Profile

Profile: John Stevens

Home	Company Director + Consultant	Equipment Design, Development, Manufacture + Sales & Service	Relief, Rehabilitation and Development + NGOs and Philanthropic	Farming + Farm Support
			Email: stevensj@flexiseeder.com Phone: ++64 27 24 25 707

1. Education:

Institution	Degree(s) or Diploma(s) obtained:
University of Nebraska, USA 1982 - 1985	PhD in Agronomy
Lincoln University, New Zealand 1972-1976	Master (Hons), Range Management (1978)
Lincoln University, New Zealand 1968-1972	Bachelor, Agricultural Science

2. Language skills: scale of 1 to 5 (1 - excellent; 5 - basic)

Language	Reading	Speaking	Writing
English	Mother Tongue
Spanish	3	5	3

3. Membership of professional bodies: New Zealand Society of Agronomy; New Zealand Grasslands Association; Team Leader for Global Seed and Seed Drilling Technology Help Group

(www.flexiseeder.com)

4. Other skills: Excellent word processing skills. Types own reports, training and extension manuals and bulletins, scientific publications; edits scientific and other reports, publications and proceedings.

Logistical support for seed and food aid / agricultural inputs. NGO and Philanthropic Support. Reduced tillage equipment / plot seeders. Practical farming. Light engineering.

5. Present position: 30 years of professional experience.

6. Years within the firm: N/A - Self Employed since 1988 – Major shareholder and Director of Flexiseeder Ltd (www.www.flexiseeder.com ).

7. Key qualifications:

· As a Senior Consultant Dr Stevens has a proven track record including a the applied background needed for introducing, applying and coordinationg a value chain approach to agricultural development. Experience includes agriculture, agro-ecology, agro-forestry and production agronomy, livelihoods / alternative livelihoods, income diversification, micro-finance / small enterprise development, socio-economic analysis, food security, seed / seed industry, livestock / forage and fodder interface, conservation tillage covering applied research and practical application - with core competence in sustainable small-holder development targeting environmentally compatable – participatory community development for small- and medium agriculture and agro-forestry enterprise and cooperative development and restructuring.

· He brings 24 years of international experience to assignments and is able to make implementable recommendations in policy development and institutional reforms related to alternative livelihood / participatory development projects in different countries.

· Special skills and experience with lowland and upland river basin and mountain ecologies / minority groups in Asia – targeting through participatory approaches, alternative livelihood development to help enable local communities to develop their own approaches and activities aiming at widening options for income generation and increasing food security, reducing vulnerability, enhancing the benefits for natural forests and ecological services and improving human health.

· This experience involves all aspects of the development cycle and includes project, programme and strategy identification, formulation, donor meetings, reporting and pledging appeals, appraisal, start-up and implementation, the development of participatory monitoring and evaluation systems and implementation of baseline surveys, feasibility studies, crop and food assessments, sector reviews and capacity building.

· Dr Stevens has demonstrated his ability to work successfully with local institutions to help identify, re-orientate, start-up and improve new and existing agricultural and agro-forestry-livestock projects.

· He has significant, international experience of working as a team member in China, Nepal, Azad Kashmir and the Swat Valley (Pakistan) helping to develop, test, build local capacity and extend viable natural forest management models to;

o Enable villagers in project townships and villages to improve their livelihood and to develop land use / best practices compatible with sustainable / environmentally stable development

o Draw lessons from local level experience, upgrade skills and support the spread of successful community level strategies and innovations in similar areas at provincial, national and regional levels.

o Secure appropriate project planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and

co-ordination of training and dissemination efforts.

· Delivered training courses / helping conduct participatory working groups and workshops including food and seed security, income diversification, marketing, business planning and product development. He has a pragmatic approach to organising workshops and leading field missions using field experience and proven negotiation, communication, liaison and co-ordination skills.

Dr Stevens has had extensive experience working with the ministries and the governments in developing seed production and marketing policies and preparing documents which have served as a basis to reforming government policies and institutions involved in the seed business.
He is able to work positively and produce efficiently in difficult socio-economic environments, to successfully initiate new projects/ programmes and/or salvage-revitalize those, which have been slow to start and/or are failing. He has successfully completed contracts with private firms as well as ADB, WB, UN (UNDP, UNOPS, UNHCR, FAO, WFP), USAID, CGIAR, New Zealand Government and NGO / PVO projects in Asia, Africa, the Balkans, Central and South America.
Natural leader with strategic vision and a broad intuitive sense of ethnic and cultural differences.

8. Medium to Long-term Employed Professional Experience (short-term / on-going experience includes Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Russia – range of European and other countries visited for
travel / workshops / seminars / professional exchange):

Country	Date from – Date to
Cambodia	1992, 2006
Afghanistan	1988 – 1994, 2008
Kyrgyzstan	1996, 2000
Pakistan	1990, 1988, 1985-1987, 1980-1981
Indonesia	1998, 2005
China	1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Myanmar	1998
Bosnia	1997
Ethiopia	1994
Nepal	1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996
Croatia	1994, 1995, 1996
Somalia	1993
Mexico	1985, 1986, 1987
USA	1982-85
Peru	1976-79
Antarctica	1974-75
New Zealand	1972-74 / 1992-Present

Date from - Date to	Location	Company	Position	Description
On-going	New Zealand / Sweden / Norway / Switzerland	Flexiseeder Ltd www.flexiseeder.com	Director	Specialist Agricultural Seeder / plot-seeder development, production and promotion / sales. Also applied farming in New Zealand.
Oct – Nov 2008 30 days	Afghanistan	Scan-Agri / Niras Sweden	Seed Specialist	Independent Technical Review of Project “Afghanistan Variety and Seed Industry Development Project” - Technical Assistance. Lot No. 1 – Request No. 157539/2 to: assess the validity of approaches and to justify any changes if necessary – present and future. Nature of work: Full review of seed project covering phase 1 and phase 2. Assessment whether the objectives are being achieved. Reviewed and assessed: project results and outputs in line with the project document and how best they could be achieved; efficiency and adequacy of project implementation including availability of funds as compared with the budget; adequacy of monitoring and evaluation system; work plans and budgets in relation to project document; pace of implementation and progress of project; technical and administrative capacity to deliver expected outputs in qualitative and quantitative terms. Evaluated if Project well coordinated with relevant line-ministries and other stakeholders and where needed, provided recommendations to assist Government in readjusting its focus and thrust to enhance effectiveness of the project.
April & May 2007 – 1.5 weeks	Christchurch, New Zealand	ANZDEC Ltd, New Zealand	Consultant – Agronomist / Horticultural Interface	Identification and preparation of “Approach and Methodology” section for competitive bid for preparation of “Proposal for Selection of FP to support Horticulture Production Component (MOA/507/QBS) / Afghanistan: Horticulture and Livestock Project (HLP) Grant No H226-AF Project ID 098256”.
July 2006 – 11 days	Phnom Penh, Cambodia	ANZDEC Ltd, New Zealand – AusAID Project	Team Leader	Cambodian Agricultural Research & Development Institute Assistance Project (CARDI-AP)-Reviewed project Activity Completion Report (ACR) plus other project documents; visited CARDI / CARDI-AP; consulted with project staff, Government and AusAID Officials, plus others including parallel AusAID projects to: Independently assesses the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, lesson learned, and sustainability of the work undertaken by CARDI-AP.
April 2006 – 1 week	Christchurch, New Zealand	ANZDEC Ltd, New Zealand	Consultant – Agronomist	Identification and preparation of “Approach and Methodology” section for competitive bid for preparation of PPTA project; title “Commercial Agricultural Development – Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” ADB Project Number 39370.
Nov to Dec 2005 – 6 weeks	Banda Aceh, Indonesia	FAO	Agronomist Included forest / forest margins	Govt Indonesia / UN / NGO Transitional Agricultural Relief Strategy and Plan (including industrial crops) – Agricultural Sector Planning Support: Identified and developed medium and long-term Agricultural Sector strategy and work plan for Govt. of Indonesia (2006 onward) plus FAO Support Programme (USD 31.95m) to take emergency relief phase into sustained development post earthquake, tsunami and conflict era..
08-09/2001 (1 month)	China – Beijing / Hebei, Shanxi & Heilongjiang	UNDP – CICETE Project Formulation for Assistance in Restructuring China’s Seed Industry into the Market Economy (Seed Industry Restructuring)	Seed Specialist	Together with Head of Chinese Cereal Crop Improvement Programme & National CTA from CAAS (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science), drafted project and programme documents focusing on helping China enter the global economy through WTO. This incorporated experience from earlier seed related missions to nine provinces covering rice, rapeseed (canola) sugar cane, ground nuts, other food grain cereals (wheat, oats, barley, triticale and maize), plus additional field missions to projects and seed companies in three additional provinces covering mainly maize, wheat and, forage and fodder seeds in order to create communities of quality seed producers and to promote an effective marketing system.
04-07/2001 (6 weeks)	China – Ningxia	UNDP – CICETE	Agriculturalist / Monitoring and Evaluation	Visited project field sites throughout the project area and provided technical assistance including in-service training in crop production / agronomy and improved seed. Reviewed progress in project activities and helped prepare work plans for 2001 and 2002 (project launched in April 2000). Helped edit and finalise in English, a strategic report on high value crops, products and marketing strategies for Ningxia.
04/1996-10/2000 (2,5 months)	Kyrgyzstan	FAO/World Bank, Kyrgyz Republic Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP), Seed Industry Component – World Bank Project Preparation Mission (Seeds) and World Bank Supervision Mission	Seed Specialist / Technical Assistance	In collaboration with a national seed specialist, local plant breeders, seed producers, and Government line agencies, the Consultant then helped formulate and draft the seed component of this multi-faceted project. Assistance to be provided by the seed component aimed to help local entities to identify and develop new business skills, opportunities and structures for plant breeders, primary seed producers, and farmer cooperatives producing commercial seed as separate commercial entities. Key considerations included quality control and assurance; improved management and practices for the maintenance and production of quality declared seed by small and medium-scale operators. Effectively supported the development of a viable seed industry under prevailing conditions. Detailed comments and suggestions were also provided to assist with editing and finalizing key seed documents for official distribution to the Government of Kyrgyzstan.
04/1998-06/1999 (2,5 months)	China	FAO / UNDP	Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist Included forest / forest margins	Hubei, Qinghai, Shandong, Guangdong, Qinghai, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Anhui Provinces - Reviewed and evaluated the performance of revolving seed supply components of the projects. Recommended improvements for respective implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation schemes. Prepared an analysis of the actual profitability to farmers of promoted seed varieties and agricultural technologies (including gross and net profits), taking into consideration alternative systems within project areas.. Made recommendations regarding additional funding and follow-up projects / activities.
07-09/1998 (3 months)	Myanmar	FAO – UNHCR Emergency Agricultural Support and Rehabilitation Assistance for Northern Rakhine State	Agriculturalist Included forest / forest margins	Reviewed and assessed past and on-going agricultural project interventions of UNHCR, UNOPS, WFP and their NGO / PVO implementing partners in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of the project, while visiting back-up support facilities; seed suppliers; needs assessment of targeted beneficiaries; best practices for project implementation; supervision; evaluation, monitoring and reporting. Drafted follow-up projects as necessary covering the periods 1998/99 and 2000/04. . Reported findings, conclusions and recommendations. Included forest / forest margins
01-10/1997 (8,5 months)	Bosnia and Herzegovina	FAO / UNDP	International Seed Specialist	Assisted the Government with the identification and screening of suitable locations for the introduction and implementation of elite seed production programmes. Prepared overall plan (by season and year) for procuring and distributing seed. Identified input needs including recommended crops, cultivars, chemicals and fertilizers; potential main producers and primary suppliers of required early generation seed for its introduction and further multiplication. Prepared necessary guidelines for quality seed production. Assessed readiness and capacity of post-war government and private and public sector to adopt quality seed production techniques and practices.
09/1994 – 02/1996 (4,5 months)	Ethiopia	FAO Emergency Seed Relief Programme for Drought Affected Areas	Seed Specialist	Worked closely with other UN agencies, especially UNDP and WFP, WB, NGOs and PVOs, Donors, Government Ministries and the local seed industry to develop an agricultural support strategy for drought affected areas. Presented the strategy to various UN Agency and donor briefing and pledging meetings, elaborated selected project profiles into full project documents. Developed seed procurement, distribution and management guidelines and provided in-service technical training to help improve food and seed security as part of the overall plan for improving the country’s preparedness for disaster prevention and mitigation.
02/1995-07/1996 (5 months)	Nepal	FAO – Hill Leasehold Forage and Fodder Development Project	Agriculturalist / Agro-forestry / Fodder and Pasture Specialist Included forest / forest margins	Made a significant contribution to developing and promoting new integrated agro-forestry approaches in the lowland and mid-hill areas to promote a village-based network of participatory seed & nursery systems, farmer groups, co-operatives and women’s groups for development and improving seed and food security. This included legume inoculation, seed coating and pelleting, hand seeding. Contributed to integrated seed production, marketing and distribution systems. Participated in community involvement using participatory rural appraisal methodologies (PRA) and Women’s Groups as a key technique.
10/1994-11/1996 (5 months)	Croatia / Bosnia	FAO	Seed Specialist Included forest / forest margins	The Consultant coordinated and liased closely with other UN agencies, particularly UNHCR, UNDP and WFP; NGOs / PVOs in negotiating technical services/joint venture agreements with local suppliers of seed and other agricultural inputs. Overall, he developed and coordinated suppliers and delivery mechanisms as required to mobilize and deliver more than 7,000 tons of seed with matching agricultural inputs that were procured and delivered within very narrow seasonal windows of opportunity. Included forest margins.
01/1995 (4 weeks)	New Zealand	Author Contract FAO – Study on seed security schemes	Seed Specialist Included forest / forest margins	Identified and defined a global seed security strategy based on agro-ecological overlap between donor and recipient countries (including forest margins), for establishing and sustaining seed security schemes that enhanced international, regional and country-level coordination and preparedness for disaster mitigation. Proposed the most appropriate methods for mobilizing necessary funds a working basis for developing this strategy into a global network for seed (and food) security.
09/1988 – 11/1994 (2,6 years)	Afghanistan / Pakistan	FAO Emergency Agricultural Support and Rehabilitation Assistance Programme for Afghanistan (Across Border)	Seed Specialist – Leader Seed Group and CTA for the Start-up Phase of the Programme 1988 – early 89 Included forest / forest margins	The Consultant identified and designed the seed component of one of the UN’s largest across border seed programmes on record. During the start-up phase of this programme, the Consultant reviewed and then arranged for the UNHCR to hand-over to FAO the leadership of its ad hoc seed assistance activities started several years earlier involving NGOs working across-border, informally supported by local plant breeders in Pakistan. He provided key input to formulating and launching country-wide agricultural strategy including policies, procedures and follow-on portfolios of projects for seed and planting material. He played a leading role in initiating a cross-border UN-NGO/PVO seed assistance and support network – including forest margins.
10-12/1993 (2 months)	Somalia	FAO / WFP	Agriculturalist / Team Leader	Conducted a series of crop and food supply / food security / needs assessment in the field under very difficult conditions. Based on the findings, policy and portfolio of project profiles was identified, formulated and presented to UN – Donor briefing and pledging meetings.
10/1989 – 11/1991 (5 months)	Nepal	ADB	Seed Specialist Included forest / forest margins	The Consultant prepared a 20-year strategy, policy, and procedures for accelerating the development of and securing foundation (i.e., early generation) of forage and fodder seed for the livestock industry / forest margins. The Consultant helped formulate project documents and other materials that went on to become part of Nepal’s National Plan. Experience gained from this project was later shared by Nepal with Bhutan, India, Afghanistan and Tibet through the FAO regional network.
06-08/1988 (3 months)	Pakistan	USAID	Seed Specialist Included forest / forest margins	Provided technical assistance to identify constraints and formulate strategies and procedures, and provided in-service training for accelerating and securing the development of the cereal crop seed industry in North West Frontier Province, including the public and private sectors / mountain forest margins. Materials developed went on to support a number of follow-up projects / activities.
02-03/1988 (2 months)	Azad Kashmir, Pakistan	World Bank	Seed Specialist Included forest / forest margins	Integrated Hill Farming Development Project (Second Phase – forest margins)-Building on experience gained while working on the first phase of the project, provided technical assistance to identify constraints and formulate strategies and procedures. Provided in-service training for accelerating and securing the development of fodder production and utilization in Azad Kashmir, including the production of seed and other plant material.
1985-1987 (2 years)	Pakistan and Mexico	CIMMYT – International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre – USAID Funded	Senior Scientist & Project Leader Included forest / forest margins	Officer in charge of USAID-funded CIMMYT / NARC national maize programme. Helped initiate and supervise a country-wide programme of applied research including plant breeding, cultivar testing, agronomy, on-farm research, farming systems, farm surveys, socio-economic analysis, agro-ecology, statistics, seed and seed industry / farmer seed groups, workshops, national policy, strategies, and administration.
1980-1981 (2 years)	Azad Kashmir, Pakistan	World Bank	Agricultural Specialist Included forest / forest margins	The Consultant formed, trained and led from within with the assistance of CIMMYT and Pakistani Plant Breeders, a national group of agriculturalists / agro-forestry / seeds persons who identified and developed a multi-location series of on-station trials and farmer outreach demonstrations and seed maintenance and multiplication activities which turned the project around from near failure into a role model for other areas.
1976- 1979 (3 years)	Peru Southern Highlands	New Zealand Bilateral Aid Programme	Research Officer	The consultant worked in conjunction with other international members of the project team, the local ministry of agriculture and livestock, the local agricultural university and farmers. He was responsible for the agronomy research programme which targeted forage and fodder production and its utilization for improved livestock production in the high planes of Peru across an altitude sequence from 3500 to 4400 masl. A substantial WB follow-up project was launched building on this and follow-on work by the project.

a) a) 54 technical publications in refereed Journals (list available upon request).

b) b) In excess of 100 un-published reports, reviews, evaluations, manuals, guidelines, etc (detailed cumulative list not kept).

c) c) More than 600 million US Dollars mobilized against various project documents contributed to over past 21 years of self employed consulting (detailed list not kept).

UNDP – CICETE Project Formulation for Assistance in Restructuring China’s Seed Industry into the Market Economy (Seed Industry Restructuring)