Key Takeaways from Feed the Future's NAFAKA Activity from Lee Rosner and Elizabeth Eckert (ACDI/VOCA)

Lee Rosner and Elizabeth Eckert of ACDI/VOCA share their takeaways from the Breakfast Seminar #69, "Balancing Quick Wins with Sustainability: Feed the Future’s NAFAKA Project in Tanzania." In this video, Rosner and Eckert discuss the NAFAKA activity, how it fits into the Feed the Future initiative in Tanzania, and how the project has achieved quick wins while still ensuring sustainability through solid planning, relationship strengthening, and behavior change strategies.

Bio: Lee Rosner

Lee Rosner is the Chief of Party on the USAID-funded SFSA Task Order, Tanzania Staples Value Chain Project NAFAKA. Rosner has over 30 years’ experience in international development, 19 as Chief of Party. He has administered USAID contracts and cooperative agreements in a variety of sectors including rural competitiveness, agribusiness and microenterprise/SME development, NGO capacity building, democratic governance and civil society development, grants management, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Rosner has served long-term assignments in Bolivia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, Romania, Tanzania, Liberia, Mozambique and Uganda; he is currently posted in Dar es Salaam.

Bio: Elizabeth Eckert

Elizabeth Eckert is an international development specialist who manages the implementation of projects in private-led agribusiness development, including market access, productivity enhancement, business services, adaptive technologies, value chain services, and micro and small enterprises. She is currently managing Feed the Future and economic growth programs that facilitate investment and trade in agriculture, integrating nutrition and gender. Eckert currently serves as a deputy director for ACDI/VOCA’s agribusiness field operations and business development efforts. She manages programs in East Africa involving staple crop production and competitiveness, livelihood diversification, and integration of nutrition messaging. She has broad-based experience in technical services, project management and business development. Her experience includes assignments in Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Eckert has an M.A. in Anthropology of Development from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies.