Development & Funding

Expertise covers different public policy development funding toolkits from the EU, UN and other international donors.

Services involve identifying and sharing good practices in sustainable development at inter-governmental and national levels supporting food and nutrition, regions and islands, tourism and nature, rural and urban, policies and projects.

Life cycle specialisms in planning, design, launch, running, monitoring and evaluating, closure for funding policies, programmes, and projects.

Services cover grant funds and revolving finance (including microcredit) such as development loans, bank guarantees, and equity investments.

Examples of work in development and funding

Content producer and strategic advisory services with the European Commission's Contact Point for the EU Common Agricultural Policy Network (formerly European Network for Rural Development). Roles include policy insight research, news analysis, and other communication of good practice approaches within the EU's largest funding systems providing 387 billion euros supporting sustainable transition pathways for the agri-food, rural tourism, environment, and community development sectors.

Technical Writer of Ministerial briefing papers and policy-orienting documents for UN Country Team Heads working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Europe and Central Asia region. Themes cover pioneering global climate action planning for the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, systems-based agri-food transition, nutrition-sensitive value chains, and war-impact strategies.

Advisory support adding value to outcomes from United Nations Development Programme funding for The Maldives, such as the UNDP's Resident Representative blog explaining how financial instruments can be effective tools for complementing donor grant practices and direct large-scale private finance towards SDG projects.

Advisor with the European Commission Joint Research Centre 6th Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) Foresight study concerning future development funding priorities promoting: Pathways in transition for resilient European agriculture and food systems in times of global crises exploring healthy and sustainable diets, circularity, and diversity.

FAO’s Consultancy Roster Affiliate Workforce as a International Technical Specialist on LEADER (Community-led local rural development) for a period of 3 years.

Financial instrument advice and support for strategic outreach campaigns by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Agriculture and Team Europe through the EU assistance for Uzbekistan Agri-Food Development Strategy 2020-2030 Agriculture Support and Knowledge Facility.

European Commission and European Investment Bank Group's fi-compass partnership project - promoting financial instrument capacity building activities for managing authorities of the EU funds investing in regions and islands, tourism and food, research, technology, and social capital.

Case study material explaining practical uses of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), Investment Platforms and urban development initiatives.

Best practice analysis and reportage for the European Commission's LIFE financial instrument, including funding for wildlife conservation, development of ecotourism and other green businesses, waste management and pollution control, and the potential of using information and communication as effective sustainable development tools.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme Management for Scotland's Highlands & Islands region covering island groups, mountain ranges, tourist honeypots, urban zones, agricultural areas, forest plantations, fishing communities, heritage and nature assets.

Screening of complex territorial development funding proposals submitted to a call by the INTERREG Baltic Sea region programme. including local tourism initiatives, islands development planning, sustainable development, transnational cooperation, innovation, and social services.

Appraising the economic, social and environmental benefits from rural regions' development strategies submitted by LEADER Local Action Groups covering rural community development, locally-led tourism, short-supply chains for food & forestry products, cultural heritage, and more.

European funding help desk services advising on investment project planning, grant appraisal criteria, monitoring frameworks, partnership coordination, donor regulatory frameworks, evaluation techniques, programme and project absorption strategies.

Lithuania’s Ministry of Finance - long-term technical assistance for government managing authorities during Lithuania’s first national European Structural Fund Programme 2004-2006 supporting industry, tourism, environment, infrastructure, social capital, education, social inclusion, and innovation.

Communicating EU policy developments in result-based funding schemes for agri-environment payments.

Advisory services for the Joint Technical Secretariat of Latvia-Lithuanian Cross Border Cooperation Programme's 2014-2020 Operational Programme document.

EU Structural Fund advisory services explaining grant management systems for Romania's first national ERDF Operational Programme supporting industry, tourism, environment, infrastructure, and innovation.

Independent review of the ‘Assessment of Development Results’ (ADR) report concerning UNDP funding and development activities in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Mapping and analysis of UNDP funding contributions to Lithuania’s national development achievements between 1991 and 2004.

Concept design for strategic UNDP grant funding scheme supporting NGOs in Lithuania designed to fill gaps in EU aid.

Rural Community Development services and LEADER Local Action Group management for a government enterprise agency in the Loch Ness area of Scotland funding bottom-up development, locally-led tourism, social services, cultural heritage, entrepreneurship, and youth.

Co-founding Directorship of the Lithuanian NGO Visuomenes Pletros Centras (Centre for Development Society).

NGO Board Membership on the SHIRLIE Project providing supported employment places for adults with special needs.

Charity Treasury and Work Camp Leader services for The University of Edinburgh's Overseas Development Charity.