PO Box 602090, Tholo House, Plot 50668, Fairgrounds, Gaborone, Botswana, Phone: (+267) 3900884, info@satradehub.org

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

August 2013

Grain Grading Practical and Graduation in Zambia Photo Essay By Sara Sullivan, Head of Communications

Even after the hard work of planting and harvesting is done, grain in Southern Africa still remains vulnerable: approximately 1.3 million tons of stored grain becomes damaged and unsuitable for human consumption or export every year.

USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub is partnering with local institutions in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique to sponsor management courses on grain grading and standards, storage management and pest prevention. This month we took a peek at a course in Lusaka to see what students were learning and to celebrate with them on graduation day.

The USAID course puts students through twelve days of intense training in the classroom and in the field on sampling, sample preparation, weighing and calculation of percentage, moisture determination, sieving and cleanliness.

Students are taken through group exercises where they practice grading and sampling themselves, and they visit warehouse to see what other players in the industry are doing.

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Proper management and storage protects the grain from moisture, mold and pests, but correct techniques must be applied. Here a student practices sampling, using a probe to extract a small amount of grain for testing.

Students inspect a grain sample for the presence of poisonous seeds. They are also trained to look for percentage of damaged or discolored grain, broken kernels, foreign matter and evidence of insects or insect damage.

The course includes a crucial component on grading, which enables the sorting of different qualities of grain so that higher qualities can fetch a higher price at the market. Currently most grain in Zambia is unsorted and therefore sold at a lower price.

Students examine bunker storage, a relatively new technology that allows for bulk storage at a fraction of the cost of traditional silo storage.

Before completing the course and receiving certification, each student must pass a graded written examination. Sixty to seventy percent of attendees are receiving formal grading training for the first time.

Course participant Nigel Sharpe receives his certificate from Zambia’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rogers Mwewa during the graduation ceremony that concludes the twelve-day training session. Courses will continue throughout 2013 and 2014, training hundreds of managers in this important aspect of grain trade.

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Interview Videos:

1. David Soko Internal Auditor Ace-Global “On the importance of Grain Grading to protect Zambia’s crops” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfK1LAa_1jY

2. Chali Nyirenda Agri-Business Analyst Frontier Development Associates+ “Discusses what she has learned in USAID grain management course http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhwX84LAM90

Trade Information Portal to Improve Trade Facilitation in Namibia By Peter Bennett, Customs Specialist

The World Trade Organization General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) 1994 Article X on Trade Facilitation calls for member country trade regulations to be clearly published. The WTO Self-Assessment Guide (2009)1 outlines the basic standard for internet Publication as: “A Member shall publish all trade related legislation, procedures and documents on a national official internet site or sites”. Usually called a “Trade Repository” or a “Trade Information Portal” the site facilitates awareness, via the internet, of requirements to enable compliance with customs and other agency requirements for the import or export of goods, using the HS classification of goods as the primary organizing principle for cataloguing and retrieving information.

The government of Namibia expects to have its Trade Information Portal up and running by early 2014. The development of portal is supported by the USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub, under its Partnership for Trade Facilitation facility. The Trade Hub recently supported Namibia in a detailed legislative review of the country’s Customs and Excise Act to align it with global and regional legislation and to provide the legislative foundations for electronic trade facilitation measures, including the Trade Information Portal. Currently trade-related information is made available across number of websites maintained by each government agency responsible for a particular aspect

Addressing course graduates, Deputy Minister Mwewa underscores the importance of certifying warehouse managers in Zambia to improve and commercialize the entire grain sector.

All 22 graduates of the July Zambia grain management course gather after the ceremony before returning to their jobs better informed and able to perform their work in the agricultural sector.

An Agent conducting research

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of trade regulation. The Trade Information Portal will provide a single platform where all trade related information for Namibia is collected in one system and readily available for searching and viewing, which will save time and expense for the trading community. The Trade Information Portal uses the latest technology to provide a comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date source for all regulatory information, which will result in tangible benefits for trade facilitation. No longer will it be necessary to seek advice in person from multiple agencies. Furthermore, conflicting advice and guidelines will be avoided by creating a single authoritative reference point. The savings in time and expense will lessen the overall cost of doing business and reduce the time to import or export goods, contributing to Namibia’s improved standing in doing business indexes and transparency. A significant part of the coordination and development work in setting up the Trade Information Portal will facilitate and shorten the road map towards implementing an electronic National Single Window which is also under consideration by the Namibia government. Trade Hub Supports Malawi and Lesotho’s Standards and Technical Regulations Development Process By Reginald Selelo, Investment Promotion Advisor Standards and technical regulations are critical to global trade as well as in enhancing economic growth and food security. Exporters must know prevailing standards and technical requirements for their products in the target export markets while importers must ensure that the products they bring into the country meet all the relevant standards and technical regulations. Countries use standards and technical regulations as non-tariff barriers and this can inhibit trade. In some instances, arbitrary standards increase the cost of compliance thus decreasing competitiveness of companies. If regulations are set arbitrarily, they could be used as an excuse for protectionism. In order to facilitate trade flows, governments must have effective national standards setting bodies, transparent and participatory standards-setting processes, up-to-date laws, regulations and information portals. It is in this regard that the Trade Hub received requests from Malawi, Lesotho and Zambia’s national standards bodies for technical assistance under the Partnership for Trade Facilitation (PTF) grant. MBS requested assistance to strengthen the country’s legal and regulatory framework for standards and to implement an effective Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) enquiry point in accordance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) TBT Agreement. The Agreement tries to ensure that regulations, standards, testing and certification procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade, while also providing members with the right to protect human health and safety, or the environment. Currently, while several standards have been referred to in legislation in Malawi, there is need to help regulators understand the importance and most effective way of referencing standards in technical regulations (rather than reproducing the entire

standard). On the other hand, while Malawi has an enquiry point, as required by WTO agreements, there is urgent need to improve its effectiveness. The Lesotho standards and technical regulations development process is still at its infancy and the country does not have the necessary legal framework for developing standards. In addition, Lesotho currently does not have a national standards body. Following consultations with the applicants, the Trade Hub has since approved funding for requested technical assistance for Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) and the Lesotho Department of Standards while the request from Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) is currently being reviewed. In this regard, the Trade Hub has helped MBS and the Lesotho Department of Standards to develop

implementation plans that will help operationalize the approved technical assistance.

Standards testing laboratories

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Through this support, the Trade Hub will provide in kind technical assistance to advance reforms that would assist both the public and private sector in Malawi and Lesotho improve their standards making process while building the capacity of these countries to implement the WTO TBT Agreement. In providing this technical assistance, the Trade Hub will, where possible, enlist the services of renowned standards, quality and infrastructure organizations from the United States such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Trade Hub Supports Redevelopment of AGOA Website By Gina van Schalkwyk, Communications Advisor On 12 August 2013 at the 12th annual AGOA Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the new AGOA.info website, redeveloped with financial support from the Southern Africa Trade Hub, was launched. The site, designed, developed and managed by the Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa (Tralac) combines the existing content of the AGOA.info website with the Trade Hubs’ AGOA exporter toolkits to enhance the site. The website was originally developed more than a decade ago by Tralac. Since then new developments in website technology and the desirability to establish a single portal for businesses to access information on AGOA drove the need to upgrade and redevelop the site, and Tralac approached the Southern Africa Trade Hub for assistance.

“While the original website served its purpose well, the need to revamp and expand the existing content using more modern and functional website architecture became a priority,” explained Eckart Naumann the project manager at Tralac. The exporter toolkit component is a resource for African companies to learn the key principles involved in exporting to the United States. It is a helpful destination for African companies wanting to learn more about U.S. regulations, U.S. government policies, and general business strategies such as trade exhibiting tips and U.S. market entry strategies as well as sector-specific information and studies. “The AGOA.info website was developed to bring together under one roof AGOA related

resources (trade data, rules, research) and to help promote what was arguably an unprecedented opportunity for African countries to participate more effectively in international trade.” The revamped AGOA.info site also includes information about U.S.-Africa bilateral agreements, the next generation of U.S.-Africa trade relations while serving as a dynamic repository of analytical reports and trade data that directly applies to U.S.-Africa trade. Specifically, this component addresses bilateral investment treaty (BIT) agreements and trade and investment framework agreements (TIFAs) between the United States and African countries. The expansion into covering U.S.-Africa bilateral agreements is a natural progression and the content expansion increases the value, relevance and sustainability of the site. The new site will also serve as an online forum to discuss the policy movements of U.S.-Africa commercial relations and house key trade data related to AGOA and general U.S.- Africa trade. The discussions that began at the AGOA Forum in Ethiopia will continue on the new website. Please visit: www.agoa.info

Hub Digest

The Hub Digest offers views from a rotating panel of experts on a wide variety of issues related to trade

The AGOA.info Website

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and economic growth in Southern Africa, including trade facilitation tools and approaches; agricultural productivity and improvements especially in the maize, groundnut and soy value chains; developments in the textiles and apparel sector and regarding AGOA and exports; clean energy; enabling environment reform and initiatives; environmental compliance and gender integration. Write to info@satradehub.org with your suggestion for a topic or question. Or start a conversation via our Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/satradehub. TO REFIT OR NOT TO REFIT By Romance Sampa, Energy Advisor REFIT (Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs) refers to a policy mechanism that governments use to provide a degree of legal certainty and consistency to independent power producers (IPPs) feeding power into national power grids regarding the price they will receive. This provides market certainty to IPPs and has increased development and investment in renewable energy. It has also encouraged research and development of renewable energy industries worldwide. The REFIT mechanism is now in use in more than 65 countries around the world. Renewable energy comprises naturally occurring and replenishable sources of energy such as solar, wind, biomass, hydro, tidal, wave, ocean current and geothermal that produce electricity, gaseous and liquid fuels, heat or a combination of these energy types (NERSA, 2009). We will focus on renewables that are used to generate electricity. In the SADC region, Mauritius, Tanzania and South Africa have gone beyond the planning stage to implement some form of REFIT aimed at encouraging investment in renewable energy. This article briefly outlines the REFIT issues from a SADC perspective. Why is renewable energy important to SADC? Developing renewable energy in the SADC region has become crucial to energy security and economic growth, as well as to the mitigation of climate change impacts in the region. The region has been experiencing an ongoing energy crisis since 2007, when electricity generation fell below demand. Today the crisis is clearly evident and experienced through frequent power shortages and unplanned outages that disrupt socio-economic activities in SADC economies and diminish the region’s capacity to create jobs. Another reason renewable energy is needed is high energy poverty in Southern Africa, in which significant percentages of the population do not have electricity supply. Access to electricity in the region overall averages 30% compared to a worldwide average of 75%. Many people, especially in rural areas, depend on wood fuel to meet over 90% of their cooking and heating needs, which contributes to depletion of forests and land degradation and health concerns. In addition, as local shortages of wood fuel grow, women and children travel longer distances and spend more time, sometimes in insecure areas, fetching needed supplies. The table below illustrates access to electricity in select SADC countries. Table 1. Access to electricity in select SADC countries (%) Country Urban Rural Total Botswana 75 57 62 Congo DR 11.1 Malawi 70 4 17 Mauritius 100 100 100 Mozambique 19 3 14 South Africa 90 64 80 Tanzania 67 3 11.3 Zambia 47 13 25

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Source: SADC’s Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan (RESAP), 2011 On the positive side, the SADC region is well-endowed with an abundance of renewable energy resources such as hydropower, solar, wind, modern biomass (e.g. bagasse) and geothermal. Currently, only about 5% of the known hydro-potential is harnessed, while other renewable energy resources contribute far less than 1% to the energy mix of SADC Member States. If fully utilized, SADC’s tremendous renewable energy resources could improve socio-economic conditions, increase access to electricity, and contribute to sustainable and environmentally-friendly development. REFIT: an important mechanism To attract investment in renewable energy technologies, countries have adopted several different mechanisms. These include the renewable portfolio standard and renewable obligation, in which the government mandates the quantity of renewable energy generated, and the market sets the price. Others methods used to promote renewable energy include the tendering system and Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT). REFIT places an obligation, generally on national utilities, to purchase the electricity produced by IPPs at pre-determined prices, stabilizing the market and providing a significant boost to renewable energy development and utilization. Why REFIT? The most cited benefits of REFIT are:

• Increase in generated renewable energy. By assuring producers a fixed price and ensuring a fair rate of return for investors, the amount of generated renewable energy increases. The price of electricity under REFIT is generally set higher than the traditional price. This creates an incentive for investors, which benefits renewable energy producers but not necessarily consumers.

• Investment security. Tariffs offered to the IPPs are high enough to cover investment costs and provide a reasonable rate of return.

• Improved access to finance. REFIT provides comfort to financiers of IPPs, which stimulates development of an indigenous renewable energy industry and contributes to job creation.

• Investment stimulus. Long term certainty and stimulated investment in relevant technology, training and building capacity.

• Low (to medium) administration and transaction costs. The costs to society of the mechanism are also low in the short, medium and long term, and result in a number of ancillary benefits (NERSA, 2009).

• Price security. This encourages the promotion of a wide portfolio of technologies and opportunities for new operators to make a sizeable contribution to the generation mix.

Examples of REFIT The basic economic principle underpinning REFIT is the establishment of a tariff (price) that covers the cost of generation plus a "reasonable profit" to induce developers to invest. Therefore, investors are attracted to REFIT since it is structured to provide certainty and comfort to IPPs by offering a steady flow of revenue to support their fixed investment. The tariffs offered reflect the different costs of production of different renewable technologies. The price for the electricity produced is set at a level and for a period that provides a reasonable return on investment for a specific technology. The tariff should also be certain and long term enough to allow for project financing to be raised (NERSA, 2009).

The example of South Africa’s REFIT is given here to illustrate the underlying economic principles of a basic REFIT structure, although South Africa subsequently dropped the REFIT model in favor of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Program (REIPPPP or

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REI4P) also known as Renewable Energy Bids REBID. REFIT was abandoned following legal challenges to the lawfulness of the REFIT bidding processes in terms of the provisions of section 217 (1) of the Constitution, which requires a public procurement system to be “fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective.” The structure was set out by the energy regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in Rand (R) in 2009 as follows:

• Landfill gas: R0.90/kWh

• Small hydro (<10 megawatts): R0.94kWh

• Wind: R1.25/kWh

• Concentrate solar power trough with storage (6 hours): R2.10/kWh

The tariffs were to be increased annually in line with the South African consumer price index (CPI) (Fritz 2012). Later in 2009 NERSA added the following technologies:

• Concentrated solar power trough without storage: R3.14/kWh

• Solid: R1.18/kWh

• Biogas: R0.96/kWh

• PV (large ground or roof mounted): R3.94/kWh

• Concentrated PV: no tariff published on grounds of cost, which was considered to be too high

• Concentrated Solar Power (central tower) with storage: R2.31/kWh

Broad macroeconomic benefits of REFIT At the macro-level, the REFIT mechanism results in the following benefits:

• Transformation of rural energy systems and societies. • Stimulation of socio-economic development and improve access to clean energy. • Contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other problems related to fossil fuel

production and consumption. • The decentralized approach of REFIT allows for alternative ownership and governance models and

the empowerment of communities. • Promotion of rural electrification, increase overall generation capacity, provide greater economic

stability, and promote inclusive economic and social development [2].

Any drawbacks? Potential drawbacks of REFITs might include the following:

• REFIT laws require substantial financial support from governments. Mobilizing the resources to grant significant public financial compensation is a challenge for resource poor countries of the region.

• Guaranteed access to the grid and guaranteed prices for IPPs can load “off-takers” i.e. the utilities, with extra costs. In countries such as the Philippines and Dominican Republic, electricity utilities have been crippled by payments due to IPPs.

Where in SADC is REFIT working? Consideration and adoption of REFIT is at various stages in SADC countries. Mauritius, Tanzania and South Africa have experience with REFIT and provide ready practical lessons, information

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and experience that can help other SADC countries decide on whether “to REFIT or not to REFIT.” South Africa was far ahead of other SADC Member States in terms of energy policy reforms and innovations, which begs the question why South Africa abandoned REFIT in favor of the REBID mechanism. Opinions differ. One analyst attributes it, among other things, to the bureaucracy and red tape required to obtain licenses and “rumors” that tariffs would be reduced (Fritz, 2012). Others point to the need to link renewable energy initiatives to the country’s National Integrated Resource plan 2030 (IRP). However, as already mentioned, REFIT was dropped primarily for reasons related to legal challenges and the complexities of the country’s procurement law. Because the government had to design an alternative policy for stimulating renewable energy development, it could be said that In essence the REBID mechanism there is a result of several revisions to REFIT. Unlike REFITs, in which the government offers a fixed price to potential investors for each kWh, the REBID process is an auction in which a price ceiling is set for each renewable energy technology and IPPs are invited to propose their own tariff in a bidding process implemented through a number of windows opened by government. In the REBID bidding process, bidders are also required to show how projects intend to contribute to social and economic development. After evaluation of the bids in each window, the preferred bidders are announced. Algeria, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have also implemented the REFIT system and can offer examples from the continent. Further afield than Africa, Germany, Spain, Denmark, UK, Australia, India and the United States are among a vast international community of REFIT countries with valuable experience and lessons from which to learn. Botswana, Namibia and Zambia are actively developing or planning their REFIT policies, the latter in collaboration with USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub. Proposed Renewable Energy Targets 2015 2020 2030 Renewable Energy Mix in the grid (%)

21 33 39

Off-grid share of renewable energy (%)

2.5 5 7.5

Source: [1] RESAP Conditions for REFIT REFIT needs to be supported by other policy conditions and objectives of SADC’s main energy policies stipulated in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the recent Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, which support the development of a regional market for renewable energy. Apart from the existence of energy policies and to some extent renewable policy in all SADC member countries, comprehensive renewable energy strategies and action plans do not exist except in Mauritius and South Africa. Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa have put in place renewable energy electrification targets into their energy policy and development plans. Of these only two countries (South Africa and Namibia) have a renewable energy regulatory framework. Five countries (Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) have integrated the deployment of renewable energy in their rural energy/electrification agencies [4]. Renewable energy is a relatively new field in the energy sector of the region. Many policy makers, planners and implementers have little experience with renewable energy and need capacity building. The Independent Power Producers come with world experience in implementing REFITs. This information gulf in knowledge between policy-makers on one hand and the IPPs on the other contributes to hesitation in developing and implementing REFIT policies in the region.

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What role for USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub? The Trade Hub is able to provide technical support through training and other assistance to SADC, the Regional Electricity Regulation Association, the Southern Africa Power Pool and SADC Member States to develop policies and mechanisms for increasing renewable energy penetration in the energy mix of Southern Africa. For example, the Trade Hub is able to assist with the development of REFIT guidelines that set out a regulatory framework for initiating tariffs and licensing conditions for a self-sustaining market for renewables, as well as help develop renewable energy and IPP policies. The Trade Hub is currently working in collaboration with Departments of Energy in Swaziland and Zambia on renewable energy and REFIT policies. To REFIT or not to REFIT? Numerous studies and empirical findings that include those by the International Energy Agency and the World Bank indicate the effectiveness of REFITs to increase the penetration of renewable energy in the energy mix of many countries that have applied the policy mechanism. Institutional, policy and human resource capacity conditions in each country differ, however, and REFITs need to be adapted to local conditions. References: [1] SADC Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan 2012 – 2013, 31st (January 2012) [2] World Future Council. (2012) Powering Africa Through Feed-in Tariffs: Advancing Renewable Energy to Meet the Continent’s Electricity Needs [3] Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). (2012) Renewables 2012, Global Status Report [4] SADC, The SADC Regional Infrastructure Master Plan, Energy Diagnostic Report, (November 2011) [5] Mendoça, M. (2013) Powering the Green Economy: The Feed-in Tariff Handbook. Routledge [6] SADC. (November 2011) Energy Diagnostic Report. [7] Fritz, W. (October 2012) Renewable energy feed in tariffs REBID, SASGI and the smart grid. Energize, 77. [8] National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), 2009 General Notice 382 of 2009, South Africa Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT).

Romance Sampa is an Energy Economist by profession. He has been involved in the energy and water sectors in Zambia and the region in various capacities for more than 25 years. As Energy Advisor at The Trade Hub Romance is responsible for capacity building projects and works in close collaboration with SADC and the Regional Electricity Regulator Association (RERA). Romance has served as Permanent Secretary for 10 years in several Ministries in Zambia which he directed and led major energy and water sector reforms and institutional developments such as the establishment of the Energy Regulation Board. Romance has a BA in Economics (Portsmouth, UK), Post Graduate Diploma in Energy (Surrey, UK) and Development and a Master of Science in Energy Economics in (Surrey, UK). Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of USAID or the Trade Hub.

Our People

Each month we will introduce you to a member of our USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub staff: George Makore Director, Enabling Environment George Makore has worked in the corporate communications and marketing sector for over 20 years. He joined the Trade Hub on July 30, 2012 as an editor before becoming Director of Enabling Environment in September 2012. This is George’s second stint as he was a Communications Coordinator for the previous Trade Hub based from September 2008 to July 2010.

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George was an executive consultant and partner at Kaizen Business Consultancy, a business management systems consultancy company based in Harare, Zimbabwe from 2010 to 2011. Before that he worked for the International Development Law Organization in Rome, Italy, where he was an Aid for Trade Communications Consultant. Between January 1999 and September 2008 he was Marketing Director for the Standards Association of Zimbabwe, where he was in charge of marketing, public relations and commercial training. George has a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Marketing and an MBA from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. He also has diplomas in public relations, business management and communications, a graduate diploma in marketing management. In 2007/8, he attended an Advanced Professional Training Program in Germany offered by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) where he completed courses in Six Sigma (Green Belt), European Foundation for Quality Management Assessor and Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor Training. 1. What led you to a career in development and what have been your areas of interest in

the field?

My interest in development work can be traced back to my first communications job, where I worked for an organization involved in providing financial support for rural and small-scale farmers. This subsequently influenced my decision to research corporate social investment for my MBA dissertation, and the rest is history. While my interest in development is mainly in capacity building activities that ensure sustainable development, what I find most satisfying is the knowledge that my role ultimately contributes to the betterment of people’s lives, albeit in a small way. Also, I feel lucky to be earning a living doing something I believe in and that is in line with my values. 2. What are some of the initiatives the Trade Hub’s Enabling Environment team is working

on that you are most excited about?

My team is currently working with Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland to help them in developing Investor Roadmaps that will improve the investment climate. We go further to review and monitor progress in implementing what was agreed in the roadmaps and highlighting the impact on the ease of doing business in these countries. 3. What do you like most about going out to the field and visiting counterparts?

While my career to date has allowed me to interact with people at different levels and has provided me the opportunity to work with various sectors of the economy, I still value the continued opportunities for networking and cross pollination of ideas presented by each visit to the field and meeting with project counterparts. 4. What is your favorite thing to do for relaxation in Gaborone? I most enjoy being at home reading and watching television as well as taking long walks in the afternoon, and an occasional lunch with the Enabling Environment team.

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5. Who is a famous person (living or dead) that you admire and why? I admire the late Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955), a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics alongside quantum mechanics. I admire him for his wit and great intellectual achievements. 6. What is your proudest achievement at work since you started your career in

development? I have had many proud achievements in my career in development work, including each time I have successfully completed an assignment and felt good about it, particularly where there has been feedback from the implementing partner or the beneficiary expressing their appreciation.

Upcoming Events

Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) Meetings Aug/Sept 2013, Windhoek, Namibia USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub Grain Grading Training Program August 19-30, Lusaka, Zambia SADC-UNECE-WCO-USAID Trade Facilitation Implementation and Economic Competitiveness Workshop November 12-14,Johannesburg, South Africa International Apparel, Textile & Footwear Expo (ATF) November 20-22, Cape Town, South Africa