A few basic facts: there were 1.2 billion youth aged 15 to 24 years globally in 2015, accounting for one out of every six people worldwide. By 2030, the target date for achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the number of youth is projected to grow by 7 percent, to nearly 1.3 billion. Given…
Down-and-dirty politics and political roadblocks have thwarted the success of agricultural development projects for decades. To achieve greater success, we need to consider how we can better understand and break down such blocks. Whether we like it or not, international development efforts are inherently political. Within the agriculture sector, the relationships and power dynamics among…
During the last 10 years, Tajikistan has made great strides in reforming land legislation and increasing knowledge of land-use rights within rural communities. The Feed the Future Tajikistan Land Market Development Activity supported the next wave of reforms by establishing a functional agricultural land market that ensures the orderly transfer of land-use rights in the…
To feed the world’s 7.5 billion people and help smallholder farmers earn a decent living, development programs often focus on teaching farmers better production techniques. From promoting irrigation to encouraging proper pesticide use, helping farmers to produce a larger harvest is a tried and true method to increase food security and incomes. Yet farmers do…
Nancy Zlotsky joined Chemonics in 1988 and has more than 25 years of experience supporting agriculture and other economic growth efforts around the world, especially in Africa. Over 10 years, she served as senior vice president for the Project Development and Support Division, Africa Region, and Strategic Programs. Nancy was based for another five years…
José Félix Montoya currently leads the USAID-funded Colombia Amazon Deforestation Control task order under the Natural Wealth project. José has over 30 years of experience designing and leading rural development projects and more than 20 years working in post-conflict regions. He has experience in alternative development, driving economic growth, strengthening producer organizations, local governments, and…
Milton Ogeda is an agricultural economist with 34 years of experience in policy formulation, strategic planning, project design and analysis, institutional development and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in eastern Africa. Previously, he collaborated with several Ugandan government agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries, and Fisheries (MAAIF), the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry…
Moldova is well positioned to develop a strong agriculture sector with a wide international reach. The USAID High Value Agriculture Activity (HVAA) is transforming the country’s high-value agriculture sector into an engine of economic growth. “High-value agriculture” refers to the farming of non-staple crops that have higher net returns, such as berries, table grapes, and…
Douglas Griffith is the chief of party of the Lebanon Enterprise Development Project. His areas of expertise include enterprise development, industry competitiveness, value-chain strengthening, institutional strengthening, and policy reform. Previously, he was chief of party of the Uganda Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Agriculture Activity, which focused on improving economic governance related to agro-inputs…
Ukraine has some of the world’s most fertile soil, but fragmentation of the land has limited the agriculture sector’s success: More than half of Ukraine’s gross agricultural product is generated by approximately 4 million smallholder farmers scattered across the country. The USAID Agriculture and Rural Development Support program worked with the government, businesses, and community…
Given Uganda’s favorable weather conditions and wealth of arable land, Uganda’s agriculture sector has enormous potential, but its crop yields remain low. To harness the country’s agricultural potential, the Feed the Future Uganda Enabling Environment for Agriculture Activity is identifying and addressing constraints on agricultural development. By working with public and private actors to create…
Ukraine is the world’s fourth largest exporter of grain and top exporter of sunflower oil. The country’s agriculture sector is a major driver of the economy, employing nearly a quarter of the workforce. The USAID AgroInvest project supported Ukraine’s agriculture industry, improving access to finance and facilitating the creation of market infrastructure for small- and…