Hanging up my (AMEA board) Hat:
Certainly a bittersweet moment for me in Delft finishing my final meeting as chairman of the board of directors of #AMEA (Agribusiness Market Ecosystem Alliance). It really has been a wonderful journey complete with marked high points and low points. It seemed particularly apt to bow out in Delft, where we had gathered six years previously at the office of #NEN to begin the process of developing and supporting an international standard for a “professional farmer organization”. It was a great feeling to leave on the high point of celebrating the actual publication of #ISO 18716:2024 https://lnkd.in/gceiqwft. I feel gratified that I leave AMEA in good health with a new set of incoming board members, 36 network members and no fewer that nine operational local AMEA networks in Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Honduras, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. AMEA benefits from previous and on-going financial support from #IFAD, #Argidius Foundation and the #SmallFoundation and has been steadily consolidating a position as a thought leader in effective support services and systems change for the #AgriSME ecosystem. AMEA is also a great example of the power and value of networks and alliances, especially in these difficult and resource constrained times.
Successful Networks are built on the energy, vison and commitment of individuals and AMEA has been lucky to have had many –certainly too many to mention here – who have made valued contributions over the years. But I would like to acknowledge the support of Lucas Simons, Thamar Zijlstra, Marise Blom, Maaike Fleur, Mark Blackett, Filipe Di Matteo, William (บุญ) Sparks, @alex serrano, Cees van Rij, MBA chris claes, Hedwig Siewertsen Karina Wong, Gerard Wynne, Nicholas Colloff, Jaap-Jan Verboom Hélène M. Van der Roest , Lori-Rae van Laren, Elsa van Vuuren, @Desta, Harrison Richard Kaziro, O. Grégoire AGAI @Edward Heinemann Edmond Joseph Ringo, @ian cunningham, Aggie Asiimwe Konde, Sergio E. Rivas Madelon Pfeiffer, Casey Harrison Sabrina Amburgey
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the support of my own institution #IFC Tania Lozansky, Prasad Gopalan, Anup Jagwani, Hileena Eshetu Chole Amy Warren, ROSEMARY K Mahoney Dieter Fischer, Niraj H Shah Yemesrach F. Gebremikael Fanja Ravoavy, Mehnaz Haider . #IFCagribusiness are one of the founding members of AMEA and have supported the venture throughout. I am particularly grateful to have been allowed the time to support the AMEA board.
