Rainer Peter Ratsch

Advise to the Umbrella Organization for the Shea industry (AKB – Association Karité Bénin) in Benin • Advise and support of the coordination of the Umbrella Organization for the Shea industry in the development and implementation of a national strategy to promote and develop the Shea sector Achievements: Increase in the equity of the shea women groups by 10 %, increase in the number of active numbers in the interventions area by 10 % from the impact matrix

• Advisory function to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the Volta Region • Establishment of the Volta Value Chain Cooperative for Fruits and Vegetables and its Service Department • Promotion of innovation in the agriculture and food sector through the development of inclusive business models and organisational development • Promotion of the mango and pineapple industry following the value chain approach • Staff and budget responsibility

• Management of an agricultural research station (200ha) • Responsibility for 40 staff (6 scientists) • Mentoring and coaching of 2 scientists • Financial controlling and budget responsibility

• Planning and implementation of a food security project with the financial support of the European Union • Trial responsibility in a soil fertility maintenance project in cooperation with the Australian donor organisation ACIAR

• Development of a Research & Development program • Project responsibility in cooperation with national/ inter-national partner organisations • Improvement of organisational structures and management practices • Staff training and mentoring

• Planning and coordination of seed multiplication • Development of a PC supported information system

• Organisation and presentation of an agricultural market research study

• Coordination and assistance of the sales representatives of the company • Analyses of domestic and international market research • Strategic analyses and presentation of field results

• Assistance and service to sales partners • Regional market analyses • Implementation and demonstration of demo plots

Fundamentals of Senior Management, Strategy, Problem Solving and Improvement: Quality and Other Approaches, Environmental Decision Making; A Systems Approach, Making a Difference