Melinda Fones-Sundell is coordinator of Sida Programme Support, SEI’s business development adviser, and senior adviser to the Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI), which she used to coordinate.

She has over 30 years’ experience in research and teaching and private-sector international consulting. She has served as Team Leader/Project Manager for both short-term planning and evaluation missions and long-term development projects in Tanzania (1991-96) and Nicaragua (2000-05).

Her general areas of work include small-holder agricultural development in Africa and Latin America and environmental and social impact analysis of infrastructural projects, with a special focus on bioenergy.

Most recently, she has coordinated a SIANI-sponsored book on linkages between gender equity and agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Melinda has worked for Sida, Norad, Danida, the Nordic Development Fund, FAO, IUCN, the World Bank, USAID and Norwegian Peoples Aid.

Her field experience is from 16 countries, and, in addition to published evaluations and analytical work, she has worked extensively as a facilitator in planning and institutional change processes in five languages (English, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese and Swahili). She holds an M.Sc. in agricultural economics.

Publications

• Transforming gender relations in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Promising approaches (Discussion Brief - 2012)

• Financing and investment for sugar cane and bioenergy in Africa (Book chapter - 2012)

Complete list of publications »

Projects

• AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY SECURITY IN AFRICAN BIOMASS TRANSITIONS

  
  

• Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI)