Technical advisor (Agriculture and food Sciences)

Siham Daher

Sidon, Lebanon 961-********

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

Personal Details:

Female Lebanese

TECHNICAL ADVISOR PROFILE

Agri-food expert with wide-ranging background in research, project management, training and assessment

Poised to excel in a role that calls for detailed knowledge of farm and market operations complimented by a history of success executing technically demanding projects under strict regulatory and time constraints. Nuanced understanding of organic farming principles; keen interest in a variety of agricultural areas and topics, including leafy and fruity vegetables, fruit tree crops, olive trees and olive oil, development/capacity building, and agro-economical status. Proven ability to maintain compliance with internal protocols and regional/international standards. Conversational fluency in Arabic, English, and French; basic fluency in Spanish. Proficiency in key software areas, including MS Access and MS Office.

Highlights of Expertise

Farm Operations

Market Intelligence

Research & Investigation

Revenue Growth

Cost Reduction

Risk Assessment

Data Analysis & Management

Strategic Initiatives

Project & Program Management

Technical Support & Troubleshooting

Pesticides & Contaminants

Food Safety & Sanitation

Organic Farming

Crop Management

Field Visits

Career Experience

Ministry of Economy & Trade, Beirut, Lebanon

Support critical projects, technical infrastructure, and strategic initiatives in collaboration with MOET leadership.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERT (2009 to Present)

Act as subject matter expert within agri-food sector, leveraging advanced knowledge of farm and market processes. Drive regulatory compliance and quality standards through careful research, data management, and meticulous qualitative/quantitative analysis. Represent MOET in partner interactions, workshops, and training programs.

Research and prepare consumer awareness articles for publication.

Coordinate training modules for MOET and municipality inspectors on basic visual indicators of food fraud.

Provide insights and advisement on files, laws, and decisions related to agricultural product safety, farm/farmer support, and setting basics for port inspection and laboratory analysis.

Led studies to assess conformity in the marketplace; achieved follow-up, withdraw and replacement of non-conforming food commodities.

Played active role in facilitating access for Lebanese honey producers/traders seeking to export to Europe.

Developed and implemented monitoring system for pesticides, veterinary drugs, and other contaminant residues in plant and veterinary food items.

Achieved $29K in cost savings for Lebanese government by revamping garden maintenance procedures.

Institute for University Cooperation(ICU) and Associazione Volontari per il Servizio Internazionale, Beirut, Lebanon

Provided individualized advisement and training services on agricultural projects.

CONSULTANT (2008)

Utilized expertise gained from previous experience with agricultural development/capacity building and agricultural investment to develop feasibility studies for loan approvals.

Oversaw potato crop training program.

Facilitated execution of agricultural development program: “Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture in Lebanon.”

World Vision, Beirut, Lebanon

Cooperated closely with technical operations team to streamline workflow and ensure effectiveness of deliverables.

COORDINATOR OF EXTENSION SERVICES (2005 to 2008)

Liaised between projects’ technical teams and agricultural institutes. Ensured cohesion and efficiency to optimize team performance.

Authored technical documentation, including detailed instructional manuals and reports.

Refined knowledge of organic farming, leafy and fruity vegetables, and fruit tree crops.

Additional Experience

HEAD OF ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT South for Construction

Assumed bottom-line responsibility over organic vegetable and fodder crop management. Designed fruit trees orchard and oversaw olive oil marketing efforts.

HEAD OF VULGARIZATION UNIT Institute for University Cooperation

Coordinated trainings, field visits, and technical reports with a focus on leafy and fruity vegetables, legumes, and olive trees. Spearheaded study of agro-economical status and improvements possibilities in displaced villages.

UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTOR Lebanese University, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

Designed curricula and lesson plans to reinforce fundamental principles of agricultural science. Mentored students through one-on-one coaching.

Education & Credentials

Master of Science (D.E.A.) in Genetics and Plant Adaptation

Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique - Université de Rennes I-ENSAR, Rennes, France

Certificate of Higher Agricultural Education in Plant protection (Section Interécoles)

Ecole National Supérieure Agronomique de Montpellier (ENSAM), Institut National Agronomique de Paris-Grignon (INA-PG), & Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes (ENSAR), Montpellier, Paris, and Rennes, France

Diploma of Agricultural engineer, Plant protection (Grade Good)

Lebanese University, Faculty of Agriculture (University). Dekwaneh area, Beirut, Lebanon

Professional Development

Jan 2020: Private Sector Development Program Workshop, EU Delegation & Expertise France. Beirut, Lebanon.

Aug 2019: Olive oil marketing in China. Jointly organized by the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) & Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs of China. Beijing, China.

June 2019: Improving Market Access for Apple Production, MOA/Taiex Workshop. Beirut, Lebanon.

March 2019: Challenge of Quality for Agriculture in Lebanon, EU Delegation & Expertise France. Beirut, Lebanon.

Dec 2017: Harmonizing Sanitary & Phytosanitary measures in Arab countries, International Trade Center-Aid for trade initiative for the Arab states-USAID. Tunis, Tunisia.

Aug 2016: Trade Facilitation for Countries Along the Belt-Road, Academy for International Business Officials/Chinese Ministry of commerce. Beijing, China.

Sep 2015: PAFTA /Development of the Arab Unified Standards, UNIDO, the Sweden embassy in Egypt-League for Arab States. Cairo, Egypt.

2009-2015: 10 + WTO Online Coursework in WTO Agreements.

Oct.2013: Workshop on SPS Related Market Access Challenges & Opportunities/WTO. Geneva, Switzerland.

Oct 2012/ Jun 2013: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures/Advanced Course, WTO. Geneva, Switzerland.

May 2012: Workshop on Organic Farming in Middle East & North Africa. Amman, Jordan.

Nov 2011: The Agriculture in the WTO Agreement. Abu Dhabi, UAE.

June 2010: 8th European Pesticides Residue Workshop for 2010. Strasbourg, France.

May 2010: "Food and nutrition security impact assessment", Wageningen UR Center for Development Innovation. Netherlands.

Training /Food Safety:

Sep 2019: Food Safety administration, JICA-Japan. Tokyo, Japan.

March 2015: "Governance and Food safety in the International Food chains", Wageningen UR Center for Development & Innovation. Netherlands.

Feb 2014: Risk Assessment Studies Related to Food Safety/AGES. Vienna, Austria.

May 2009: "Understanding Food Safety Standards,” UNIDO (MACLE project)/ Swiss Confederation. Beirut, Lebanon.

Affiliations:

Order of Engineers (member).

Ministerial Committee on Rural Development & Empowerment of Social Safety Network (member).

National Committees on Organic Farming, Olives & Olive Oil, Marketing of Agricultural Produce, Honey Bees Export, and Pesticide Residue in Agricultural Produce (member).

Select Publications:

Seven technical booklets, about growing organic vegetables and fruit trees, published by World Vision –USAID.

Six technical brochures, about organic fruit trees and vegetables production; published by World Vision –USAID.

More than 40 vulgarized technical sheets, Conventional production of horticultural and fruit trees crops, published by ICU-EU projects.

More than five awareness articles related to the safety of agricultural food products, published by Lebanese government.

Risk assessment of antibiotic residues in honey on human health of consumers in Lebanon. http://www.economy.gov.lb/index.php/subCatInfo/1/155/11/0.

Risk assessment of pesticides residue of rocket and lettuce on human health of consumers in Lebanon. http://www.economy.gov.lb/public/uploads/files/8235_4445_7444.pdf.

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