MASU Presents: John McPeak

Helping Markets Assist Rural producers in Developing Economies USAID developed a strategy for the agriculture sector entitled ‘linking producers to markets’ in 2004.  Since that time, I have been involved in two different USAID funded projects that have attempted to implement this strategy.  This presentation focuses these efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.  In one of the projects, the market we are trying to develop is for index based livestock insurance in Kenya. The development , extension, performance, and challenges to date of this effort are outlined.  The other market  discussed is the livestock market in Mali.  The presentation will outline the different components of this project, the accomplishments to date, and the challenges and strategies going forward.   In both cases, the mix of research ,development, and donor objectives will be identified and discussed. Dr. McPeak is a Public Administration lecturer at the Maxwell School. He has worked on a series of projects tackling specific development issues in African states including, Ethiopia, Mali and Kenya. One of his notable projects is titled Livestock Marketing in Kenya and Ethiopia. He has also published a series of articles on economic and development issues in Africa. His areas of research include Africa, environment and development issues and environmental conflict resolution. Http://faculty.maxwell.syr.edu/jomcpeak/