Professional Experience:
• Currently working for the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat as a regional coordinator for EAC-USAID East Africa funded projects.
• Provided technical leadership and supported EAC Partner States in the design and implementation of regional policies, strategies, plans and programmes focusing on agricultural development, trade facilitation and deepening of regional integration. They include the EAC Food and Nutrition Security Strategy and Action Plan, Aflatoxin prevention and control strategy, CAADP Regional Agriculture Investment Plan, SPS Bill, regulations and Seed and Plant Varieties Bill.
• Facilitated the development and adoption of various EAC instruments on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) aimed at facilitating safe trade in agricultural commodities. I led the EAC Technical Working Group (TWG) in the development and implementation of harmonized guidelines for testing and registration of conventional pesticides and biopesticides. The guidelines ensure safety, efficacy and quality of crop protection products released to farmers.
• I also led the EAC TWG on Pest Risk Analysis in the development of harmonized procedures for inspection of grain and capacity building of plant health inspectors at the EAC One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) to facilitate trade in grain.
• Represented EAC on regional and continental Task Forces and Steering Committees including the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the African Union Commission.
• Prior to joining EAC, I served as the International Food Policy Research Institute/Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) -Kenya Country Coordinator from 2007-2013. I pioneered the establishment of PBS office in Kenya, contributed to the development and passage of the Biosafety legislation, while providing consistent technical and financial assistance. Kenya was used as a model to establish PBS country offices in Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria. I engaged with key decision-makers to foster improved communication, awareness, and advocacy initiatives concerning agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in Kenya and Africa as a whole.
• From 2004-2007 I worked as a Research Fellow at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and coordinator for Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regional program on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety policy involving 19 Member States. The efforts culminated to the adoption of harmonized Biosafety Policy by the COMESA Council of Ministers.
• Coordinated and fostered engagement with national, regional and continental stakeholders in order to foster inclusivity and ownership. Contributed to resource mobilization and also monitored and reported the impact of programs and projects implemented in alignment with EAC and Development Partners priorities.
• Published widely in areas of agricultural science, technology and innovation https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=odosALMAAAAJ&hl=en