Volunteer Stories
Jon Thiele
Congo
Southern Africa Farmer-to-Farmer Program
This article was originally written by CNFA.
Photo Credit to Cited Implementing Partner or Cited Entity
Name: Jon Thiele
Areas of expertise: Agribusiness, microfinance
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Name of project: Southern Africa Farmer-to-Farmer Program
Location of the project: Congo
Organization that sent the volunteer: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture
VOLUNTEER IMPACT
Jon Thiele is an agribusiness and microfinance expert who has focused on international development consulting for more than 20 years. In 2015, he further applied those skills by volunteering with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture in M’Banza, Congo through the Farmer-to-Farmer program. During his time working with the Bobocco Cooperative, Jon worked with local farmers to cultivate a viable cooperative structure, including assisting in the development of necessary organizational tools and training members in sustainable financial management skills.
Jon Thiele is a development professional with experience as manager and technical expert on multifaceted development programs in over twenty countries . He combines extensive management experience, knowledge of regulations and compliance, and skills in economic development, gender, and capacity building. Having led teams as large as 72, he has broad experience in building teams in complex environments.
Having designed and led many programs, notable recent work includes the design and implementation of anti-poverty programs in eight post-conflict countries through which over 120,000 women have achieved and sustain strong improvements in income and assets through improved agribusiness and workforce participation.
Jon has taken on the lead role in winning proposals for a range of funders with particular strength in analysis (both desk review of the client’s interests and field assessments), program concept, project design, and the technical elements of the proposal itself. Donor experience includes USAID, the US State Department, Danida, the EU, DFID, and several private foundations.