more than 15 field officers, with full accountability for programme quality, budget oversight and compliance.
- Directed integrated emergency food security, agricultural recovery and livelihoods programmes reaching more than 250,000 conflict-affected people across Kaga-Bandoro, Ndélé, Bouar and Bambari.
- Maintained programme continuity in highly insecure environments through conflict-sensitive planning and humanitarian access negotiations.
- Built strategic partnerships with the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, FAO and WFP, including oversight of the ICRC–WFP Transfer Agreement.
Focus Areas
Emergency ResponseAccess NegotiationTeam LeadershipAgricultural Recovery
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
May 2014 – May 2017Bamako, Mali
Highlights
- Directed the ICRC's largest Economic Security and Food Security programme in West Africa — a USD 24 million humanitarian and resilience portfolio benefiting more than 850,000 conflict-affected people across northern and central Mali.
- Developed and led the Delegation's Economic Security and Food Security Strategy, ensuring coherent, evidence-based implementation across emergency response, livelihood recovery and resilience programming.
- Led one of the organization's largest multidisciplinary Economic Security teams — 6 technical experts and more than 21 field officers — with full accountability for programme quality, finance and risk management.
- Directed large-scale agricultural recovery, including rehabilitation of strategic irrigation infrastructure, strengthening of community cereal banks, and market-based livelihood initiatives.
- Strengthened partnerships with the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, FAO, WFP and national NGOs, including oversight of the ICRC–WFP Transfer Agreement.
Focus Areas
USD 24M PortfolioIrrigation RehabilitationCereal BanksTeam of 27CVA
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Sept 2013 – May 2014Niamey, Niger
Highlights
- Provided strategic leadership for a USD 4 million humanitarian programme, defining the strategic framework and operational priorities benefiting more than 350,000 conflict-affected people.
- Established the strategic foundation for long-term Economic Security programming, promoting transition from emergency assistance to sustainable livelihood recovery.
- Strengthened partnerships with the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, FAO and WFP, including oversight of the ICRC–WFP Transfer Agreement.
- Led a multidisciplinary team of two technical experts and seven national staff, with full accountability for programme quality and financial management.
Focus Areas
Strategic PlanningLivelihoods TransitionBudget Oversight
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
February 2012 – August 2013Sana'a, Yemen
Highlights
- Defined the Economic Security/Food Security strategic framework and specific objectives for Yemen.
- Directed relief, agricultural, livestock and productive interventions — including microeconomic initiatives and a cash transfer programme — benefiting 260,000 people.
- Provided technical leadership across food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and livestock production, and cash transfer programming.
- Built external partnerships with FAO and WFP for emergency response, including oversight of the ICRC-WFP transfer agreement.
- Led a team of 4 technical experts and more than 16 field officers, with full accountability for programme budget and financial follow-up.
Focus Areas
Cash Transfer ProgrammingMicroeconomic Initiatives260,000 People Reached
Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
September 2010 – November 2011Kabul, Afghanistan
Highlights
- Developed Economic Security/Food Security strategic direction in collaboration with Management, other departments and field offices nationwide.
- Directed the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Economic Security/Food Security programmes nationwide.
- Provided technical leadership across food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and livestock production, and cash transfer programming.
- Led a team of 4 technical experts and more than 16 field officers, with full accountability for the Economic Security budget.
Focus Areas
National StrategyCash Transfer ProgrammingBudget Management
Senior Agronomist / Economic Security Coordinator
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
January 2009 – June 2010Harare, Zimbabwe
Highlights
- Directed the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Economic Security/Food Security programmes, managing the associated programme budget.
- Built external partnerships with FAO and WFP for emergency response, including oversight of the ICRC-WFP transfer agreement.
- Led food supply chain assessments in places of detention with Protection and other departments; conducted initial assessments of prison farms and shaped the delegation's detention-agriculture strategy.
- Delivered assistance to 80,000 people while managing a team of 1 expert and more than 2 field officers.
Focus Areas
Detention-Agriculture StrategyFAO/WFP Partnership80,000 People Reached
Food Security and Livelihoods Delegate
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
July 2007 – Nov 2008Erbil, Iraq (Kurdistan Region)
Highlights
- Directed relief assistance, livelihoods/production interventions and cash programming in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, benefiting 60,000 conflict- and displacement-affected people.
- Led needs assessments for over 2,500 vulnerable people in social centers and multiple livelihoods assessments, translating findings into 2 project proposals with logframes and budgets.
- Established a standardized M&E system for livelihoods projects and evaluated a pilot agriculture support project, producing lessons-learned recommendations.
- Recruited, coached and managed a team of 4 newly-hired field officers; overall performance rated "Very Good."
Focus Areas
Livelihoods DesignM&E SystemsNeeds AssessmentTeam Coaching
Senior Agronomist
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
April 2006 – May 2007Khartoum / Darfur, Sudan
Highlights
- Directed agricultural interventions across Darfur, benefiting over 120,000 conflict-affected people, managing a team of 1 international expert and 4 local staff.
- Coordinated procurement and quality inspection of 351 MT of seeds, 161,600 hand tools and 6,000 ploughs against national seed-administration standards.
- Designed agro-ecological zoning and distribution plans delivering seeds and tools to over 27,000 beneficiary households across Darfur's three states.
- Established a standardized crop and harvest monitoring system producing post-distribution monitoring (PDM) and harvest reports in a volatile, access-constrained environment.
Focus Areas
Agricultural InputsPost-Distribution MonitoringAgro-Ecological Zoning
Economic Security and Livelihoods Specialist
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Jan 2005 – March 2006Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka
Highlights
- Directed post-tsunami relief, livelihoods, food/livestock production and cash assistance programmes in the Vanni region, benefiting 5,000 people.
- Led the ICRC's post-tsunami relief response, coordinating with UN agencies and INGOs to avoid duplication of assistance.
- Designed and implemented community-based livelihood and production projects in Mallavi using a participatory approach.
- Managed programme budgets with rigorous financial tracking, recognized by the administration department for clarity and compliance.
Focus Areas
Post-Tsunami ResponseParticipatory ProgrammingFinancial Tracking
Earlier Career — 1990 to 1999
Agriculture Coordinator
World Vision International
1998 – 1999Rwanda
Highlights
- Coordinated emergency and agricultural rehabilitation programmes and market-based recovery for 50,000+ displaced people.
- Supervised 10 local agronomists.
Focus Areas
Emergency AgricultureTeam Supervision
Programme Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation
National Syndicate of Farmers
1996 – 1998Rwanda
Highlights
- Drafted programme proposals for the EU, UNDP and World Bank.
- Organized training for farmer associations; managed 10 local agronomists.
Focus Areas
Proposal WritingM&EFarmer Organizations
Lecturer & Head of Research
Catholic University of Graben (DRC)
1995 – 1996Democratic Republic of Congo
Highlights
- Taught and supervised research in cropping systems, plant breeding and tissue culture.
- Managed a team of 5 research staff.
Focus Areas
University TeachingResearch Supervision
Technical Director, North-West Region Programmes
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
1991 – 1994Rwanda
Highlights
- Led an agricultural recovery and rural economic development programme for 15,000+ households.
- Managed a multi-million-dollar programme budget, 15 agronomists and 40 field monitors.
Focus Areas
Rural DevelopmentMulti-Million Dollar BudgetsProgramme Leadership
Agronomist-Extension Manager / Chief of Plantations
Ministry of Agriculture, Rice Scheme
1990 – 1991Rwamagana, Rwanda
Highlights
- Provided technical leadership for the design and construction of six major dams underpinning one of Rwanda's flagship rice-irrigation schemes.
Focus Areas
Irrigation EngineeringDam ConstructionExtension Management