Development Project

NAME: Mr JEFFREY K. SILVERMAN

SPECIALIST FIELD: International development and agricultural

specialist, including sustainable economic

development, overseas development assistance,

proposal writing, needs analysis for new and

expanding businesses, policy formulation, due

diligence, risk management, food security/safety,

impact of climate change, journalist/editor

CURRENTLY RESIDING (international and cross cultural communications),

IN: and trained in vocational/professional education.

Lexington, Kentucky, and Tbilisi, Georgia

NATIONALITY: American

ADDRESS: Digomski District 3, Block 6 V Flat 37,

Tbilisi, Georgia

CONTACT NUMBERS: Mobile: Georgia +995-**-******, 995**-******

MAIN E-MAIL: ********@********.** WEB:

ALTERNATIVE E-MAIL: www.collents.eu/cem/jeffreys/

**********@*****.***

EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE

Seeking assignments where my education and skills as an agronomist,

teacher, rural development specialist, copy editor and journalist can be

effectively utilised. I want to apply cross-cutting professional experience

within a context of development, conflict resolution and project

management/backstopping. I am also interested in short term technical

writing, Russian translating and editing/proof reading assignments

(English, Russian and Georgian).

PROFILE

Have over 20 years of professional experience in agriculture, environmental

and business development in the U.S., South America, China, Caucasus and

Central Asia; since 1991, I have been predominantly resident in Georgia,

working on international donor, private and NGO sector programmes,

commodity trade and SME and tourism development. I am knowledgeable in: the

behaviour and structures of rural communities and agricultural markets in

Georgia and its region, commodity trade, tax legislation, the

institutional, legal and policy context in which markets and terms of

foreign trade operate and the linkages between production, processing,

marketing, food safety (HACCP) and international business. I have served as

Editor-in-Chief of local/regional newspapers and have taught at university

and vocational school level (most recently as a volunteer instructor in a

tourism vocational programme).

I am also involved in various research projects in various sectors,

political-economic and social, which include cutting edge M&E, and have an

educational background including an MSc in agricultural-international

development. I am continually engaged in applied research, policy

formulation and programme planning for various clients. Assignments have

included interfacing with various donor and private groups, carrying out

research for various international stakeholders and media based research

groups, think tanks (freelance work, political investigations), involving a

wider audience in business intelligence and conducting corporate due

diligence in the banking, energy, public health and construction sectors. I

have also participated in TV investigations, and these have included trips

into conflict zones, as in the case of the Russian-Georgian war and pieces

on international arms smuggling and its impact on human rights.

Project activities have included, but are not limited to, agricultural

development, establishing value-added chains, market linkages and business

investments and liaising with project funding agencies, key implementation

partners and local governments. I have a graduate education in various

relevant disciplines: vocational education/agribusiness, marketing, rural

economic development, journalism etc., buttressed with experience of staff

management, budgeting, reporting, monitoring and evaluation and capacity

development. I have BS and MSc degrees plus 30 graduate credit hours from

the University of Kentucky, United States.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

MSc plus 30 graduate credits (Rank 1) Agricultural Economics /

International Development, University of Kentucky, Lexington (full tuition

scholarship based on American Indian roots on mother's side), in

cooperation with Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce -

studied theoretical frameworks for the analysis of political systems,

cultures and economic and agricultural development.

. Michigan State, Virtual University, Distance learning course in

International Rural Development, 2002

. University of Kentucky, MSc, vocational education-joint Patterson

School of Diplomacy track, 2001-2002

. University of Kentucky BS Agriculture/Education, Lexington, Kentucky

1981-82

. West Virginia University, teacher education, agriculture/forestry,

1980

. Berea College, Agricultural-general education (full scholarship),

Berea, Kentucky 1976-79

CURRENT AND RECENT WORK

Self-employed - Silverman and Associates, freelance

journalist/international development, agricultural extension consultant -

agronomist, intelligence & risk management - confidential project

evaluations (M&E), visiting fireman: evaluation design, validity of data

sources, plans for involving stakeholders, analysis and impact reviews

(including participatory), results-based management approach and capacity

needs assessment.

Range of Assignments

Professional editing, proposals, and short term assignments, Kobuleti

Vocational Training Centre, Georgian Environmental Agency, and the

Administration of Tusheti Protective Areas, (rural tourism hospitality

management, and project development; also work with USAID/UNDP development

projects, Georgian State Public TV, and a Georgian Human Rights

Organisation.

Worked for two years for Georgian Public TV and completed some

investigative documentaries, provided web editing: topics investigated

involved aspects of international corruption (donor organisations) and

outcomes of the 2008 Russian-Georgian war.

August 2010 to current, Articles on Russian-US Relations, Freelance,

Consultancy Agency, New York, USA and Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation,

overseeing the editing and translations of articles, as personally written

in English, and/or to be translated from the original Russian, and which

contain theoretical and practical information for various international

clients, such as "Newsletter of Russian Academy of National Security," and

the "Fund of Development of Science and Support for Young Scientists," -

this work is highly technical, dealing with technology transfer, policy

processes (path of international cooperation) innovative ways to improve

Russian-American business relations, and presenting business plans and

writing professional articles for high level executives describing the

benefits of international cooperation, difficulties in working with

foreign companies, specific s of US & Russian based companies - and

cooperation in the sphere of intellectual property rights between Russia

and the US.

United National Development Programme, Drylands Development Centre,

Nairobi, Kenya, May-July 2010, provided technical editing and rewriting for

UNDP-DDC Document: Mainstreaming Drought Risk Management - A Primer -

addressing a wide range of drylands issues, and how to buttress these with

national policy and planning frameworks; reducing vulnerability of poor

populations to climatic shocks, especially drought; and, improving local

governance and ownership of natural resources.

Heap Research BV, Netherlands in cooperation with International Development

of Transfusion Medicine, (IDTM) Consulting, Groningen University, April

2010

Technical writing and proposal work, including the supervising and

contracting out the translation of a detailed restructuring project for the

National Blood Service of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Health, providing a

detailed proposal that outlined the needs and proposed training plan for a

blood donor and retention program on the national level. The rational for

this project proposal is based on the premise that safe blood starts with

safe donors.

Volunteer teacher of vocational education, January to May 2010, Kobuleti

Vocational Training Centre of Tourism - acting as volunteer English

language and career development advisor to vocational training programme in

hospitality and tourism development - advising students as to how to

prepare CVs, basic interviewing skills, filling out job applications, and

suggesting to students a range of possibilities for supervised occupational

experience programmes and jobs.

GORBI, Georgian Opinion Research International, January 2004 to present

Editing and proposal writing and research design, using qualitative and

quantitative data collection methods (mixed methods) in wide range of

subjects, developmental, public health, conflict resolution, evaluations

and often focused on geopolitical spheres. Provide analysis of focus group

transcripts, designing focus group guidelines - write up of analysis -

special focus on interviews and observational research techniques. Projects

funded by USAID, World Bank, US State Department, European Union, MCC

Compact and private/public think-tanks, which includes a wide range of

project evaluations of implemented and midterm project evaluations.

Internal Rescue Committee, Georgia, November 2009

Assisted IRC/Georgia in the submission of a proposal to DANIDA, Danish

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and a Financial Service Contract for technical

assistance to DANIDA's "Rural Private Sector Development Programme,

Georgia" was proposed. Specifically, the proposal focused on developing two

value chains, fruit/berries and aquaculture, in three regions of western

Georgia, Samegrelo, Guria and Ajara and a rural credit program to support

small farmers and value added processors.

. A combination of interventions including the introduction of knowledge

about high yield crops, plant varieties, skills enhancement for

business leaders and employees, organizational capacity building and

access to finance to secure production and processing will be used to

optimize the flow of products from primary producers to end users. To

facilitate program implementation, a consortium was suggested with

signed agreements as part of the proposal.

. Reviewed DANIDA-supplied and other project-related and background

literature on the history, status, policies, programs, constraints and

opportunities for agriculture-based private sector development in

Georgia in general, and fruits/berries and aquaculture value chains in

western Georgia in particular.

. Provided continuous analyses of these, prepare relevant portions for

inclusion in the proposal, communicate his findings to others on the

proposal development team, including its partners, Elkana and Agland,

and ensure that they serve as a framework for the IRC proposal.

. Assisted IRC in identifying and recruiting candidates for both

expatriate and local key personnel positions identified in the DANIDA

solicitation.

. Contacted and obtained ideas, comments and opinions of IRC partners,

relevant stakeholders, including potential sub-contractors or

collaborators, and participants to enable the development of

programming ideas and options, including sub-contracting and

collaboration opportunities to be included in the proposal and assist

IRC to obtain letters of collaboration as needed for the proposal.

GFA Consulting, July/August 2009 - Afghanistan

Technical Cooperation with Pakistan Safe Blood Transfusion Project, donor:

German Technical Cooperation. Assisted in providing a detailed proposal

that outlined the current organisational, political and human resource

realities at blood banks in that country. Described the gap between need

and realities, taking into account national health policies, successes and

failures in implementation of blood safety initiatives and the lessons

learned as a result of earlier efforts at health sector reform in this

sphere.

World Food Programme, Tbilisi, April/May 2009

Write, edit and review WFP's and inter-agency comments to ensure accurate

English and technical understanding. Short-term assignment dealing with

proposed activities to engage IDPs in new settlements and their host

communities to use participatory development methods (PRA) to address

issues of food insecurity, poverty and ways to solve them. Main function

was to describe the agricultural and post August 2008 situation, Georgian-

Russian war, and suggested viable options for programming and development

with well-designed Food-For-Work and Cash-For-Work projects that would

address actual problems in the agricultural and rural sector, and then

implemented project would lead to independent and secure rural livelihoods

without the need for continued donor assistance.

OTHER KEY PROJECTS

Please note that my detailed employment record is available at my web site:

http://www.collents.eu/cem/jeffreys/?page=history

Media Researcher, Freelance Journalist, Tbilisi Georgia 2002 to present

Researcher and stringer for independent film producers, breaking events in

Georgia as well as one-off assignments, International Crisis Group (ICG),

US State Department, USAID, etc. The focus of much recent work, since

August 2008, has been related to the events of the Russian-Georgian armed

conflicts, which includes IDPs issues, effectiveness of developmental and

relief assistance to date, misuse of US and European funding for IDP

housing and assistance, and the plight of both existing and the new wave of

Internationally Displaced Persons.

Earlier assignments included with Open Society Institute and Radio Free

Europe, January to July 2002; provided articles on regular basis for the

Central Eurasia Project website and for the Crime, Corruption and Terrorism

site for Radio Free Europe. I have also served as Editor-in-Chief of

Georgian Times and Azerbaijan Today, alongside freelance editing work for

various confidential clients, research, which has also included both

academic and contemporary desk research/editing, Georgian Science

Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, US and Georgian DoD, World Bank/IFC, EU,

UNDP, etc.

NB: my freelance investigative journalism has been in the following

spheres:

Arms, Drugs and Human Trafficking

Georgia has long been recognized as a transit point for illegal trade

between Central Asia and Europe. It is in the direct interest of Western

law enforcement and intelligence services to understand this conduit so

they can anticipate movements which can have drastic impact on national

communities as well as foreign civil and military deployments. Also, key

links with these networks can provide deeply important information

regarding the activities of groups of interest including terrorist networks

and governments of concern/interest. Using the key location of Georgia

networks of connections will allow the provision of the sort of information

regarding patterns as well as real time and event-specific information. My

work has been featured on Georgian TV and reported in local and regional

media outlets.

Afghanistan and the War on Terrorism

Georgia has become an important location for the supply and support of NATO

forces in Afghanistan and is essential in understanding the networks of

economic and material support for Taliban and other insurgents. Linking

sources in Afghanistan with those in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and

other Central Asian countries can provide an important strategic level

understanding of aspects of the conflict in Afghanistan, which are often

overlooked. Information on arms shipments and drugs for guns swaps can be

provided so to help curtail the flow of weapons and financial support to

Taliban and other forces.

Political Intrigue and Political Risk in Georgia

Consider general issues of political opposition and regime stability. Also,

I have the opportunity to look into the support networks and financial

mechanisms of the current and possible future political leadership.

CARE, November 2007 till May 2008 (part-time)

CARE has been operating in Agriculture in Georgia for number of years and

has been implementing an extension approach that uses on farm demonstration

plots as a support for extension messaging. Evaluated what were the actual

impacts, lessons learned and the degree of effectiveness and consistency of

on-farm demonstration plots as part of CARE's activities in Georgia;

recommended ways to improve the design and implementation of their

extension messaging system. Report generated included both quantitative and

qualitative research components, which was inclusive of evidence based

conclusions and site specific recommendations for future programming

direction.

March 1, 2007 to 2009

Subcontractor for two UK based Intelligence and Risk Management business

entities with range of due diligence activities. Looking at what are the

existing and potential opportunities for commercial activities within

political perspective; assignments have involved links between the Georgian

banking and real estate market, money laundering, illicit payments for

weapons, integrity of energy testing laboratories and evaluated other

manifestations of organised crime and its nexus to not-so-hidden political

agendas, both at the national and international level.

The majority of completed investigations have involved straightforward due

diligence work - investigating material issues - real or perceived - of the

kind that a compliance department would want to know about, together with

assessing broader reputation of stakeholders such as their activities might

impact upon the reputation of any organisation doing business with them.

Evaluating the integrity of the various testing results for oil and

petroleum products, which including samples of those transiting via the BTC

pipeline and those officially exported via Georgian Black seaports (Batumi

and Poti) and secondary pipelines.

August 8 - August 15, 2007 (short-term)

Complete SWOT analysis for CARE International of how to engage small

hazelnut farmers in the breakaway region of Abkhazia with collaborative

projects, designed to build confidence and support confidence building

activities between Georgia and its two separatist regions. Work included

identifying the structures in place that would support or detract from a

proposed hazelnut association and participatory development; what might be

the impact of vertical integrated operations on markets, notwithstanding

"gang activities" and how to effectively connect individuals between the

contested region and Georgia proper; provided an economic estimate of how

such activities would provide income generation and value-added for the

diverse range of stakeholders within current political realities, including

public private linkages of a technical, cultural, social and economic

nature.

June 22 - September 30, 2006

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) contracted the National Opinion

Research Centre (NORC) to provide technical assistance to designing and

implementing impact evaluations for three components of it programme in

Georgia: Samtskhe-Javakheti Road Rehabilitation Project, Georgian Regional

Development Fund (GRDF), and Agriculture Development Activity (ADA). I

served in the capacity as an international consultant in providing input to

the design and implementation of a rigorous study of the market structure

for the major agricultural products traded by semi-subsistence and

commercial farmers within Georgia, and under the design of (MCC) Compact,

and how to design an evaluation that was realistic and appropriate to

Georgian realities, including a culture of corruption, and how Georgian

agricultural products can be exported.

. Met relevant agricultural marketing and processing enterprises to

determine the structure and conduct of markets for the respective

commodities, fruit, dairy and meat. and the causes of any market

distortions identified during the preceding analyses;

. Evaluated the impact of trade, price, tax, food standards (HAACP) and

business policies also formed part of this component of the analysis;

. Designed and implemented a rigorous evaluation of proposed activities

under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact with the

Government of Georgia for the data collection methodology phase;

. Proposed a realistic evaluation model for MCC that would work for

implementing and monitoring of ADA.

Summer 2005 NGO Programme Manager for United States Peace Corps - Technical

Trainer

Responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of NGO

technical training component during a ten-week Pre-Service Training (PST)

for US Peace Corps trainees assigned to work in Georgia. Through the

expertise of the Technical Trainer, by the end of the training period,

Trainees were exposed to skills and knowledge, which is required for

productive support of local NGOs. Topics included but not limited to: NGO

legal status and third sector development in Georgia, NGO networking,

organisational development, strategic planning, how to conduct training for

local staff, project management (planning, budgeting, monitoring,

evaluation, etc.).

Summer 2004, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Agrisystems Ltd

Examined current and potential domestic and export markets as a basis for

World Bank proposed demand driven agricultural production project, as well

as all elements of the processing/marketing chain to see where project

support could contribute to the growth of small and medium scale producers,

processors and traders. Study the market structure for the major

agricultural products traded by semi-subsistence and commercial farmers:

a) Reviewed Georgian laws concerning product standards and

certification.

b) Met with relevant agricultural marketing and processing enterprises

to determine the structure and conduct of markets for the

respective commodities, and the causes of any market distortions

identified during the preceding analyses. The impact of trade,

price, tax and business policies also formed part of this component

of the analysis.

c) Evaluated the potential and constraints to product collection,

processing and marketing with particular attention on market

infrastructure including marketplaces, collection points and

storage facilities;

Sept - December 2004, Consultant, Tbilisi Georgia

Research and input for World Bank funded proposal: for the Republic of

Azerbaijan for the development of a technical and rural advisory system

based on the progressive development of the private sector "rural advisory

service" to farmers and food processors.

Autumn 2004 - Georgia Economic Growth Initiative (GEGI) - short-term

consultant

Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) was preparing to bid on the Georgia

Economic Growth Initiative (GEGI) in advance of the release of the request

for proposal (RFP) by USAID/Georgia. Served as a short-term consultant to

provide specific technical inputs related to industry associations,

business and market reforms in Georgia, work was completed as part of the

proposal preparation stage.

Analysed and draft executive summaries on the difficulties in creating

associations (especially when done by outsiders), and described the

challenges of using associations as effective representatives for the

industry. Identification of the barriers that they faced and what held them

back.

November-December 2003, International Crisis Group, Brussels - Political

Investigation

Researched and wrote up a report on political and economic situation in the

Georgian region of Adjara: the Adjarian regime, who's who in Adjara, clan

connections, kinship and family links, possible links with organised crime,

drug trafficking and drug weapon swaps. What were the perspectives for

political change in the region; possible alternatives to Aslan Abashidze,

its leader, the Adjarian economy: Who owns what? Who pays what? Ties with

Russia, and whether or not there was any direct and permanent support for

the regime from the Russian side? How the fall of the regime would impact

Russian networks of influence (in politics, business, security forces and

special services)?

February-March 2003, Short term consultant, USAID project, SAVE, RAISE PLUS

Worked with a consortium of companies in preparing sections of a RfP

"Request for Proposal" "RAISE PLUS" for a USAID funded project for

sustainable agricultural and community development, with special emphasis

on:

Recommendations on transitioning from relief-oriented assistance to

rehabilitative or economic development assistance wherever appropriate,

which includes assisting in drafting the technical approach and strategic

planning and policy analysis sections with special emphasis on agricultural

production, trade and sustainable rural/community development. Described in

detail how can trade and investment be enhanced to contribute to host

country economic growth in the long-term based on case studies and

programme objectives.

December 2002, Islamic Relief (UK based NGO), worked in Russian Federation,

Kabardino Balkaria - Nalchik, Nazran & Grozny

Assisted organisation in the evaluation of their programme and a PR

campaign in support of activities in conflict zones, especially in terms of

supporting sustainable economic and social development - advised how best

to work with local communities and Russian authorities in provision of

politically neutral assistance. Reviewed studies conducted by independent

experts, international relief organisations such as UN, bilateral donors

and other actors relative to IDPs. Also, I assisted in the development of

project proposals and operational instructions for field staff members,

including M&E frameworks, and the writing up of job descriptions and TOR

for required visiting experts.

July to September, 2002, Participatory Agribusiness Project in Azerbaijan

(PAPA) - Land O'Lakes, Baku

Helped to implement strategy as extension and association development

specialist for hazelnuts, livestock and a dairy association - with key

emphasis on provision of technical assistance and training and helping

clients to increase profitability though the development of agribusiness

associations, the expansion and development of production and value-added

processing, the forging of marketing links and increased ability of and

access to markets.

Land O'Lakes International Development is a division of Land O'Lakes, Inc.,

a U.S. food and agricultural cooperative, that implements humanitarian and

economic development activities for donor agencies. Its mission is to

facilitate market-driven business systems to generate economic growth,

improve health and nutrition, and alleviate poverty.

Oct/November 2001 Independent Contractor, ABT Associates, Tbilisi Georgia,

November, December

This intensive work involved research and analysis to clarity issues for a

large USAID proposal on rural and agricultural development that included:

synthesis of Georgian opportunities, constraints and recommendations for

accessing the European Union for export of agricultural commodities;

summary of the present status of agricultural production and value-added

chain in food processing, grower and marketing associations. A concept

paper was prepared on the application of "New Generation" Cooperatives for

Georgian agricultural and community development.

2003, International Black Sea University, Georgia,

Teaching several upper level classes in Tbilisi Georgia, "US Foreign Policy

in the Global Economy" which includes aspects of political economy,

conflict resolution and identifying trends in international assistance

programs and regional security agreements; political and economic

investigations. Also, Instructor of Business England and Cross Cultural

Communications, Caucasus School of Business, Tbilisi, Georgia, for both BA

and graduate students, MA level.

September 2001 to May 2002

Taught business English courses and cross cultural communication courses,

two undergraduate and one graduate as State Department funded programme for

both BA and MA level students.

May 2000 - July 2001, Technical Backstopper, Enterprise Expert,

CERMA/Recovery Group, Word Bank

Assisted with the formation of a hazelnut producer and processors

associations, recruiting and fielding of industry experts, working TORs for

their assignments in such spheres as food processing, foresty and

manufacturing (wood products). This was a two day a week assignment for a

total of 45 working days, assignments in Georgia, editing of a local

newspaper and NGO materials.

September to December 1999, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR),

Tbilisi Georgia, Agricultural Program Director.

Worked with rural cooperatives and agriculture development projects, which

the carrying out of rapid appraisals, suggested rural development programs

for Chechen refugees in the Pankisi Gorge (Valley) of Georgia, including

long-term agricultural programs for ethnic Chechen refugees who had little

hope of being able to return to their homes in the Russian Federation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

LANGUAGES Speaking Reading Writing

English Native Excellent Excellent

Russian Good Excellent Good

Georgian Good Poor Poor

German Good Good Good

Other information: I am also a member of an NCE (New Collaborative

Enterprise) which provides its members with a shared pool of information,

resources and expertise, enabling them to leverage the counsel and

experience of a virtual team to support them in their individual

assignments, regardless of their employment status, length of contract, or

geographical location. Membership of Collaborative Enterprises

(www.collents.eu) therefore allows me to offer a more rounded service to my

employers, who benefit from contracting someone who is part of such a

valuable association.

Please note that my detailed employment record is available at my web site:

http://www.collents.eu/cem/jeffreys/?page=history

REFERENCES

Mr Paul Tate, Nino Zhvania Khatuna Epremidze

Collaborative Country WFP Programme Officer

Enterprises. Director Internation 28, Zhgenti St.,

Contact: +995 93 al Nutsubidze II Plateau,

232779 Rescue Committee, Tbilisi 0183, GEORGIA

****@********.** Georgia Tel: 995 32

Mobile: +995 91 19 317253/63/65 ext 2040

17 83 Cell: 995-**-******

E-mail: Fax: 995-**-******

nino.zhvania@theirc.o khatuna.epremidze@wfp.o

rg rg

*********@*****.***

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