As Program Analyst for Agriculture and Livelihoods, Melissa Benn is responsible for developing and implementing the Agricultural Transformation Initiative’s procurement processes. She assists in designing and writing solicitation and procurement documents, while also establishing procedures that facilitate grant disbursements.
Melissa is skilled at managing international agricultural development programs. Her work in this area has included supporting operations, ensuring compliance, backstopping overseas projects, contributing to new business development, forging relationships, and overseeing knowledge retention. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked at Chemonics International Inc. in Washington, DC as Manager of the Agriculture and Food Security Practice, and on the Markets and Trade team for the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).
Melissa’s earlier role at Chemonics International Inc. was as a Senior Associate, specializing in project management and support to project offices in East Africa, including day-to-day support of offices in Ethiopia and Sudan.
Melissa currently resides in Virginia and has a BA in Food Studies and Environmental Policy from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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William Kamkwamba signs books during the Agricultural Transformation Summit, held in Lilongwe, Malawi on November 14, 2019 Inspiration can come from all places. For some, inspiration comes from listening to the words of others. Moments of inspiration can also hit during times of great need, or times of reflection. For William Kamkwamba, the Malawian […]
GENDER LENS INVESTING: The deliberate integration of gender analysis into investment analysis and decision-making Gender lens investing (GLI) is “an investing approach that deliberately incorporates a desire to make a difference in the lives of women and girls, while meeting the risk/return objectives appropriate for an institutional portfolio.” The Criterion Institute and Jackie VanderBrug, Managing Director of Global […]
Ngabahila Chatata, and her husband, after winning first prize in the Youth Agri-preneur Pitch Competition in Lilongwe, Malawi, standing with Rob Henning, Director of Agriculture and Economic Diversification Programs (left) and Jim Lutzweiler, Vice President of Agriculture and Livelihoods (right) Without a doubt, pitch competitions set an exciting scene. Entrepreneurs nervously pace as expert judges […]
A word diagram from the WhatsApp conference group The last week of November, approximately five hours before my flight left from DC to Lilongwe, I opened my suitcase and began to pack. Some may argue that sprinting around with literal moments to spare may not be the most prudent way to prepare for a […]
In his latest blog, Derek Yach notes, “In 2020, we must not only acknowledge that smoking persists as a pressing global health threat, but also adapt our tactics to address the ways in which this threat has evolved.” #AccelerateTransformation http://bit.ly/37ci1ma
How insurers can profit while helping people to quit smoking
http://zpr.io/th74r
The Foundation is collaborating with the insurance industry to raise awareness about how insurers can help end smoking. This could create shared value that will benefit smokers, insurers and society as a whole. #endsmoking, #insuranceindustry. http://bit.ly/2sZCifK
David Janazzo, CFO and VP of #IndustryTransformation examines how Tobacco Free Portfolios, Bloomberg STOP’s Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, and FSFW’s Tobacco Transformation Index are complementary. http://bit.ly/2QTQfoI
UK
New ASH & Cancer Research UK report:
"Local authorities which do not currently provide e-cigarette starter packs as part of their cessation offer should consider doing so to give local smokers the best possible chance to quit."
"Only" 11% do so now.
https://ash.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Many-Ways-Forward.pdf
© 2019 Foundation for A Smoke-Free World. All rights reserved.
