Denmark

Short Introduction to Alex Percy-Smith and APS Consulting Services

Alex Percy-Smith is sole owner of APS Consulting Services which is a private independent consulting company, specialising in providing independent services such as training and mentoring for improved proposal writing, evaluation of proposals and of organisations and programmes. Based in Denmark, APS Consulting Services has undertaken assignments throughout the world for clients including European Commission; FAO; GIZ; DANIDA; The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Netherlands; The Directorate General for Development Cooperation, Belgium; the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland; Aarhus University, Denmark and various private companies.

Academic and practical background
Alex Percy-Smith has a solid academic background and education. In addition, he also has a practical educational background. He went to Agricultural College in England and obtained the top grade in a Higher National Diploma (H.N.D.). His M.Sc. Agric. was awarded by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Alex Percy-Smith has practical farming experience from working on farming enterprises including a large market garden in England; large piggery and a small-medium sized dairy farm. His research career has been in Denmark and Mozambique where crop protection in horticultural and fruit crops has been in focus using principles of integrated pest management.

Work experience
Alex Percy-Smith is the founding director of APS Consulting Services, but has previously worked in the Danish agricultural research system including being employed first as a research scientist for some 15 years and then being in charge of an International Unit at the Aarhus University for over 16 years working especially with collaboration with African and Chinese institutions. During his career, he has carried out numerous short-term consultancies including reviews and evaluations both whilst being employed at the university and later as an independent consultant.

Alex Percy-Smith is well-known in the Agricultural Research for Development field and has experience from long and short-term consultancies covering many international assignments in Africa, China, Latin America, Eastern Europe and, of course, Europe. A number of assignments have involved working with global issues such as Food and Nutrition Security and Climate Smart agricultural production.

He understands the academic imperatives of research from his employment in research and education at Aarhus University, Denmark and was committed to all stages of dissemination – scientific and popular as well as both written and oral.

He has experience from a broad range of assignments for clients from both the public and private sectors as well as national, regional and international organisations. In addition, he has a good knowledge of various European Commission instruments including the Horizon2020 Programme including Coordination and Support Actions, Research and Innovation Actions and ERA Nets as well as the Development Cooperation Instrument covering the Food Security Thematic Programme.

He has carried out reviews and evaluations, pre-feasibility studies and various desk studies and has worked with all stages of the project cycle including project identification, resource identification, project management, resource management, reporting, and quality assurance of deliverables and reports as well as consultancy assignments. He also supports scientist in proof reading draft scientific papers.

Some examples of assignments
Below I have provided a brief overview of some of the assignments I have successfully completed over the years. I hope this provides an idea of my experience and you can find something that is relevant for you. Please do get in contact with me if you are interested in us working together. You are welcome to ring me, send me a mail or use skype.
Evaluations & Reviews
Mid-term review and monitoring of H2020 projects for the EC
Evaluation of proposals under Horizon 2020 – Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs), Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and ERA NET Cofunds
Evaluation of EC support to PAEPARD II – an independent assessment of performance of a 10 year project
Review of the Food & Business Knowledge Platform, Netherlands
Independent External Evaluation of the Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Programme of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Netherlands
Evaluation of Performance Management Funding of International Agricultural Research Centres for the Department for International Development (DFID), UK
Evaluation of the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD) - Evaluation of relevance, role, mandate and governance and need for EFARD
Review of project outputs under Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy Research into Use programme, Department for International Development (DFID), UK
Review of project: “Strengthening of Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Services in Zambia” for the Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA)

Proposal writing, Quality assurance and Proof reading
Increasing Montenegrin capacities for participation in HORIZON 2020 - Training and mentoring of the research community in preparing proposals especially for the H2020 programme
Support to preparation of proposals by consortia applying to European Commission (H2020 programme)
Support to preparation of a proposal by a consortium applying to International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Ad hoc support to various individuals providing quality assurance and proof-reading of scientific articles
Harmonisation and Quality Assurance of project deliverables for the ERA-ARD II project supported by the European Commission

Institutional support
Preparation and implementation of international conferences: programmes, speakers, logistics, facilitation etc.
Support to Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) through a Coordination and Support Action – (CASA) funded under H2020 Programme.
Support to Coordination Group of the Joint EIARD SCAR Strategic Working Group – ARCH - European Agricultural Research towards greater impact on Global CHallenges
Initial design and development of Joint EIARD SCAR Strategic Working Group
Support to the Secretariat of the European Forum for Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD)
Preparation, organisation and implementation of Final International Conference for ERA-ARD II project supported by European Commission
Programme Initiation meeting - Preparation, organisation and implementation of workshop for research coordinators of projects under the ERA-ARD II project
Preparation of strategies including in an internationalisation strategy for the second largest Danish University and also heading a small team who wrote a Livestock Research Strategy for Uganda.

Process management
Facilitation of workshops in pursuit of specific outcomes by understanding and skilled management of the collaboration process
Support to collaboration processes – brokerage and facilitation - including bringing partners together to build project partnerships
Organisation of international project workshops and conferences

Studies & Policy Briefs
National and EU Research Policies for addressing Global Challenges - Reviewing options for further integration of AR and ARD towards a new policy framework
Best strategies for intercontinental research and innovation partnerships - towards greater impact on global challenges – a paper for the Joint EIARD SCAR Strategic Working Group
Pre-feasibility study - “Supporting Southern-European alliances / platforms on ARD” for European Commission
Study on Formal Higher Agricultural Education: Working towards a new generation of Young Professional in ARD
Preparation of Investment Briefs on Extension - investing in Rural Advisory Services
Preparationof Internationalisation Strategy - “Response to Global challenges” for Danish University
Preparation of Issue Paper and facilitator at Regional parallel session for West Asia and North Africa region (WANA) at “Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change (ABDC-10)” FAO International Conference
Preparation of Strategy paper “Livestock Systems Research Project’s transition into the National Agriculture Research System”
Desk Study - Review and Update of the IFC Environemental, Health and Safety Guidelines. “Guideline Annual Crops” for World Bank

Call processes
Head of Call Secretariat for Transnational Call for EU supported projects ERA-ARD I & ERA-ARD II including Special role of running the Call Secretariat – managing competitive research funding processes including development of call documents, handling of applications, managing the international peer review process, final evaluation by funders

Personal competencies
He has acquired extensive experience from organising project workshops and international conferences as well as facilitating processes at workshops and conferences ensuring participants are heard and encouraged to contribute actively to the process.

Alex Percy-Smith was born and brought up in England. So with English as his mother tongue, he is completely fluent in written and oral English. He has written countless reports in English for clients such as the World Bank, The European Commission, Danida and the Nordic Council of Ministers as well as consultancy companies. In addition, he has a proven ability to deliver high quality and well-written reports on time.

Alex Percy-Smith, APS Consulting Services, Morelgangen 13, DK-3460 Birkerød, Denmark
Tel.: +45 20 72 75 09 e-mail: alex@APSconsultingservices.dk
skype name: alexpercy-smith Website: http://apsconsultingservices.dk/
Linkedin: http://dk.linkedin.com/pub/alex-percy-smith/6/77b/265/

Long-term (35+ year) experience in sustainable economic development, climate change, environment in different economic sectors as an institutional development, strategic planning, capacity development, and knowledge management and communication expert in programmes and projects in Asia, Africa and Caribbean. Working in multi-disciplinary teams and for international organisations (ADB, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, UNESCO, AU-NEPAD, IFAD-BSF, UNESCO-IHE, DFID, EC-DG-DEVCO/DG-INTPA, ACP-CTA, CAREC Institute), government and research institutions, universities, NGOs, private sector and (inter)national networks in Asia, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific.
In last two decades advising government institutions, international organisations and civil society organizations and networks in Asia/Pacific and Africa on institutional development, strategic and business planning, capacity development, knowledge and information management, communication, partnerships, use of ICTs, and innovation in different socio-economic sectors.
I have worked with international networks, NGOs, community-based organizations and local communities in the broader context of sustainable development with a focus on poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods, life-long learning, health and education. Before 2000 specifically focused on research and management of fisheries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

For more information on my projects see: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/ruudcrul

Development Economist

I started work with the EU Delegation in Nigeria in September 2009 after a six month temporary position. I have a Bachelors Degree in Education majoring in English Language. I had earlier served as a Personnel & an Economic Planning officer in the National establishment for over ten years and later obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Economic Policy Management in 2006.
I like to learn a lot but not necessarily to obtain another Degree Certificate. Therefore, an avenue such as this where knowledge could be updated with facts is highly desirable.