Steve McCarthy

Senior Technical Director, Enterprise Development & Competitiveness Portfolio

Senior Technical Specialist Steve McCarthy has 27 years’ experience in project design and management in agricultural development, extension and training, smallholder production and marketing systems. Mr. McCarthy earned six years’ experience as an extension and training specialist with Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, where he designed programs and trained over 900 extension agents in non-formal education techniques, communication and demonstration skills, training of trainers and participatory adult education. He also served 10 years as associate director and country director for the U.S. Peace Corps in Ghana, Kenya and Uganda, where he was responsible for over 65 volunteers annually. He was a principal liaison with senior government ministries and development organizations and has eight years’ experience as project chief of party (COP) for long-term USAID-funded projects focusing on cooperative development and linking producers with markets. As a COP, Mr. McCarthy was responsible for program and training operations and supervision of all staff. He has particular expertise in value chain analysis, market linkages and commodity marketing for smallholders in cereals, coffee, horticulture, dairy and livestock. He has co-authored two Kenyan publications: “Maize Conservation on the Farm” and “Grain Storage Management Technical Manual for Front Line Extension Agents.” Mr. McCarthy earned his M.A. in international communication and development at American University and his B.S. in sociology/psychology at Boston State College. He is fluent in Amharic and Kiswahili.