Peter Schmidt

Peter Schmidt is the Senior Advisor for Agriculture and Food at Helvetas, a role he has held since 2017. With over 30 years of experience in development cooperation, he brings a wealth of expertise to his position. Schmidt holds a Master of Science in Agriculture from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and has worked in various leadership roles, including as Co-Director of Helvetas’ International Programmes Department and Country Director for Helvetas in Myanmar, India, and Kyrgyzstan.

His work focuses on managing agricultural value chain projects that prioritize socially fair and ecologically sound solutions. Schmidt has extensive experience in adult education, particularly in moderating workshops and training on rural development and market chain facilitation. He has consulted in approximately 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, providing insights into complex agricultural situations and contributing to project planning, monitoring, and evaluations.123

Currently based in Switzerland, Schmidt oversees a team of rural development specialists who provide advisory services to Helvetas programs and external clients.34