Vanessa Adams has 25 years of professional experience, including with Fortune 500 companies in the US. She has 17 years’ experience working in 29 African countries with governments, businesses and farmer cooperatives to increase productivity, meet buyer specifications, access finance, and compete in international markets. She partners with governments, donors and businesses to develop and implement strategies which increase productivity and international trade, expand investments, improve business environments, access financial services as well as reduce constraints to economic growth.
Vanessa currently manages PIATA USAID, Gender and Inclusion, Digital Ag, Gender and Partnerships implementing a $500M USD strategy, Partnership for Inclusive Agricultural Transformation in Africa. Previously, she led $70+ million USD projects with multi-cultural teams, facilitated over $300 million in exports from Africa, and catalyzed over $70 million in investments as well as over $140 million in credit. She contributed to the foundation of three pan-African NGOs including the African Cashew Alliance, Borderless Alliance, and Global Shea Alliance, as well as initiating the Women in Agribusiness Leadership Network in Ethiopia.
Vanessa has an Executive MBA from INSEAD.