Emmanuel Awuni

• Developed and updated guidance to support learning and evaluation policy for private sector operations.
• Conducted Early Learning Assessments of ongoing projects and Project Learning Reviews of completed financings.
• Evaluated diverse AIIB financing types, including sectors and processes, as directed by CEIU Managing Director.
• Delivered training sessions and created materials to communicate lessons from private sector evaluations.
• Provided independent inputs for reviews of private sector operational policy and sector strategies.
• Collaborated with organizations on joint private sector evaluations, including co-financiers of supported projects.
• Prepared evaluations of private sector operations and contributed to CEIU Annual Activity Review reports.
• Produced synthesis papers and other evaluation products related to private sector activities.

Co-managed two portfolios: Financial Sector and Private Sector Development within FCI Global Practice.

• Oversaw investment climate reforms, access to finance, SME competitiveness, capital market development, and PPP initiatives.
• Supported lending and advisory operations for Ghana Economic Transformation Project ($200M) and Tourism Development Project ($40M+).
• Led dialogue with government and partners to enhance regulatory frameworks and develop country strategies.
• Delivered Implementation Completion and Results Reports for Tourism Development and Ghana Financial Sector Development Projects.
• Applied GIS mapping, data dashboards, and AI tools in project reviews and performance tracking.
• Developed interactive dashboard for Ghana Integrated Business Establishment Survey to inform policy design.
• Participated in multi-donor strategy reviews and joint evaluations under World Bank-SECO Investment Climate Reform Program.

PSD portfolio of private sector and financial sector operations:

• Ghana Economic Transformation project: $200 million.
• Ghana Tourism Development Project: $40 million.
• DPO Series – Ghana Third Resilient Recovery Development Policy Financing: $900 million
• Financial Stability Project (FSP): $250 million
• Ghana Development Finance Project (GDFP): $250 million
• Financial Sector Development Project (FSDP): $40 million
• Investment Enabling Environment in Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific Program - TA.
• Compact with Africa Green Business Fund - TA.
• Supporting Youth Employment Growth in Ghana project - ASA.
• Disaster Risk Finance - TA
• Compact with Africa (CwA) 2.0 – Ghana Reform & TA Note
• Whole-of-Economy Trust Fund - ASA

The role involves leading an international CSO focused on trade policy, economic, and regional integration. Its main objective is to advocate for and increase awareness of AfCFTA among member countries, collaborating with entities like the Ghana Ministry of Trade and Industry, UNECA, AU, and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Key responsibilities include:

• Working with the board of directors, senior management, and other key members to achieve strategic goals.
• Leading a team of economists and mentoring young staff.
• Guiding the senior management team in developing and executing partnership programs aligned with the network's vision and priorities.
• Leading the development of grant proposals and other required documents.
• Developing a project and investment opportunity pipeline through research and liaising with potential clients, technical partners, and government officials.
• Monitoring trade and economic development policies and regulations, including agribusiness and regional integration, and reporting to the Executive Director and Board.
• Representing the Policy Network in Ghana's National Technical Working Group on national-level stakeholder consultative platforms (e.g., 'Building National Productive Capacities' for implementing the AfCFTA).

As an entrepreneurship, MSMEs, and RECP coach, I supported selected firms under the Africa FAN project (under the Special Initiative Training and Job Creation by BMZ). In line with the project's primary goal, I provided coaching and handholding to textile and garment firms to enhance connections between European and African textile and apparel businesses.

The Global Agribusiness Alliance (GAA) is a CEO-led, international private-sector group that addresses the supply-side sector's environmental, social, and sustainability challenges.

Key contributions include:

• Expanding the GAA database by identifying and reaching out to new prospective companies of various sizes and commodities, and effectively presenting GAA's work.
• Working closely with GAA to examine member supply chains and sourcing strategies, and facilitating connections between producers and suppliers.
• Collaborating regionally with GAA members and BCSD offices to enhance outreach and streamline communication efforts.
• Actively participating in and promoting GAA at regional and national conferences and events, and through various platforms.
• Distributing GAA materials, such as briefs, brochures, and reports, and circulating research findings at meetings, conferences, and other events.
• Seeking communication and outreach opportunities to showcase GAA's work and benefits.
• Enhancing GAA's visibility and relevance in public-private dialogue platforms, including representation in key groups, like the National Agriculture Working Group Meetings in Ghana.

• Portfolio Management: Led SECO’s Private Sector Development and Trade Promotion portfolios. This included managing external relations with project partners and CSOs in sub-portfolios such as Agribusiness, Supply, Value Chain Development, the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, Business Enabling Environment, Trade Facilitation, SMEs, Skills and Entrepreneurship, and Resource Efficiency in the Private Sector.
• Agribusiness, Supply, and Value Chains Development: responsible for developing and managing projects in the cocoa, cashew, and oil palm sectors. These projects aimed at improving competitiveness along these value chains, encompassing regulatory reforms, scaling supply chains, and addressing skill gaps.
• Cocoa Sector Development: In particular, I led the Ghana side of establishing the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, and the initial projects funded under the platform. I also represent the Swiss cocoa and chocolate industry players on national-level collaborative and cocoa-related PP platforms.
• Regional Program Management: Managed regional programs in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Togo, and Sierra Leone, focusing on sustainable palm oil and cashew production. These programs included components on regulatory reforms, capacity building, and enhancing the productive capacity of producers and organizations.
• Project Development: Led in identifying opportunities, conducting feasibility studies, formulating concept notes, and designing M&E frameworks for projects, and also involved in procurement processes, program planning, and implementation.
• Strategic Planning and Policy Advice: Contributed to the strategic planning of SECO Country Programs, advised on portfolio developments, and supported policy dialogues.
• Participated in joint evaluation activities with IFC and SECO, sharing evaluation responsibilities, and institutional learning across agencies.

• Local CSOs Partnership Program (LCPP): Successfully managed and coordinated KOICA’s grant aid mechanism for CSOs in Ghana, leading to the award and implementation of three significant projects.
• Agricultural Portfolio: Managed and coordinated grant aid programs in agriculture, including a 4-year cooperative project in Ghana’s three Northern Regions.
• Integrated Rural Development Portfolio: Oversaw the management of the second phase of the 5-year Sustainable Villages Project in Ghana, focusing on integrated rural development.
• Environmental and Natural Resources Portfolio: Managed and coordinated environmental and natural resource governance programs.
• Governance Portfolio: Liaised with key officials across multiple Ghanaian ministries to effectively manage various donor-funded projects and programs, ensuring comprehensive governance and oversight

BUSAC Fund was a grant funding mechanism for the private sector (BMOs, CSOs, and research institutions) to advocate for removing constraints to doing business in Ghana—a project funded by DANIDA, USAID, and DFID in Phase I, and the EU in Phase II.

Responsibilities:

• Oversaw coordination, supervision, and technical guidance to external consultants (grant monitors, due diligence specialists, and M&E data collectors) for due diligence, data collection, monitoring, and evaluation of projects and grantees.
• Managed and redesigned the monitoring, evaluation, and data collection tools to align with project result framework indicators.
• Led internal research initiatives and reviewed research proposals and papers from grantees for their advocacy implementation processes.
• Conducted training workshops for external M&E consultants on using BUSAC monitoring and evaluation tools.

Cocoa Abrabopa Association is incorporated as an association with more than 16,000 cocoa-farming members across Ghana’s seven cocoa-growing regions.

Selected Accomplishments:

• Membership Expansion: Achieved a remarkable 112% increase in FBO membership in the operational area in nearly years, primarily through delivering exceptional agronomic, technical, and marketing support, and ensuring FBO satisfaction with the association’s offerings.
• Training Curriculum Development: Actively participated in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of community training curricula and capacity-building programs. These programs were specifically tailored to empower communities with the necessary skills for effective cocoa livelihood project implementation.
• Evaluation Exercise Participation: Contributed as a key team member in conducting an evaluation exercise to address and validate complaints from FBOs regarding the excessive use and backlog of cocoa insecticides, demonstrating a commitment to addressing critical issues in the cocoa value chain.

The Ghana Cocoa Board was established to encourage and facilitate the production, processing, and marketing of good quality cocoa, coffee, and shea nut in all forms, most efficiently and cost-effectively.

• Weekly Operational Reports: Diligently prepared and disseminated COCOBOD's weekly operational purchases report, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery of crucial data.
• Monitoring LBC Activities: Effectively monitored the purchasing activities of License Buying Companies (LBCs), maintaining oversight and ensuring compliance with operational standards and procedures.