CV - Thomas Alberts

ADDRESS

Nyckelvägen 4, SE-169 54 Solna (Stockholm), Sweden.

PHONE

+46 8 616 00 80
Mobile +46 70 673 83 27

FAX

+46 8 616 00 80

We can be reached at Tom's e-mail address:  Tom Alberts

EDUCATION:

University of Stockholm, Sweden, Master of Arts (Social Sciences, Economics), 1968

University of Lund, Sweden, Doctor of Philosophy (Economics), 1981

University of Gothenburg, Sweden, PhD course in environmental economics, 1993

APPOINTMENTS:

1967-1968

University of Stockholm, Sweden Department of Economics, Assistant

1968-1971

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Lima, Peru, Agricultural planning

1971-1975

United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), Santiago, Chile, Economist

1975-1979

University of Lund, Sweden, Department of Economics, Assistant/Lecturer

1979-1982

Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), Maputo, Mozambique, Senior Economic Adviser

1982

University of Lund, Sweden Department of Economics, Associate Professor

1982-1993

Consultant

1993-1994

Swedish Agency for Research Co-operation with Developing Countries (SAREC). Research Officer, Economics

1994-1995

SAREC, Head of Division, Social Sciences and the Humanities

1995-

Consultant

LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Swedish, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and German


MAJOR PROJECTS AS CONSULTANT


MAJOR PROJECTS 2007

During the period February-May most work was concentrated on developing the curriculum and teaching Economic Development with a major focus on rural and agricultural development at the MA programme at UEM. Together with Professor Falcão the curriculum of a Project Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation course was developed and the course was jointly taught. As part of UEM’s extension activities an external course was also given. This work is done on an individual basis.

MAJOR PROJECTS 2006

As of late 2005, the focus of Devpro AB’s activities has shifted more towards the development of small businesses in Southern Africa, whereby our company would provide both equity capital and know-how. Three projects have been identified in Mozambique of which two could become bankable. Preliminary feasibility studies suggest a good rate of return on equity capital. One project is already being developed.

Apart from these activities, the owner of Devpro AB has become associated with the University of Eduardo Mondlane (UEM) in Maputo, Mozambique, for the Master’s programme in Rural Development and his supervising two students writing the MA theses.

As a result of this re-orientation the more traditional consultancy role will decrease over time.

Sweden has been providing support to Nicaragua for many years and this co-operation was extended to several countries in Central America after the natural catastrophes in the 90s. Swedish support also included a cultural dimension of which support to libraries was an important component. Devpro AB provided the team leader and stakeholders were visited and interviewed in Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. The evaluation revealed that that there is a close connection between the availability of libraries and poverty eradication.

The evaluation of Swedish Support to the University of Eduardo Mondlane (2002) was revisited. This study forms part of a comparative study on Swedish University support involving Bolivia, Nicaragua, Tanzania and Mozambique. The evaluation was recently published.

 

MAJOR PROJECTS 2005

In August, a group of consultants evaluated Swedish support to rural development in Zambia, the Agricultural Support Programme (ASP). One major positive aspect was that the Programme did in fact reach the small farmers at the village level in many districts, though not all, in Zambia. On the other hand ASP is costly and the question of sustainability remains a critical factor.

In October I worked for the European Commission in Brussels to evaluate research proposals, mainly dealing with matters related to natural resources management and policy issues.-.

Finland has decided to support the agricultural SWAP in Mozambique called PROAGRI. Apart from this programme support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland decided to support a bi-lateral project to support PROAGRI. To this end I headed a group of consultants to develop such a programme. In the end we opted to focus on the Mocuba district in the Zambezia province. The final report was ready in June and the proposal is presently being appraised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland.

The case study on Tanzania was concluded and the results were rather surprising. While poverty eradication is high on the political agenda rural poverty is prevailing. I will forward the Report Urban Bias in Development Revisited. Poverty Reduction Strategies in Tanzania on request.

MAJOR PROJECTS 2004

A case study, Tanzania, on Poverty Reduction Strategies – operationalisation and monitoring with focus on rural development.
The study is still in its planning phase.

Developing 6 million hectares of agricultural land into production in the Niassa province in Mozambique – Pilot Project
In 2001 a review of the joint South African and Mozambican initiative, to bring South African Farmers to Niassa in northern Mozambique, was made, Mosagrius. The report came to the conclusion that with 6-9 million hectares of good agricultural land in the province, the basic idea was good, but the programme had not been managed well. An action plan was recommended. A follow-up on the previous work commenced in September 2004 and the Final Report has been forwarded. It focuses on a pilot phase of a farm of some 10 000 hectares close to the provincial capital. Two groups of Swedish farmers/entrepreneurs have expressed their interest in investing and providing know-how. 

Short term Action Plan to improve the cooperation between the University of Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique and Sweden
In 2003 the auditing services of the Government of Mozambique detected irregularities in the use of funds at the University Eduardo Mondlande. As a result Sida stopped disbursements and sent six consultants to review the situation. Several irregularities were found and the report was published in November 2003. UEM and Sida decided to jointly tackle the problems. Since then serious irregularities were discovered at the Ministry of Education last year as well and then in April 2004 at the Ministry of Public Administration.
As of the end of 2003 I have worked with UEM senior staff to develop and implement a short term Action Plan. Significant progress has been made and with the Short Term Action Plan the assignment was concluded.

Evaluating research proposals
For the European Commission, Research Directorate General I participated in expert groups to evaluate research proposals. (May and October 2004)

MAJOR PROJECTS 2003

Team leader for the planning of the second phase of the agriculture sector programme (PROAGRI) in Mozambique – 2004-2009.
PROAGRI Phase I was a 5-year agriculture Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) that aimed to improve the impact and the effectiveness of Mozambique’s public agricultural programs and institutions in supporting environmentally sustainable and equitable growth in rural areas such that poverty is reduced and food security improved). Developed between 1992 and 1995 by the Government of Mozambique (GoM) with donor support, its financing became effective only in 1999 after a long process of preparation and negotiation. So far, 18 donors are participating in PROAGRI and 11 donors are directly financing the programme. Before PROAGRI, donors funded 90% of all public expenditure in agriculture and natural resources off budget through more than 50 separate projects and hundreds of NGO projects. Now, a majority of assistance is provided through the Government’s budget. The total budget of PROAGRI Phase I is in the order of USD 200 million.
The purpose of this assignment is to assist Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADER) in preparing the programme document and budget for the second phase of PROAGRI. The programme document will be based on recommendations expressed by the joint evaluation plus further consultation with Mozambique stakeholders, GoM and donor partners. The budget will express an indicative financial need for the 5 years of the programme.

 

My work was concluded in December 2003 with MADER’s presentation of the Draft PROAGRI II Strategy during a workshop held in December 2003.

 

Evaluation of Sida's Support to the University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique cont’d.

The Draft Report was presented to Swedish collaborating institutions and to Sida on 6 February 2003 in Stockholm. The Final Report was delivered in April, 2003 and was published the same year.  Here is the link: http://www.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1250&a=23564

 

For the European Commission, Research Directorate General I participated in expert groups to evaluate research proposals. (October 2003)

MAJOR PROJECTS 2002

A major evaluation of Evaluation of Sida's Support to the University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique was started in October. (Team leader)

Prior to the departure of the evaluation Team from Mozambique, on 15 November, the Team presented its major findings to the Swedish Embassy in Maputo and to UEM. A Draft Report (9 December 2002) was presented to the Swedish Embassy on 16 December, to UEM on 17 December, and to other donors on 18 December.

 

For Sida Environmental Considerations in Sida’s Evaluations Revisited. - A follow-up and analysis six years later. (Team leader)

In 1996 Sida commissioned a study whose main objective was: “...to assess the extent and manner in which Sida’s evaluations in recent years have assessed the environmental impact of Swedish development cooperation projects and programmes.”

The report, The Environment and Sida's Evaluations (Sida Studies in Evaluation 96/4), concluded that the evaluations of Swedish international development co-operation had not considered environmental effects to the extent recommended by Sida. The report contained a series of recommendations and was used as a pilot case in the new Sida’s policy to prepare Management Responses for every evaluation undertaken. Sida implemented a large part of the recommendations, including the recommendation to carry out a similar study in a few years’ time. In March 2002 Sida commissioned this study, aimed at assessing the extent to which improvements had been made since 1996 and at providing the basis for further discussion and analysis of ways of improving the use of environmental assessment in evaluations. The study was also intended to serve as a learning component for Sida.
A series of meetings were held with key Sida staff members to discuss the findings. The Final Report was published in January 2003 in Sida Studies in Evaluation 03/02. It can be downloaded from http://www.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1265&a=18831.

 

For the International Swedish Institute for Public Administration (SIPU International) in Stockholm an evaluation of Sida’s Co-operation with Swedish Universities for Economic Monitoring and Building Swedish Capacity in Development Economics, 1997-2001.
In 1988 Sida started a Programme to monitor the economic development of key countries involved in Swedish development co-operation and to build Swedish capacity in development economics. The Programme involved the universities of Göteborg, Lund and Stockholm School of Economics.

MAJOR PROJECTS 2001

For NORAD (Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway) a Review of Agricultural Extension Project. (Team leader) This was an evaluation of NORAD support to INTA, the Nicaraguan Institute for Agricultural Technology.
INTA was established in 1993 with major support from the World Bank but Swiss Aid, COSUDE, also played an important role. INTA is a public entity with a major mandate in agricultural extension and research. Norway has supported research and extensions activities since the 1980s and also a special project for female farmers. http://www.nlh.no/noragric/publications/reports/rep3_cover.pdf  and http://www.nlh.no/noragric/publications/reports/NoragricRep3.pdf


For Sida/SAREC Evaluation of Two Dryland Research Programmes in Eastern Africa. (Team Leader)
The Regional Dryland Programme in Eastern Africa - REDPA was formed in 1999, following the recommendations of an external review in 1997, of SAREC supported dryland research programmes in East Africa. It has three major parts and includes PINEP, Pastoral Information Network, DHP, Dryland Husbandry Project and EPOS, Research Programme on Environmental Policy and Society. The REDPA co-operation aims at combining university training and academic research on a local basis. Originally the intention was to include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea.
In 1995 Sida/SAREC approved support to a regional programme, Research Programme for Sustainable Use of Dryland Biodiversity - RPSUD. RPSUD is co-ordinated by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) in Nairobi. However, implementation could not start until 1997. RPSUD is a consortium of institutions from Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. The Department of Plant Ecology at Uppsala University is the collaborating Swedish part. The programme consists of three components, a regional M.Sc. course carried out at Addis Ababa University, a research grants scheme and the dissemination of research results.
The Final Report was published in 2002 by Sida and can be downloaded from: http://www.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1265&a=15686.

 

For the joint Swedish Mozambican programme in the Niassa province two studies were made. One dealt with the development of medium and large scale farming in the province and the other one was an appraisal of a proposal to establish a rural banking system in Mozambique. Malonda Programme. The Role of Medium- And Large Scale Farming In the Development of the Niassa Province - Possibilities and Constraints.
A Rural Co-operative Bank. An Appraisal of a Proposal to Establish a New Bank in Mozambique. (Team leader)

 

For DFID work was initiated to plan support to sustainable livelihoods of Char dwellers in Bangladesh. Due to a changes in the programming this assignment was terminated.

MAJOR PROJECTS 2000

For Sida, I have followed the development of the agricultural sector programme support PROAGRI. This report provides the policy framework for Swedish support to agricultural development in Mozambique. – PROAGRI, SWAP and Mozambique.

For KIT (Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam). A feasibility study on the restructuring of agricultural research in Mozambique. Socio-economist in a team for four members. Mozambique-PROAGRI. Institutional Reform of the Agricultural Research System.

 For the European Commission, Research Directorate General I have participated in expert groups to evaluate research proposals: For the INCO-DEV programme on Policy research on the conditions for sustainable development and for the Programme Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development.

For Sida, the evaluation of environmental research projects was concluded: Evaluation of Sida/SAREC Supported Environmental Research Projects in Tanzania. http://www.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1265&a=10889

For Sida, a Draft Report (in English and French) was concluded on the possibility of evaluating the co-operation between Sweden and Tunisia: EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT OF SWEDISH-TUNISIAN BILATERAL CO-OPERATION 1962-1982. (APPRÉCIATION DE L’ÉVALUABILITÉ DE LA COOPÉRATION BILATÉRALE SUÉDO-TUNISIENNE DE 1962 À 1982)

MAJOR PROJECTS 1999

For IBIS (Danish NGO) Final Evaluation of IBIS Extension Project 1994-1999 Zambézia Province - Mozambique.

For NORAD Combined Review of NORAD Support to Sokoine University of Agriculture, SUA, and Appraisal of Project Proposal under the Tanzania Agricultural Research Programme, TARP II.

For Sida/SAREC Evaluation of Sida/SAREC Supported Environmental Research Projects in Tanzania. This is an on-going project.

For Sida, Evaluability Assessment of Swedish-Tunisian Bilateral Co-Operation 1962-1982. This is an on-going project.

For Sida, Special Adviser to the Swedish Government at the PROAGRI High Level Meeting in Dublin, 29-30 March 1999.

European Commission, Directorate General XII. Expert Panel to assess research proposals on Sustainable Management of Renewable Natural Resources - Policy Research.

MAJOR PROJECTS 1998

For the Global Water Partnership (GWP). To assist the interim South American Technical Advisory Committee (SAMTAC) in the organisation of its first meeting in March 1998. To prepare a financial report on the costs of the GWP South American Regional Meeting held in Vitória, Brazil, in November 1997.

Environmental economics adviser to the Maguga Dam Project Environmental Impact Assessment Team (Swaziland). The Environment and the Maguga Dam - Some Policy Issues.

For DFID (Department for International Development, UK), Planning Support to the Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries in Zambezia Province (Mozambique).

Sida, participate in the agricultural sector investment programme, PROAGRI, in Mozambique. Follow-Up of the PROAGRI Programme 22-30 October 1998.

For Sida, assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture in Maputo to prepare a programme of support for the development of agricultural research in Mozambique. Progress Report, 20 November 1998.

MAJOR PROJECTS 1997

European Commission, Directorate General XII. Expert Panel to assess research proposals on Sustainable Management of Renewable Natural Resources - Policy Research.

For Danida (Denconsult A/S). Appraisal of proposal for Danida Agricultural Sector Programme Support 1997-2002.

For Global Water Partnership (GWP). Assist in the preparation and follow-up of the Technical Advisory Committee's meeting in Manila 8-12 June.

For GWP. To organise the regional meeting in Brazil in November 1997.

For Swedish Embassy, Luanda. Programming of Swedish support to the Rehabilitation of the Malanje Province in Angola.

For Ministry of Fisheries in Angola (Sida). Assisting the Ministry to plan the phasing out of Swedish support to the fisheries sector, 1997-99. Follow-up mission.

 MAJOR PROJECTS 1996

For Sida Stockholm. Impact Assessment of the Swedish Fisheries Programme in Guinea Bissau 1977-1995. http://www.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1265&a=10674

For Sida/SAREC. SAREC and Development Economics. A Discussion Paper.

For Sida, Stockholm. Feasibility Study on Swedish Rehabilitation Support to the Province of Malanje. Angola.

European Commission, Directorate General XII. Expert Panel to assess research proposals on Sustainable Management of Renewable Natural Resources - Policy Research.

For Sida Stockholm. Environmental Impacts Assessment in Sida's Evaluations 1994-95. http://www.sida.se/Sida/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1265&a=11112

For Ministry of Fisheries in Angola (Sida). Assisting the Ministry to plan the phasing out of Swedish support to the fisheries sector, 1997-99.

MAJOR PROJECTS 1995

For Sida Stockholm. FISHERIES AND THE ANGOLAN ECONOMY. A Review of Key Policy Issues and Swedish Support to Fisheries.

For AgriConsult AB Malmö. Techno-Economic Feasibility Study for Flour Mill Grain Silos Extension. Abu Dhabi Flour Mill & Animal Feed Factory.

For SIDA Stockholm. Evaluation of bids for Consulting Services to the Ministry of Fisheries in Angola.

For DenConsult (Danida). Evaluation of six fisheries projects and recommendations for future Danish support in Mozambique.

A list of major projects for the period 1982-1994 will be provided on request:

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Send e-mail to:  Tom Alberts