Blog

TechnoServe’s blog highlights the lessons and successes from our work with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries.

TechnoServe Fellow Naila Farouk on Women’s Economic Empowerment and Supporting Women in Coffee

Naila Farouk recently completed a TechnoServe fellowship in Burundi, where she created a global marketing survey to collect data on Burundian coffee. In honor of International Women’s Day, Naila shared her fellowship experience, discussed women who have inspired her, and highlighted some of the structural barriers women face.

Sarah LaFleur’s Journey from TechnoServe Fellow to M.M.LaFleur Founder

Editor’s Note: Originally posted on December 7, 2017 under the title, “Just Get Up and Do Something” – Updated version published on July 20, 2023 under the new title, “Sarah LaFleur’s Journey from TechnoServe Fellow to M.M.LaFleur Founder” Sarah LaFleur, a TechnoServe Fellow in South…

Creating Change Through Cocoa in Ghana: Q&A With Former Fellow Yash Mehta

Yash Mehta is a former TechnoServe Fellow who worked remotely in Ghana earlier this year, where he helped a cocoa processing company improve its business plan and support smallholder farmers to increase their yields and incomes. In this Q&A, Yash shares what his remote fellowship experience was like and how it positively impacted his career path.

Making a Lasting Impact: Q&A with Rob Johnson, Former TechnoServe Fellow and Social Enterprise Entrepreneur

Rob Johnson is a former TechnoServe Fellow who worked in Haiti in 2011 performing a poultry value chain assessment. After his time as a Fellow, Rob returned to serve as a program manager in the TechnoServe Haiti Office. He then launched a social enterprise in Haiti called Acceso, which works to improve smallholder farmer income through inclusive value chains. In this Q&A, Rob shares how TechnoServe played a foundational role in his life and social enterprise career.

Fighting Malnutrition in Zambia: A TechnoServe Fellow’s Story

Robin Merl worked as a TechnoServe Fellow in Zambia in 2019. His work centered around strategies for decreasing malnutrition and stunting in the most affected areas of Zambia. Before joining TechnoServe, Robin worked with McKinsey & Company in Hamburg, Germany. Currently, he is working for the Freetown City Council and mayor’s office in Sierra Leone.