I really appreciate to join Rikolto's International Board and I see myself bringing over 30 years of experience in working with smallholder farmers especially women and youth in East Africa. In my current position I have also engaged with micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in food staples input markets, processing, packaging and trading. This partnership with private sector led to innovations that increased access to markets by smallholder farmers and stimulated growth of SMEs agribusinesses including produce off-takers and processors as they are the backbone of the food systems. In so doing we are building resilient and sustainable food systems in the region.
I am excited that Rikolto is supporting the approach. My previous experience when I worked with the Ministry of Agriculturein Tanzania in advisory services as a communication and knowledge managementspecialist brought me closer to farmer-based organisations. I supported them to mobilise and utilise their social capital that built and strengthened collective actions in various value chain development initiatives.
As an Agriculture and Rural Development practitioner, I knew about Rikolto (then VECO) since early 1990s when I was working in IFAD funded Southern Highlands Extension and Rural Finance projectin Tanzania. The collaboration with Rikolto helped smallholder farmers to build strong organisations that have a voice in bringing lasting change in their livelihoods. In my work in East Africa, I was brought closer to Rikolto when implementing joint projects in Tanzania and Uganda.
I will position myself in the Board to share knowledge and continue to support the work that Rikolto is doing with smallholder farmers and focus on transformation of smallholder farmers towards commercialisation. We will work closely with SMEs in building strong agribusinesses that promote regional trade and thus develop sustainable food systems in the region to attain food and nutrition security and for wealth creation.
