Louise Clark

Current

• Communications consultant at Independent

Past

• Project Manager – Agricultural Learning & Impact Network (ALINe) at KEYSTONE ACCOUNTABILITY
• Knowledge Manager – Research into Use Programme at NR INTERNATIONAL
• National Coordinator – SICTAF (DFID-FIT Facilitating Innovative Technology Programme), Bolivia at NR International

• Field Researcher – RedCampo (DFID-FIT Facilitating Innovative Technology Programme), Bolivia at CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical)
• Research Assistant at REGNET, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, CANBERRA

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Education

• Imperial College London

Connections

34 connections

Industry

Non-Profit Organization Management

Louise Clark’s Summary

I have considerable experience working on issues related to communication and knowledge management in the agricultural innovation sector, particularly in Bolivia and across Sub-Saharan Africa. I have a PhD from the University of London (Imperial College) which explored complex networks of actors in the rural development sector in Bolivia. Her research developed an innovative approach to social network analysis, using network maps to visualise the relationships within agricultural value chains and innovation systems. In addition to working on communication and knowledge management projects, I have worked on monitoring and evaluation, organic and fair trade certification and microfinance.

Louise Clark’s Specialties:

network mapping of agricultural value chains and innovation systems, capacity building for communication for development, M&E and knowledge management in agricultural development

Louise Clark’s Experience

• Communications consultant

  Independent

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  November 2009 — Present (2 months)

  I have considerable experience working on issues related to communication and knowledge management in the agricultural innovation sector, particularly in Bolivia and across Sub-Saharan Africa. I have a PhD from the University of London (Imperial College) which explored complex networks of actors in the rural development sector in Bolivia. My research developed an innovative approach to social network analysis, using network maps to visualise the relationships within agricultural value chains and innovation systems. In addition to working on communication and knowledge management projects, I have worked on monitoring and evaluation, organic and fair trade certification and microfinance.

• Project Manager – Agricultural Learning & Impact Network (ALINe)

  KEYSTONE ACCOUNTABILITY

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  February 2009 — November 2009 (10 months)

  • Dynamic member of the core team responsible for the implementation of ALINe, a Gates Foundation funded initiative to raise the standard of monitoring and evaluation across their agricultural development portfolio.
  • Coordinating inter-institutional activities with the Institute of Development Studies as well as outreach and liaison with Gates Foundation and grantees.
  • Designing a methodology to collect feedback from farmers on their experiences with rural development projects, involving field work to tailor methodology to specific project contexts:
  o AfricaRice – farmers’ experiences with rice processing videos in Nigeria
  o TechnoServe – improving governance and transparency for groups of coffee farmers in Rwanda
  o AVRDC – institutional experiences of an innovation platform in vegetable seed sector in Tanzania
  • Active role in providing assessment and advice to Gates Foundation grantees to strengthen M&E frameworks and clarify theories of change.
  • Supporting Keystone’s organisational development and contributing to a range of institutional activities.

• Knowledge Manager – Research into Use Programme

  NR INTERNATIONAL

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  August 2008 — January 2009 (6 months)

  • Leading on the revision and operational implementation of the RIU communication strategy including use of social media for internal information sharing and to promote RIU in the international development community.
  • Acting as a mentor for six country teams in Sub-Saharan Africa and facilitating the development of national communication strategies aimed at strengthening innovation systems both nationally and locally.
  • Supporting the development of information markets concept to explore the interaction between supply and demand of information pertaining to agricultural innovation and research.
  • Utilising network mapping to visualise local innovation systems and to identify influence pathways at policy level and role of media and advocacy to support up and out-scaling of agricultural innovation.
  • Providing a professional representation of RIU at key national and international events in the communications and knowledge management sector.

• National Coordinator – SICTAF (DFID-FIT Facilitating Innovative Technology Programme), Bolivia

  NR International

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  March 2005 — April 2006 (1 year 2 months)

  • Coordinating a team of international consultants tasked with the implementation of SICTAF (the Bolivian Natural Resources Information & Knowledge System), a pilot web-based portal for agricultural and forestry technological innovations, with responsibility for design of logical framework, budget allocation and reporting.
  • Designing and implementing training methodologies to assist farmers and extension agents to document and share their experiences of agricultural innovations and rural development issues.
  • Effective and energetic management of a pilot network of six institutions to establish an institutional framework for sustainability.
  • Network mapping of rural municipalities to identify key stakeholders and assess current communication capacity to promote increased knowledge sharing on issues of local interest. .
  • Leading on the systemisation of lessons learnt and providing policy advice to the Ministry of Agriculture

• Field Researcher – RedCampo (DFID-FIT Facilitating Innovative Technology Programme), Bolivia

  CIAT (Centro Internacional de Agricultural Tropical)

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  March 2004 — March 2006 (2 years 1 month)

  BOLIVIA
  • Developing a methodology to apply Social Network Analysis to agricultural supply chains involving research design, data collation, analysis and presentation of results for Coffee, Peach and Chilli supply chains.
  • Supporting the Project Coordinator with the design and implementation of an ICT Capacity Building programme for producer groups

• Research Assistant

  REGNET, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, CANBERRA

  (Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  January 2003 — June 2003 (6 months)

  • Actively involved in the Social Accountability in Sustainable Agriculture (SASA) project to identify common social and agricultural standards amongst key international certification and standard setting agencies.
  • Maintaining and updating the project website, preparing public project documents and logistical support to international audit processes.
  • Preparing the IFOAM Code of Conduct for Organic Trade and designing the World Social Forum survey on social responsibility in agriculture.

Louise Clark’s Education

• Imperial College London

Additional Information

Louise Clark’s Groups:

•    Appropriate Technology

Louise Clark’s Contact Settings

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