Charles Agwanda

wide experience in in development of agricultural value chains. I holds a Doctor of Philosophy, specialisation in Biology, Diversity and Adaptation of cultivated plants (coffee selection and adaptation major); a Master of Science degree in Plant Breeding and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.

I am currently working as an independent consultant on value chains and trade of agricultural commodities. This involves working both individually and as an associate to a number of institutions within my area of expertise. Before this, I was the Coordinator for the Commodities theme at CABI Africa (2007-2021). The theme aims at improving the productivity, quality, safety and profitability of smallholder crops, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, high value horticulture and cotton, in order to improve market access. I have over 35 years of experience in agricultural research and development and value chain development for agricultural commodities. I have helped African countries to set realistic visions for commodity development, develop roadmaps for realising the country visions and develop fundable projects as tools to operationalise the country strategies.

Prior to this, I worked for the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, ASARECA, (2003 - 2007) as the coordinator for the Coffee Research Network (CORNET). In this capacity, I was responsible for coordinating regional activities aimed at increasing productivity, value and competitiveness of the national coffee systems in 10 coffee producing countries in the region. I was also the Head of Coffee breeding program in Kenya (1987 - 2003) and Senior Research Officer (1991 - 2003) at the Coffee Research Foundation in the same country. I started his profession as a District Agricultural Officer in charge of farm planning under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in the Government of Kenya. 

I have developed and implemented a number of major projects in my professional area. I recently formulated and implemented the project on value chain interventions for enhanced compliance with market standards for fruits and vegetables in Rwanda and Zambia (2020-2021) and developed and implemented the project on promoting domestic coffee consumption in Africa (2019-2021), financed by International Coffee Organisation (ICO) Special Fund. Prior to this, I coordinated the project to improve coffee quality in East and Central Africa through enhanced primary processing practices implemented in Rwanda and Ethiopia (2004 – 2008) financed by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and Illy Café, coordinated and provided technical backstopping to the project on development of the potential of Gourmet Robusta markets in Gabon and Togo (2007 – 2011) financed by CFC, developed and managed the project on the introduction of improved coffee washing technology (Central Processing Units - CPU) in Cameroon (2010 – 2012) financed by the World Bank, developed and managed the project on sustainable credit guarantee scheme to promote scaling out of enhanced coffee processing practices in Ethiopia and Rwanda (2011-2016) financed by CFC, managed the project Breaking Barriers facilitating trade financed by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) and the project to boost coffee productivity in Kenya and Malawi through better access to and use of modern technologies and innovations (2014-2018) financed by the European Union. 

I have undertaken a number of value chain studied in commodity crops including coffee, and cocoa, coconut and high value horticulture. I am experienced in identification of research priorities for coffee and in using value chain participatory approaches to identify and address constraints and opportunities to smallholder production systems, coffee in particular.

I have authored many peer reviewed scientific papers in his professional area.

I hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology, Diversity and Adaptation of cultivated plants from the University of Montpellier, France, Master of Science in Plant Breeding and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, both from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.