Steven Barlow

Steven Barlow is an experienced international development professional currently serving as the Senior Programmes Manager at Cecily's Fund, a position he has held since November 2016.12 With over 20 years of experience in the international development sector, Barlow brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.2

Professional Background

Barlow's career spans various positions in international development, focusing on areas such as:

• Agribusiness and rural enterprise development
• Tropical agriculture
• Entrepreneurship
• Poverty alleviation and inequality reduction

His LinkedIn profile describes him as a "catalytic, self-driven & dynamic international development specialist".1

Key Skills and Expertise

Steven Barlow possesses a range of skills that make him well-suited for his role at Cecily's Fund:

• Project and programme management: From design to implementation and monitoring, both in the UK and overseas1
• Strategic thinking: Strong analytical skills combined with creative innovation1
• Cross-cultural leadership: Experience in leading teams across different cultures and countries1
• Agricultural and rural livelihood programmes: Expertise in managing complex projects with structural, emergent, and socio-political aspects1
• Stakeholder collaboration: Skilled in mobilizing and linking stakeholders through market, supply, and value chain experience1

Education and Certifications

• Master's Degree in Applied Development Studies from the University of Reading (2003-2004)1
• PRINCE2 Practitioner certification from AXELOS Global Best Practice (issued June 2015)1

Notable Achievements

Throughout his career, Steven Barlow has accomplished several significant achievements:

• Decentralized UK-based country programme management to local offices in Africa and Latin America
• Implemented a successful community-based agricultural micro-credit scheme with a 100% first-year repayment rate
• Established a district technical support team involving government, NGOs, and private sector partners
• Redesigned a farmer cooperative to mitigate food security risks and build resilience1

Steven Barlow's extensive experience and skills make him a valuable asset to Cecily's Fund, where he continues to contribute to international development efforts.