Francis Konu is a Senior Analyst and the Deputy Programmes Manager at Development Solutions Centre (DSC). His core functions cover design of new client projects for USADF support; viability assessment of client projects; advise to clients on project implementation; training of clients to develop financial goals and performance indicators and targets to validate project progress and results; monitoring of ongoing projects. His services manifest in the adoption of sound business practices and improvements in client portfolios.
Mr. Konu worked for seven years as Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist with Technoserve Ghana, a USAID- sponsored American PVO engaged in rural economic development. He designed and managed a progressive M&E system to provide reliable result information to donors on three successive programmes that Technoserve implemented. He was key in preparing an M&E component of a proposal bid that won Technoserve a US $10million USAID Multi-Year Assistance Programme.
His prior work was three years engagement as Credit Manager with Empretec Ghana Foundation on a UNDP-sponsored rural finance program for SMEs, where he managed one of five national credit units. His work output achieved three main successes: increased access of rural SMEs to financial services; improved capacities of SMEs; and increased adoption of best practices by entrepreneur managers. He had earlier tutored for four years at Achimota Secondary School, one of Ghana’s renowned second cycle institutions where his work aptitude turned out over 85 percent of his students to tertiary-level education.
Mr. Konu worked as Agribusiness and Financial Services Manager on a USAID-sponsored West Africa Seed Alliance (WASA) project in Ghana and led to undertake first-ever survey and mapping of rural agro dealers in Ghana. He built agro dealer capacity on structured business training modules and collaborated with public and private institutions to mainstream agro dealer activity in Ghana.
Mr. Konu has strong data processing and spreadsheet skills, analytical abilities, and the intelligence to analyze data for systematic and objective reporting. These qualities have blended well with his oral and written communication skills. He has a gentle outlook that translates into pleasant interpersonal skills, making working with him enjoyable. In work functions, he exhibits an unflinching commitment to quality and deadlines.
Mr. Konu holds distinction in MA in Development Evaluation and Management from the University of Antwerp in Belgium (2007), and BSc degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ghana (1991). These are in addition to short- tailored courses on business development and topical M&E, including one attended on ‘Health and Agriculture Monitoring Tools’ organized by Food Aid Management (FAM) in Johannesburg, South Africa. |
