Jua Dai Fleer

Young Expert at Ecopolis Europa - Uganda
YEP period 2020 - 2021, batch 20

YEP Role

Ecopolis Europa, for whom I work, is an NL-based consultancy company that focuses on capacity building of organizations, companies, institutions, and communities in the areas of agriculture, organizational development, urban planning, and sustainable development. The company has a record of operating globally (Asia, Europe, Africa, South America), however is now more aimed towards eastern Africa.

As a Young Expert, I am working for Ecopolis Europa a ‘junior advisor sustainable highland agriculture’ and I mainly assisting one of the company’s partners, namely ‘Kilimo Kisasa Ltd’. Kilimo Kisasa Ltd is a highland farm in Zombo district, Uganda that produces (seed) potatoes and functions as a role model farm in the region. The farm aspires to become sustainable and preferably organic in its production of potatoes, to initiate and organize an agro-ecological ecosystem in the area, and to become the largest environmentally friendly and community-enhancing potato farm in East Africa. My role is to assist in the coordination of the farm’s commercial activities and vocational smallholder training, generating knowledge by doing research on innovation-oriented highland farming, and developing extensive networks, exchanges, and collaborations between stakeholders of highland farming in eastern Africa. 

As a YEPper, I am based in Arua city, Uganda, and work closely with my fellow YEPper Milos van Leest. My working period at the YEP programme is from May 2020 till May 2022.

Skills

English fluent in understanding, writing, reading speaking, listening, and humor

French understanding and conversational fluency in speaking (B2 level)

Spanish understanding and speaking (B1 level)

Capable of designing, implementing, and reporting data collections

Capable of writing and reading scientific reports

Capable of writing proposals and applying for funds

Good relations management and networking

Able to work and strive in remote places in the tropics; preferable Africa

Eye for agricultural development in combination with biodiversity and nature conservation

Specialised in technology adoption processes

Background

Nationality: Dutch

Education: BSc in ‘Regional Development and Innovation’ at Van Hall Larenstein and MSc in ‘Development and Rural Innovation’ at Wageningen University and Research

Experience before YEP

See LinkedIn: Jua Dai Fleer