Jeana Baker, MA Agriculture

Business Development Expert/Fundraising Strategist , INGOs

Remote, United States

Fluent in French with 18 years’ experience in international development, specializing in project-cycle management, business development and MEL for EU-/US- donor-funded programs in USA and abroad.
Seeking remote proposal writing opportunities and willing to go on short-term assignments. Readily Available, Highly Adaptable and Flexible!!!

Contact Jeana Baker, MA Agriculture
Area of Expertise:
  • Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural
  • Disaster, Aid, Emergencies, Relief
  • Fundraising, Business Development, Grants Writer
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
Professional Experience:

For 18 years I have been at the frontline fundraising and evaluating projects for INGOs to secure diversified (bilateral/multilateral/private) funding for humanitarian and development programs. I specialize in food security/livelihoods, proposal writing, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and data analysis for evidence-based programming. I have a solid track record in Monitoring and Evaluation as evidenced from leading previous OECD-DAC-based for IOM Ethiopia, Concern Worldwide in eastern DR Congo and for Irish Aid in Sierra Leone. I am highly qualified and equally motivated to lead business development (donor mapping, competitive landscapes, strategic workshop facilitation to curate fundraising strategies and donor engagement plans) as a full-time, permanent employee or short-term consultant.

I have direct experience working with the following donors: SIDA, EU, ECHO, USAID/BHA, USDOL, FCDO, GAC, GIZ, Irish Aid, UN agencies (e.g. UNPBF), and I am familiar with the contexts in the following countries: Benin, Haiti, Jordan, Uganda, DR Congo, Togo, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea. I highlight my credentials and experiences below; as follows:

Technical Communication Skills
Research
• I received an MA of Agriculture and Certificate in Professional, Technical Communication from Auburn University. I assessed the economic impact caused by the 2010 BP oil spill on seafood and tourism industries. I conducted empirical research, collecting data from secondary sources, engaged in key informant interviews (KIIs) and FGDs.

Proposal Development
• Co-led Pact’s past performance reference and organizational capacity statements for the awarded USDOL-ILAB Tanzania $4M cooperative agreement (2024)
• Co-led capture and assigned as lead proposal writer for FHI360’s $38M USAID/Benin NELY (2024)
• Led data analysis for a GIZ-funded AVSI Labor Market Study for “Cash for Work” project, identifying existing job opportunities for 300 Syrian refugees with Sustainable Research and Development Center, Amman, Jordan (2022)
• Advised, Coordinated and Supported BidBoss Consulting’s client on a €3.5M ECHO-HIP/Yemen Single Form (2022)
• Collaborated with RTI’s proposal lead writer on writing technical content for $16M I-WASH USAID Guatemala bid (2021)
• Provided technical agriculture/food security and market systems content on $4M USAID/BHA successful award for Danish Refugee Council (2021)
• Served as Lead Proposal Writer on two USAID Food for Peace Ethiopia proposals for The Mitchell Group (2019)
Evidence-Based Programming
• As International Evaluator/consultant for IOM Ethiopia, I led a mid-term review of a €4.2M SIDA-funded AUC-IOM joint grant to support of the Accelerated Implementation of Free Movement of Persons (FMP) Protocol in Africa.
• For Mercy Corps/Haiti as Program Performance and Quality Manager, I provide technical support and guidance to nine staff engaged in MEAL, Protection and Communication on a $4M Cholera Response project and $10M USAID/BHA Resilience award. Delivered donor reporting on GAC, LDSC close outs. Strengthened oversight and capacity for Mercy Corps Haiti’s Community Accountability Reporting CARM (feedback) mechanism
• As External Evaluator/Consultant for Concern Worldwide in DR Congo, I led a 24-day evaluation with 6-member MEAL team, using OECD-DAC criteria to measure the outcomes of $7M OFDA (BHA) Humanitarian Assistance to Conflict Affected Households in Eastern DRC programme. In consultation with Concern’s M&E Team, I developed qualitative evaluation tools and matrices collecting data from 256 individuals through 32 focus groups discussions and 22 key informant interviews.

Based on these past performances, I will excel in securing new funding streams for your organization. After you review my CV, please feel free to contact me at jeanabaker12@gmail.com.

Education:

I have a Masters of Agriculture, with a Certificate of Technical and Professional Communication from Auburn University. For my graduate thesis, I assessed the economic damages to Alabama seafood and tourism industries as a result of the 2010 BP oil spill. Excerpts from my peer-reviewed report were published in MS-Alabama Sea Grant and Auburn Speaks.


Affiliations and Achievements:

Certified in proposal writing from Shipley Associates (2024) and Keylime Academy (2025)
Research Methodologies, Victores Christi, Venture Online (Dec 2019)
Impact Evaluation, TIME, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland (Sept 2017)
International Development Studies, Harper-Adams University, UK (Sept 2013)

Recipient of Environmental Award, University of Montana (2006)

Available for:

  • Consulting assignments
  • Job opportunities
  • Being headhunted – make me an offer

Years of Experience:

15-20 years

Highest Qualification:

Masters

Languages:

English, French

Nationality:

United States

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