CURRICULUM VITA: DR. VICTOR AFARI-SEFA

  1. PERSONAL DATA

Address: AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center,P. O. Box 10, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania

Telephone : +255-686-027677/+255-763-780413(cell)

E-mail :

______

Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Nationality
Languages
Current Position
(May 2011 till present)
(Aug. 2010 till present) / : July 18, 1971
: Aburi-Akwapim, Ghana
: Ghanaian
: English, German, Akan
Global Theme Leader-Consumption
Scientist-Socioeconomics
AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)
Regional Center for Africa (RCA)
P.O. Box 10, Duluti,ARUSHA
TANZANIA
Tel: +255 27 255 3093 / +255 27 255 3102 Ext. 14
Fax: +255 27 255 3125
Cell: +255-686-027677 /+ 255-763-780413
Website:

PROFILE:Results-oriented Agricultural / Resource Economist, Researcher,

Project Manger and Teacher/Trainer. Able to provide leadership,

mentoring and to multi-task across all these and other related disciplines.

Experience in writing concept notes and research proposals for funding

  1. EDUCATION

DATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION CERTIFICATE OBTAINED

April 2003- Justus-Liebig University Giessen Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics

Aug. 2006 (Giessen, Germany) Magna cum laude, GPA: 1.0

Jan. 2000- NationalExtensionCollege CIM Advanced Certificate

June 2000 (United Kingdom) in Marketing

Oct. 1997- Georg-August University MSc. in Tropical Agriculture,

Nov. 1999 (Goettingen, Germany) (Socio-economics Option), GPA:1.5

April. 1997- Goethe Institute DSH Certificate

Sept. 1997 (Goettingen, Germany) (German as a Foreign Language)

Oct. 1990- University of CapeCoast BSc. Agric. (First Class Honours);

Aug. 1994 (Cape Coast, Ghana) Diploma in Education (Dip. Ed).

  1. CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Agricultural and Resource Economics:Project performance monitoring and evaluation, Ex-ante and ex-post impact assessment studies of horticultural crops and on poverty and smallholder livelihoods, Demand creation and effectiveness of various dissemination activities of improved vegetable cultivar and seed systems on vulnerable agricultural households, Rural farming systems, food security and livelihood linkages, Domestic agricultural marketing, Agricultural water use and management, Agricultural household modelling, Economic cost quantification of postharvest losses of horticultural crops, Socio-economic analysis of vegetables for food and nutrition security.

  1. RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I. Current Research Experience (AVRDC):

Period: From August 2010 to Present

Position:Scientist-Socioeconomist

Responsibilities:Global Theme Leader-Consumption & Head of Socioeconomics

research for AVRDC’s Regional Center for Africa (RCA).

  • Monitoring the quality of science of AVRDC’s consumption theme and providing mentoring as necessary including reviewing the scientific quality of research for developingproject proposals and assisting in proposal writing, and taking the lead in identifying priorities, opportunities and constraints of AVRDC’s Consumption research and development theme. Work with AVRDC’s Deputy Director General of Research to appraise performance and improve monitoring, logistics, documentation and effectiveness of the Consumption theme. Coordinating and chairing theme meetings, developing logframes, work plans and acting as representative of AVRDC in external meetings where required. Work withAVRDC‘s Regional Directors to determine regional research and development priorities.
  • Leading and coordinating socioeconomics research in the following areas:
  1. assessing key opportunities and challenges in medium and smallholder vegetable production systems in sub-Saharan Africa, and enable the development of appropriate vegetable research and development strategies and programs;
  2. analyzing constraints in the input, production, and postharvest systems of vegetable production and marketing in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa;
  3. conducting studies to help improve the commercialization of vegetable seed and the accessibility and efficiency of vegetable produce and seed markets for smallholder farmers and private sector;
  4. carrying out systemic surveys to document adoption of improved varieties and production technologies, seed systems development and impact on improved livelihoods;
  5. analyzing policy in interdisciplinary projects that deal with the promotion of indigenous and exotic vegetables.
  • In partnership with other AVRDC scientists from a variety of disciplines, developing project proposals, participating in implementing the activities related to socioeconomics of the projects, publishing and communicating research results, and influencing change among policy makers and stakeholders to support vegetable production, marketing, and consumption.

Current Teaching Experience

German University of Applied Management, Campus Accra,House No. 129, 18th Avenue,McCarthy Hill, P.O. Box KN-2560, Accra, Ghana ()

Period: From November 2008 to Present

Position:Adjunct Assistant Professor in Applied Management (BSc. & MBA programs)

Responsibilities: Teaching (Semi virtual/Blended learning concept)

Courses taught:Introduction to Business Administration, Basics of Business Administration & International Economy, Principles of Marketing, Strategic Management, Economics, and International Cooperation and Development.

II. Previous, Research, Project Management and Teaching Experience:

  1. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP), Private Mail Bag (PMB) L-56, Legon, Accra, Ghana, (

Period: From December 2008 to August 2010

Position:Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Associate(Consultant)

Responsibilities: Project Monitoring & Evaluation, Research, Policy dialogue,

Training & Community Outreach Service.

  • Coordinated the implementation of Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) M&E framework and related activities towards the achievement of project goals and targets.
  • Developed the M&E capacity of local service providers engaged in the provision of training farmers in techniques of intensive cocoa production.
  • Initiated, prepared, implemented, analyzed, and wrote up in collaboration with project partners and research institutes impact studies (ex-ante and ex-post).
  • Contributed to farmer training, input/service delivery arrangements and development of farmer organizations. Initiated and lead relevant policy studies and roundtable dialogues with key stakeholders.
  • Prepared impact study briefs, bulletins and other communication support for diffusion of the program results.
  • Acted as Country Manager of STCP-Ghana on several occasions.
  1. Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Dept. of Business and Social Sciences, Nova Scotia

Agricultural College (NSAC), P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada ()

Period: From July 2007 to November 2008

Position:Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Responsibilities: Research, Teaching, Administrative and Community work

  1. Conducted multidisciplinary research together with Engineers, Hydrologists and Natural Scientist involving the Economic and Environmental Analysis of Beneficial Management Practices in the Thomas Brook Watershed of Nova Scotia, Canada - within the framework of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) fundedWEBs Research Project.
  1. Drafted research proposals for funding within the framework of the Agricultural and Resource Economics Research Group (ARERG) of NSAC.
  1. Substitute teaching of Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 1000) in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 academic years at NSAC, Canada (undergraduate class size of 65).

C. Project Management & Community Service Work (via DalhousieUniversity)

Position:Project Coordinator for Truro(Part-time), Imhotep’s Legacy After School Project

Employer: Black Student Advising Centre, DalhousieUniversity: Room 418, Student Union

Building, 6136 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia,B3H 4J2Canada

Website: (

Period: From November 2007 to November, 2008

Responsibilities:Planning and implementing project activities as well as coordinating the

teaching activities of project mentors. Liaise with school administrators, parents of

participants and other stakeholders in an effort to facilitate the successful delivery of

project initiatives.

Project Overview:Imhotep’s LegacyAfter-School Project is a university-community

partnership that seeks to improve on the representation of African Canadians in science

professions by providing opportunities for young learners (Grades 7-9) of African descent

to engage in activities designed to strengthen their science and math aptitude.

  1. Dept. of Economic and Technological Change, Center for Development Research (ZEF), Walter-Flex-Street 3, Bonn, D-53115 Germany ( or

Period: From June 2006 to July 2007

Position:Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Responsibilities: Research, Teaching, Administrative and Community work

  1. Handled alladministrative duties related to the position of Resident Economistwithin the framework of the 9-yearGLOWA VoltaProject on “Sustainable Water Resource Management in West Africa. The 60 Million Euro project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
  2. Conducted multidisciplinary research together with Climatologists, Hydrologists, Remote sensors, Anthropologists and Computer Scientist for the macro-economic modelling of water demand in the Volta basin of Ghana and Burkina Faso.
  3. Taught a doctoral course work entitled: “Introduction to Bio-economic Household Modelling in GAMS” at the Bonn International Graduate School of Development Research (BIGS-DR).
  4. Mentoring/Supervision of Ph.D. and MSc. students working in the GLOWA Volta project.
  1. Agribusiness Section, CentralUniversityCollege, P.O. Box DS-2310, Accra, Ghana

Period: From March 2001 to March 2003

Position:Lecturer in Agribusiness Management

Responsibilities: Teaching, Research and Community work

  1. Taught courses in: Agricultural Development Policy, Agricultural Marketing, Project Analysis and Management, and Strategic Management Foundations.
  2. Supervised undergraduate final year student project work.
  3. Coordinator of student field trips, and patron of various campus student clubs.
  1. Wisconsin International University College-Ghana, P. O. Box LG-751, Accra, Ghana

Period: From October 2002 to March 2003

Position:Part-time Lecturer in Principles of Marketing

Responsibilities: Teaching and Research

  1. Christian Friends of Democracy (Local NGO), P. O. Box 256, Aburi, Ghana

Period:From March 2001 to March 2003

Position:Food Security Program Director (Part-time)

Responsibilities: Organized farmers into groups for food security and poverty alleviation

programs, Managed Food Crop Teaching and Demonstration farm aimed at impacting

knowledge on adoption of improved cropping practices and new agricultural technology in

the light of booming horticultural exports. Organized Capacity buildingprograms including

educational campaign on control of HIV/AIDS and its effects on the work and productivity

of horticultural farm households. Sourced and raised funding for food security projects.

  1. Soil Science Department, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast, Ghana

Period: From November 1994 to September 1996

Position:Teaching/Research Assistant

Responsibilities: Teaching of undergraduate Soil science practicals, Marking of exam

scripts of Professor for Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Drafting of department

research proposals.

  1. AggreyMemorialZionSecondary School, P. O. Box 189, Cape Coast, Ghana

Period: From September 1995 to March 1997

Position:Secondary School Teacher

Responsibilities: Taught Agricultural Economics & Extension, Core Agriculture.

  1. MEMBERSHIP OF JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARDS
  1. Member of Editorial Board of Journal of Management and Sustainability (JMS):
  2. Member of Editorial Board of Journal of Agricultural Science(JAS):
  3. Member of the Editorial Board of Advances in Crop Science and Technology (ACST):
  1. Member of the Editorial Board of Economics (ECO):
  1. Member of the Editorial Board of Current Opinion in Agriculture (CUOPAG):
  2. Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Advances in Developmental Research (JADR) :
  3. Member of the Editorial Board of the African Journal of Agricultural Research (AJAR):
  4. Member of the Editorial Board of Scientific Research and Essays (SRE) Academic Journal.
  5. Member of the Editorial Board of the Australian Journal of Crop Science (AJCS):

  1. SCHOLARLY/PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

6.1 External Reviewer for Scholarly Journals (Requested Volunteer Tasks)

  • Reviewer for Journal ofAgricultural Science: July-August 2013
  • Reviewer for Agricultural Systems: August 2012-January, 2013
  • Reviewer for Land Use Policy: July-December 2012
  • Reviewer for Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food (FOSE), January 2012
  • Reviewer for Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food (FOSE), June 2011
  • Reviewer for African Journal of Agricultural Research (AJAR), March 2011
  • Reviewer for African Journal for Horticultural Science(AJHS), November, 2010
  • Reviewer for African Journal of Marketing Management(AJMM), November, 2010
  • Reviewer for Australian Journal of Crop Science(AJCS), January, 2010
  • Reviewer for Australian Journal of Crop Science(AJCS), November, 2009
  • Reviewer for Australian Journal of Crop Science(AJCS), September, 2009
  • Reviewer for Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, August 2009
  • Reviewer (Commissioned Paper) for Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy Research Network (CATPRN), December, 2008
  • Reviewer for Australian Journal of Crop Science(AJCS), December, 2008
  • Section Editor for Australian Journal of Crop Science(AJCS), May-June 2008
  • Reviewer for Journal of Developing Areas (JDA), April 2008
  • Reviewer for Journal for Agricultural Science and Technology (JAST), March 2008
  • Co-reviewer for Food Policy, October 2007
  • Co-reviewer for Geoforum, July 2007
  • Reviewer for African Journal of Agricultural Research (AJAR), December 2006
  • Co-reviewer forAgricultural Economics, February 2005

6.2Internal (AVRDC) Manuscript and Research Proposal Peer Reviews

  • Farmers’ Perceptions, Behaviour, and Level of Pesticide use on Yard-Long Bean in Peri-Urban Areas of Bangkok, Thailand, September 2011 (Peer-reviewed journal manuscript)
  • Assessing the Impact of an Integrated Pest Management Training Course in Jharkhand,September 2011 (Peer-reviewed journal manuscript)
  • The Nutritional and Economic Potential of Vegetables, May 2011 (Book chapter)
  • The Potential of Indigenous Vegetables to Contribute to Improved Urban and Peri-UrbanLivelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa May 2011 (Book chapter)
  • Vegetables and rural livelihoods in Cameroon: Importance and future prospects, February,2011 (Peer-reviewed journal manuscript)
  • Quality Seeds and Planting Material in Vegetables: An International Perspective, November, 2010 (Peer-reviewed journal manuscript).
  • Promoting the Rational and Balanced use of Agricultural Inputs in South Asia. Asian Development Bank proposal prepared for submission to the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation Agriculture Centre, October 2010 (Research project proposal).
  • A Pilot Study of Vegetable Seed Demand in Tanzania, August, 2010 (Consultancy research report).

6.3External Examiner/Reader, Graduate Student Thesis Research

  • Co-External Reader/Examiner, M.Phil. Agricultural Administration Thesis, University of Ghana(Freda Naa Norley Barnor, An Analysis of Consumer Preference for Beef from the Accra Abattoir) April, 2008.
  • Co-External Reader/Examiner, M.Phil. Agricultural Administration Thesis, University of Ghana(Stanley Kojo Dary, Rural Non-farm Employment and its Effects on Crop Production Practices in the Upper West Region of Ghana), April, 2008.
  • Co-External Reader/Examiner, M.Phil. Agricultural Administration Thesis, University of Ghana(Hannah Nyamekye, Effectiveness of the Training Provided by NGOs in Promoting

Agricultural Productivity: A Case Study of Adventist Development and Relief Agency and

TheHunger Project –Ghana), February, 2008.

  • Assistant Examiner, West African Examinations Council, Junior and Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations, from January, 1995- March, 1997.
  1. MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
  • Member of Canadian Agricultural Economics Society (CAES)
  • Member of Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA)
  • Member of Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy Research Network (CATPRN)
  • Member of the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS)
  • Member of African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE)
  • Member of Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE)
  • Member of the African Growth and Development (AGRODEP) Policy Modelling Consortium
  • Member of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Network
  • Member of Canadian Water Network (CWN)
  1. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Member of the Board of Trustees, Ghana National Deaf Children Society, Cape Coast, Ghana:
  • Registered Volunteer Advisor of the Canadian University Services Organization-Voluntary Services Overseas (CUSO-VSO): since September 2009
  • RegisteredCooperant of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA): ; since September 2007
  • RegisteredVolunteer Advisor of the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO-SACO): ; since September 2007
  • Consultant to Evalueserve Circle of Experts, 211 East 43 Street, 11th Floor, NY 10017-4820, USA, since February 2008
  1. AWARDS AND FELLOWSHIPS
  1. Selected sponsored participant on the International DAAD Alumni Summer School “Conservation and Management of Biodiversity in the Tropics” (September 27 - October 05, 2009, Goettingen, Germany) and 2009 German Tropical Day International Conference (Tropentag 2009) onBiophysical and Socio-economic Frame Conditions for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources(October 6-8, 2009, Hamburg, Germany).
  2. Sponsorship grant from the Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy Research Network (CATPRN) to participate in the 2008 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society (CAES) workshop entitled “What Makes Agricultural Economics Research Relevant for Policy Advice?”, Ottawa, Canada, October 23-25, 2008.
  3. Selected sponsored participant of the Yukon River Basin Workshop, jointly organized and sponsored by the Canadian Water Network and University of Waterloo, Whitehouse (Canada) and Alaska (USA), July 23-August 1, 2008.
  4. Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award for Macro-economic Modeling of Water Demand in the Volta River Basin of West Africa within the framework of the GLOWA Volta research project. June 2006-July 2007.
  5. Recipient of a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) - Sponsored Conference Scholarship for oral presentation of the paper: "The Interlinks Between Agricultural Export Diversification, Food Security and Livelihood of Farmers in Southern Ghana", at the “Ninth Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis” jointly organized by the UNECA and Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), Purdue University, United Nations Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 15-17, 2006.
  6. Tuition Scholarship Award for Participation in the Training Workshop “Introduction to Dynamic General Equilibrium Modeling with GAMS/MPSGE” jointly organized by Prof. Thomas Rutherford, University of Colorado and the GAMS Development Corporation, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA,March 14-18, 2005.
  7. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship award for Ph.D. Studies at the Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, April 2003-May 2006.
  8. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship award for German Language and MSc. Studies at the University of Goettingen, April 1997-September 1999.
  9. Cited on the 2nd Deans’ Lectures Award as the best third year undergraduate student for the 1992/93 Academic year in the School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
  10. Cited on the 1st Deans’ Lectures Award as the best second year undergraduate student for the 1991/92 Academic year in the School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
  1. REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

10.1 Peer reviewed journals

  1. Afari-Sefa, V., Chagomoka, T., Karanja, D.K., Njeru, E., Samali, S., Katunzi, A., Mtwaenzi, H., and Kimenye, L (2013). Private Contracting versus Community Seed Production Systems: Experiences from Farmer-Led Seed Enterprise Development of African Indigenous Vegetables in Tanzania. Acta Horticulturae 1007: 671-680.
  1. Lin, S-W., Chou, Y-Y. , Shieh, S-C., Lin, L-H., Ebert, A.W, Kumar, S., Mavlyanova, R., Rouamba, A., Tenkouano, A., Afari-Sefa,V., and Gniffke,P. A. (2013). Pepper (Capsicum spp.) germplasm dissemination by AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center: an overview and introspection. Chronica Horticulturae53(3): 21-27.
  1. Gockowski, J.; Afari-Sefa, V.; Sarpong, D.B.; Osei-Asare, B.Y.; Agyeman, F.N. (2013). Improving the Productivity and Income of Ghanaian Cocoa Farmers While MaintainingEnvironmental Services: What Role for Certification? International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. Downloadable at DOI:
  1. Afari-Sefa, V., Dagnoko, S., Endres, T., Kumar, S., Gniffke, P.A., Tenkouano A. (2012). Innovative Tools and Approaches for Vegetable Cultivar and Technology Dissemination in West Africa. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development 4(15): 410-416. Available online at:

Sefa%20et%20al.pdf.