Jefferson Shriver

Jefferson Shriver Agro-Enterprise Specialist, Organic Farmer Nicaragua Connect Connect with Jefferson Shriver Catholic Relief Services American University See contact info 500+ connections Jefferson is passionate about agro-enterprise and social entrepreneurship as a vehicle to help rural families achieve prosperity. Supporting farmers to become relevant and lasting value chain actors has been the primary focus of his 22-year career in rural development. He is equally passionate and skilled in harmonizing environmental, economic, and social (triple bottom line) objectives into agro-enterprise approaches. Through both on-farm and advisory services, he has expertise in the use of cash crops in agroforestry systems, and intercropping in multiple story systems. Jefferson is currently the agriculture value chains lead for Catholic Relief Services globally, building staff capacity and coordinating the agency approach to value chains and rural entrepreneurship across Africa, Latin America and Asia. From 2007-2010, Jefferson served with CRS as Chief of Party for the USAID-sponsored value chains project ACORDAR in Nicaragua benefitting over 7,000 small farmers, From 2004-2007, he directed a USAID Title II food security program with CRS Nicaragua from 2004-2007. Jefferson worked with Lutheran World Relief (1999-2005) as Central America Director for the Hurricane Mitch response as well as Associate Director for Latin America, and from 1995-99 with the Mennonite Central Committee working in the areas of microfinance and rural livelihoods. Jefferson owns and manages an organic certified agroforestry farm in Nicaragua with annual production of coffee, turmeric, vanilla, fruits and vegetables. For the past five years, he has also served on the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Food Labs, a consortium of business, non-profit and public organizations accelerating the shift to sustainability in the food industry. He received his BA in International Studies from Whitworth University, and his MA in Global Environmental Policy from American University. Jefferson is a U.S. citizen and 20-year resident of Nicaragua residing in Granada. Show less Show less of Jefferson’s summary Articles 822 followers CRS looking for Head of Programs in Tanzania Jefferson’s profile photo Jefferson Shriver Published on LinkedIn This is an excellent position for the right person. 1 Comment Like Comment Share See all Experience Catholic Relief Services Company NameCatholic Relief Services Total Duration9 yrs TitleSenior Technical Advisor, Value Chains Dates EmployedJan 2014 – Present Employment Duration5 yrs 4 mos LocationManagua, Nicaragua Provide leadership within a global agricultural team to provide methods, tools, and training to help small farmers become relevant value chain actors and to achieve more durable market linkage to higher value markets and more formal buyers. Develop longstanding partnerships with leading corporations, social investment funds, and traders at the domestic and international level. These market focused approaches support farm families to develop the business acumen and business relationships that will enable them to add value to product and generate greater product volume and quality, laying the foundation for more consistent market engagement. +2 TitleRegional Technical Advisor for Agro-Enterprise and Climate Change Dates EmployedMay 2010 – Dec 2013 Employment Duration3 yrs 8 mos LocationNicaragua Design value chain and climate change programming embracing the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. Recent initiatives: coffee and mango value chains in Haiti, cocoa and passion fruit in Nicaragua and El Salvador, vanilla in Madagascar, coffee in Colombia and Ecuador, and carbon credit and climate change adaptation programs with coffee ... See more Gaia Estate Farm Owner Company NameGaia Estate Farm Dates EmployedMay 2006 – Aug 2016 Employment Duration10 yrs 4 mos LocationDiriamba, Nicaragua Organic, bird friendly-certified farm with multi-story agroforestry canopy, 130 species of birds identified and over 70 tree species. Crops produced include coffee, avocado, banana, vanilla, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Additional initiatives at Gaia include agro-tourism and birding, a platform for education in sustainable agriculture and climate change, and scien... See more Catholic Relief Services Company NameCatholic Relief Services Total Duration5 yrs 8 mos TitleChief of Party, USAID funded Agro-Enterprise initiative ACORDAR Dates EmployedMar 2007 – Mar 2010 Employment Duration3 yrs 1 mo LocationNicaragua  Overall responsibility of CRS-led, public-private sector consortium of 20 organizations (PVO, national NGO, rural enterprise, and private sector actors) to implement $27.5 million, 2.5 year agro-enterprise initiative ($19.8 million in leveraged funds, $7.6 in USAID funds) to increase incomes, capacities and employment of 5,400 small farmers nationwide. Crops promoted include fruits and vegetables (including roots and tubers), red and black beans, coffee and cocoa.  Managed inter-institutional relationships amongst USAID, PVO, NGO, and private sector to ensure that project and business objectives were met  Obtained ACORDAR project expansion in first year by spear-heading two new initiatives including agriculture rehabilitation following disaster and water management in agro-enterprise activities  Primary Representation responsibilities with USAID Cognizant Technical Officer (CTO) to inform USAID of project success through quarterly reports and field visits, and to ensure environmental, administrative, and financial compliance with USAID regulations See less Climate Change Crisis and How Poor Can Adapt Climate Change Crisis and How Poor Can Adapt TitleDeputy Country Director Dates EmployedAug 2004 – Mar 2007 Employment Duration2 yrs 8 mos LocationNicaragua  Directed CRS Development Activities Program (DAP Title II) to ensure program quality and USAID grant compliance across agriculture, commercialization, microfinance, health, and civil society sectors for $2.5 million annual budget  Supervised staff of 5 program sector managers... See more Lutheran World Relief Associate Director for Latin America Company NameLutheran World Relief Dates EmployedAug 2002 – Aug 2004 Employment Duration2 yrs 1 mo Education American University American University Degree NameMasters Field Of StudyGlobal Environmental Policy Dates attended or expected graduation 2002 – 2005 Whitworth University Whitworth University Degree NameBA Field Of StudyInternational Studies