Stephen Magige Paul
Dar es Salaam
Summary
Development practitioner with over 20 years of leadership in agricultural transformation and rural economic development across East Africa. Successfully managed EU-funded project in Tanzania, notably the Beekeeping Value Chain Project, achieving tangible improvements in livelihoods, market access, and sustainability. Managed a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project focusing on agricultural development and innovation. Expertise in value chain development, climate-smart agriculture, and facilitating international market access. Proven ability to deliver results aligned with EU and global development priorities on food systems, resilience, and rural development. Fluent in English and Kiswahili. Diligent Project Manager with background in managing complex projects across various industries. Known for successfully leading cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within scope. Demonstrated ability to manage project lifecycles and implement process improvements. Project management professional with track record of delivering high-impact projects in diverse environments. Adept at driving project timelines and ensuring quality outcomes through strategic planning and execution. Highly collaborative, adaptable, and committed to team success and client satisfaction.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Manager
Belgian Agency for International Cooperation – Enabel
Tanzania
08.2023 - Current
- Led implementation of EU Beekeeping project, strengthening honey value chains and expanding exports to EU markets.
- Ensured compliance with EU sustainability and reporting standards.
- Fostered partnerships with government, NGOs, and private sector actors to scale sustainable livelihoods.
- Ensure coherence of regional value chain strategies with national policies.
- Align beekeeping development with natural resource management.
- Supervise strategic studies and consultancy processes.
- Organize action-research and document lessons learned.
- Led cross-functional teams to deliver international development projects on time and within budget.
- Developed strategic project plans aligning with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations.
- Managed risk assessments and mitigation strategies to ensure project sustainability and compliance.
Country Project Manager
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Tanzania
Tanzania
01.2012 - 01.2022
- Managed donor-funded projects including cassava and banana seed systems, supporting sustainable market-based models.
- Managed a comprehensive agricultural project over 12 years, focusing on agricultural innovation, productivity, and market access for smallholder farmers.
- Benefited over 1 million farmers through improved seed quality and climate-resilient crop varieties.
- Supervised large teams and aligned project operations with national development strategies.
- Developed and scaled initiatives that improved crop yields, income, and resilience among rural communities.
- Collaborated with government agencies, research institutions, and private sector to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
- Achieved measurable impacts on food security and farmer livelihoods through strategic program management.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement strategic projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Developed project plans and timelines, coordinating resources and stakeholders for successful execution.
- Analyzed project performance data to identify areas for improvement and optimize processes.
Country Project Manager
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Tanzania
Tanzania
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Oversee and coordinate the implementation of the GLCI project at the national level, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and donor requirements.
- Monitor financial and physical progress continuously, evaluate impact, and provide timely, actionable feedback to the Country Director.
- Facilitate the development of annual national GLCI plans and budgets, ensuring resource allocation aligns with project goals.
- Lead the identification, assessment, and onboarding of local partners; ensure they receive adequate orientation and capacity support for effective implementation.
- Support the establishment and adherence to national seed certification standards, resulting in improved farmer productivity and market.
- Manage grant processes, including proposal review, disbursement, and compliance monitoring.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement strategic projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Private Sector Development Advisor
SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Tanzania
Tanzania
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Conduct capacity building for the three district development pillars—Local Government Authorities, private sector organizations, and civil society—under the CBLGA programme.
- Support the organization and development of value chains for key products in the Lake Zone, including pineapple, chickpeas, and cotton.
- Deliver life skills training to youth entrepreneurs to enhance their business capabilities.
- Facilitate the strengthening of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) by enhancing their internal capacity to deliver quality services.
- Work across the Lake Zone (Mwanza, Kagera, Shinyanga, and Mara regions) to improve MFI operations and service delivery to target populations.
- Support the establishment and strengthening of district-level MFI networks to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Encourage and facilitate the adoption of microfinance best practices among MFIs.
- Promote private-public dialogue and partnerships to create an enabling environment for microfinance and local development.
- Facilitate linkages between MFIs and commercial banks to expand financial access and enhance financial inclusion.
Financial Services Supervisor
Rural Financial Services Program, Tanzania
Tanzania
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Mobilize communities to establish SACCOS.
- Support the strengthening of MFIs to enhance operational capacity and sustainability.
- Promote the adoption of microfinance best practices among MFIs.
- Assist in developing financial products tailored to smallholder farmers’ needs.
- Conduct life skills and entrepreneurship training for MFI clients to improve financial literacy and business skills.
- Facilitate the formation of district-level MFI networks to foster collaboration.
- Link MFIs with financial institutions for capacity building and wholesale lending opportunities.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
University of Dar Es Salaam
Dar Es Saalam- Tanzania01.2005
BSc - Agriculture (General)
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Morogoro-Tanzania01.1998
Skills
- EU Project Implementation & Compliance
- Value Chain Development (Honey, Cassava, Bananas, Pineapple, Cotton)
- Climate-smart & Sustainable Agriculture
- Market Systems & International Market Access
- Strategic Planning & Program Development
- Partnership Building & Stakeholder Engagement
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
- Inclusive & Gender-sensitive Program Design
- Leadership & Team Supervision
- Project management
- Project planning
- Project planning and development
- Team collaboration
- Relationship building
- Strategic planning
Accomplishments
Linked honey traders to local, regional and international markets, Advocated successful to improve beekeeping operational environment ( removing trade barriers, dedicated community reserves for beekeeping), designed a sustainable cassava seed system , developed a sustainable beekeeping extension model, designed sustainable and affordable beekeeping input supply system, Commercial Cassava Seed System Model is working in Tanzania and replicated to other geographies and commodities, Facilitated the release of more than 50 new cassava varieties.
other vegetative propagative crops
Affiliations
1. Crop Science Association of Tanzania(CROSAT)
2. International Symposium of Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC)
Certification
- Value Chain Financing – Elite Space International (2022)
- Market Systems Development – Springfield Centre (2022)
- Climate Smart Agriculture – MEDA (2022)
- Integrated Seed Sector Development – Wageningen University (2015)
- Project Planning & Management – MS TSDC (2019)
- Monitoring & Evaluation – Open University of Tanzania (2015)
Languages
English – Fluent
Kiswahili – Fluent
Timeline
Project Manager
Belgian Agency for International Cooperation – Enabel
08.2023 - Current
Country Project Manager
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Tanzania
01.2012 - 01.2022
Country Project Manager
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Tanzania
01.2009 - 01.2011
Private Sector Development Advisor
SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Tanzania
01.2005 - 01.2008
Financial Services Supervisor
Rural Financial Services Program, Tanzania
01.1999 - 01.2002
MBA - Business Administration
University of Dar Es Salaam
BSc - Agriculture (General)
Sokoine University of Agriculture
References
- Lauren, Good, Senior Program Officer, Lauren.Good@gatesfoundation.org, Gates Foundation
- Regina, Kapinga, Head of Advocacy & Resource Mobilization, R.Kapinga@cgiar.org, IITA Tanzania
- Lorraine, Dias, Human Capital Manager, ldias@meda.org, MEDA