Joshua Adjoteye

Rural value chain development, market linkages, out grower development and management expert, experienced facilitator, trainer/coach and Project Management expert with more than 20 years of experience working with Private Sector, Smallholder farmers and FBO groups, including 8 years of experience working within Northern Ghana and 8 years on Cocoa (including promotion of cocoa agronomy for higher yields). He has very good knowledge in GIS Mapping and tools having mapped all Mango farms in Ghana in 2008/9 under the TIPCEE Project linking Smallholder farmers to Industry. An active broker between smallholder farmers and service providers for farmers to access inputs for investment on their farms, a good facilitator, capacity building and training for smallholder farmers to empower farmers with knowledge and skills to participate and engage in dialogues or multi stakeholder platforms He has provided extensive support in areas of Financial Management, General Business Advisory Services, Business Management Support working with the Cocoa, Rice, maize, cowpea, soy, cocoa, mango, groundnuts, poultry, Orange Flesh Sweet Potato, citrus, vegetables, Beekeeping and cashew value chains. At the national and international level, he actively participates in multi-stakeholder dialogues discussing and finding solutions to crops of national and international interest including cocoa issues such as cocoa production related deforestation, human right abuses in cocoa supply chains, living incomes for cocoa farmers and their families and non-accountability and transparency in certification and traceability schemes in cocoa producing landscapes of Ghana. He has promoted cocoa agronomy including but not related to Cocoa Under Planting, Cocoa Rehabilitation, Cocoa Pruning, Cocoa Mass Spraying, Cocoa Hand Pollination etc. A strong background in agronomy, agribusiness management, postharvest management and sustainable production standards, with a strong focus on quality management. Excellent conceptual and analytical skills to addressing value chain constraints; developing responsive market strategies; building smallholder (including outgrowers) capacity in production and management; as well as identifying and facilitating sustainable market linkages with farmers; facilitating financial inclusiveness for Smallholder farmers/Outgrowers; facilitating important input linkages to smallholder farmers/outgrowers. An effective Negotiator with ability to positively influence project partners. Skilled at building strong and effective relationships and synergies with organizations, both private and public, including other NGOs, Governmental arms, etc for effective project implementation. Since 2008, has supported major USAID-funded interventions across Ghana, including Global Communities Resiliency In Northern Ghana (RING) Project which had a mandate to improve Governance in 17 Districts, IFDC's Regional program on Fertilizers (West Africa Fertilizer Program-WAFP), the ACDI/VOCA's Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) programme, Chemonics' Trade and Investment for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE) programme, building smallholder farmer capacity to improve and increase production, facilitating market linkages, promoting gender inclusivity, and incorporating the use of innovative market information platforms. Expert in Food Safety and Hygiene with training from PIP ColeACP. Has great expertise in Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) as well as in First Aid training, he also doubles as a qualified and accredited GlobalG.A.P Farm Assurer and an expert in GLOBALGAP and farm management standards, and a fair idea of Fairtrade Standards, with experience in its effective application as well as in training others and leading/supporting the process to obtain certification. The candidate also has expertise in the development of training manuals for the training of individuals of all levels. The candidate has in the past provided consultancy services to various Organizations including GiZ -MOAP Program, Eucharia Farms, Mawuko Rice Farmers, FYSSO Ghana, GreenShield Agrochemicals, etc. Speaks English as well as several Northern languages, including, Waala, Ga, Twi, and Fante (Akan).