Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Languages
Non Academic Trainings
Professional Bodies Committees
Digital It Skills
Personal Information
Affiliations
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Reboneng Makoa

Summary

I am a highly motivated economic development and promotion professional with over 13 years of experience and a successful track record in project management, investment and trade promotion and facilitation, partnership building, stakeholder coordination and management, and policy advocacy. Combining strong analytical skills with extensive knowledge of international trade and investment policy, regional dynamics, and value chain analysis, I am adept at providing technical and policy advice for public and private sector organizations. I actively contribute to the implementation of trade and investment agreements and enhance governance through investment climate/business environment reforms, and public-private dialogue (PPD) frameworks.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Investment Climate Reforms Manager

Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)
05.2021 - 09.2023
  • Coordinated government and its agencies and private sector stakeholders and development partners to improve business environment/investment climate reforms including and investment laws, policies, regulations, incentive regimes, procedures, and systems, and reduce economy-wide barriers to stimulate private domestic investment, foreign direct investment, domestic and international trade, and job creation.
  • Coordinated LNDC and government public-private dialogues (PPD) and related stakeholder coordination and partnerships initiatives including being a member of the Lesotho Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) Task Team tasked with facilitating the institutionalization and implementation of the Lesotho PPD framework.
  • Led and provided resource and technical assistance, and managed short-term experts, for LNDC in capacity building, public-private dialogue (PPD), investment climate reforms, and nation branding.
  • Contributed to the development of the Lesotho MCA II compact as a member of the Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture (MDIH) Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) Task Team – MDIH PDIA Task Team.
  • Contributed, as a member of the AfCFTA Committee on Investment and Lesotho negotiator to the successful and timely negotiation and adoption of AfCFTA Protocol on Investment.
  • Contributed to the negotiations and adoption of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods by working as a member of the Dedicated Technical Committee tasked with reviewing and providing comments on the draft regulations on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) report and its content.
  • Was a member of the SADC Investment Sub-Committee, and the SADC-DFR Working Group on Resource Mobilization.
  • Coordinated the project to "Develop NAPI for Lesotho" and managed the Lesotho Public-Private Dialogue on Industrial Recovery Post-Covid-19 and Investment Climate Reforms.
  • Coordinated the development of the Lesotho Compendium of Investment Opportunities, showcasing the Lesotho FDI Promotion Strategy and Marketing Plan 2021-2025, featuring 21 project profiles and 21 videos.
  • Managed short-term consultants and ensured quality control of deliverables e.g. feasibility studies, value chain studies, investment promotion materials.
  • Mobilized resources/technical assistance for strategic projects and initiatives for LNDC and stakeholders capacity building. For example from the World Bank, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the African Development Bank.
  • Project manager for the establishment of Lesotho's first commercial fresh produce market center, Maluti Fresh Produce Market Centre, including business planning, needs assessment, investment sourcing and closing, and evaluating project-specific business climate reforms, staffing and training, development of SOPs and internal policy design, systems and equipment procurement and installation, training of 16 fresh produce market agents, stakeholder engagement and management (farmers, ministries, government agencies, and regulators, farmers and farmers associations) and compliance requirements as well as facilitation capacity building and learning roadshows to South Africa farms and market centers. The market center is intended to serve more than 5,000 smallholder and commercial farmers and traders.
  • Developed, fundraised, and implemented the Lesotho Local Supplier Development Program (LSDP), approximately $200,000 annual budget, with to improve the capacity of small horticulture and livestock farmers, and improving women and youth farmers' economic empowerment, through capacity building in business and financial management, and facilitating access to finance, business development and transactional advisory services and markets systems. This involved partnerships with local commercial banks, UNDP, FAO, government ministries and NGOs, and farmers and agricultural products' associations. Supported the capacity building of 256 small farmers in seven districts, training of 90 farmers and extension officers in Global Good Agricultural Practices (Global G.A.P) and local G.A.P) standard certification (including training of Lesotho Standards Institutes officials and payment of its membership fees.
  • Benchmarked LNDC against best practices in investment and trade promotion and nation branding agencies globally and regionally to identify gaps and develop improvement strategies and activities.
  • Identified strategies and systems to institutionalize standard operating procedures for LNDC core business activities. Championed the procurement and adoption of a custom investment promotion agency customer relationship management (CRM) platform, investor relationship management platform currently used by LNDC.

Pavilion Director

Kingdom of Lesotho Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai
10.2021 - 02.2022
  • Coordinated the design, staffing, and equipping of the Lesotho Pavilion and Lesotho stakeholders' participation (government and private sector) to ensure the showcasing of the best of Lesotho
  • Hosted all visitors, high-level protocol, and VIPs' daily visits to the Kingdom of Lesotho Pavilion, fulfilling the functions of representing the country officially within the pavilion and other participating countries' events and meetings, and fulfilling the country's representation towards the organizer, EXPO 2020 Dubai
  • Daily management of the Lesotho Pavilion and attending to any problem or situation that always required intervention.
  • Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
  • The Lesotho Pavilion won the "Best Culture Exhibition and Authenticity" title through visitor votes.
  • Successfully managed key events including Lesotho National Day, the Lesotho Business Forum, and the Moshoeshoe's Day fashion show, His Majesty's High-level Business Roundtable Dinner and ensured smooth Pavilion operations, including VIP hosting and public visits.
  • Led the successful representation and participation of Lesotho in the Expo and international business events.
  • Managed and led the Lesotho nation branding initiatives through media engagement and driving Lesotho's positive visibility at EXPO 2020 and globally including through TV and social media interviews and visits to the pavilion.

Team Leader - Project Management

Lesotho Supplier Development Programe
09.2021 - 11.2021
  • Baseline study of LSDP participants to identify their capacities, constraints, and capacity development needs for financial and market access.
  • Developed the concept note and budget for the study. Designed survey questionnaire.
  • Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution. Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
  • Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
  • Recruited and oversaw personnel to achieve performance and quality targets. Trained and managed the team on data collection and approval of completed questionnaires.
  • Provided detailed technical and operational direction in project challenges, consistently meeting deliverables according to deadlines.
  • Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.
  • Drafted project reports to identify successful outcomes, insights and future recommendations. Analyzed data and wrote the study report. Verified quality of the data and the survey report and conformance to specifications before submitting to clients.
  • Coordinated material and resources procurement and required services for the survey within budget requirements.
  • Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts.
  • Established the baseline of women and youth involvement in horticulture and livestock and uncovered their main challenges and capacity development needs.
  • The survey also profiled farmers' land rights and land ownership, access to electricity, water, and digital internet services including geo-mapping (IFC PS 5). The survey covered 256 smallholder farmers in seven districts and interviews with agricultural extension officers and farmers' and agricultural product associations.
  • The study report informed the development of the LSDP capacity development project that trained and trained 90 horticulture and livestock farmers, extension officers, private sector associations, and the Department of Standards and other government officials in Global G.A.P and local G.A.P, general marketing, and business management.

Foreign Investment Promotion Officer

Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)
08.2015 - 04.2021
  • Promoted and marketed Lesotho as a preferred investment destination, with a focus on nation branding, investment climate reforms advocacy, and innovative marketing solutions.
  • Championed the development and establishment of the Lesotho Nation Brand involving conceptualization, development of the nation brand strategy, resource mobilization for technical assistance, promoting stakeholder buy-in (management, cabinet, to royal championship), and its institutionalization.
  • Developed relevant promotional and marketing tools for Lesotho including six sector profiles, the Guide to Doing Business in Lesotho, the guide to Cost of Doing Business in Lesotho, investment and trade promotion event brochures and marketing tools.
  • Provided first-base investment advisory and facilitation including responsiveness to investor enquiries and provision of appropriate information and timely updates.
  • Facilitating project implementation, providing analytical reports and project specific business environment and policy and compliance requirements.
  • Appraised investment projects to ensure their economic (ability to produce returns for investors, market and technical viability) and social viability (decent and sustainable job creation potential) and alignment to the LNDC and national strategic goals.
  • Managed investor relationships, through the management of the customer relationship management (CRM) tools from lead generation, graduation to investment project implementation.
  • Organized and marketed various successful local and international investment promotion events led by high-level delegations.
  • Coordinated LNDC's investment climate reforms/business environment initiatives (e.g. Lesotho Investor Roadmap) and participation in public-private dialogues (PPD) and policy advocacy by coordinating relevant organizations to facilitate implementation and continuously monitor Lesotho's ease of doing business performance.

Stakeholder Coordinator and Business Analyst

TAIG & LNDC
04.2019 - 10.2019
  • Undertook technical, financial, and market feasibility studies for the operationalization of the Maseru Fresh Produce Market center and the establishment of a vegetable production anchor farm.
  • Undertook stakeholders and community mapping and coordination including arranging meetings and producing meeting notes.
  • Collected data on the production of horticulture products, prices, exports, and imports.
  • Undertook market analysis to determine the market demand and estimated the market center's addressable market share.
  • Conducted financial, technical, and technological feasibility analysis.
  • Built farmers' database denominated by location, production capacity, and gender.
  • Undertook market center business climate and compliance requirements and developed a reforms advocacy agenda. Wrote feasibility study report.
  • Identified land for the anchor farm and out-grower schemes and led the local communities, landholder and stakeholders' identification and engagements for the securing of identified land (IFC PS 1 and 4). A model for utilization of community land in the project was designed allowing an agreement that the land will be converted to community equity, at least 20%, to ensure that local communities can protect their generational wealth. (IFC PS 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8).
  • Produced a full package of investment promotion toolkits to source an anchor investor.
  • Evaluated operational practices and identified improvement opportunities to develop revisions for systems and procedures.
  • Inventoried and ordered office supplies to maintain availability of products.
  • Studied processes, implemented cost reductions and developed reporting procedures to maintain administrative workflow.
  • Collected and analyzed business data from various departments to prepare reports and presentations for management.

Economist

Ministry of Development Planning
01.2011 - 07.2015
  • A member of the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) coordinating the development of its development through facilitating stakeholder inputs and consultations, developing issues papers to spark discussions, drafting and editing final chapters and presentation of final NSDP document.
  • Coordinated the National Investment Climate Reform (ICR) program as the Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Cabinet Committee Secretariat. This role involved providing essential technical support to the nine ICR task teams, from its inception during the drafting of the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) to successful implementation.
  • Conducted stakeholder consultation and sensitization on national vision and strategic planning and policy making approach and guidelines.
  • Designed of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for plans, and public sector investment program/plan (PSPIP) for ministries under my supervision.
  • Worked effectively to influence key players across private and public sectors.
  • Supervised four Assistant Economists/Assistant Economic Planners
  • Translated economic evidence-based findings into comprehensible narrative to communicate policy and project development.
  • Provided technical support to increase policy impact through high-level economic and public policy advice and analysis. Incorporated strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills to develop national and sectoral strategies and policies.
  • Conducted broad‐based economic research and prepared articles, digests and reports for management, specialty publications and clients.
  • Designed and improved models to further strengthen macroeconomic analysis e.g. national econometric model, national CGE model, national accounts statistics. A member of the Lesotho national Macroeconomic Working Group.
  • Represented the Department and Ministry of Development Planning on committees and forums such as the Macroeconomic Working Group.

Education

Master of Science - International Trade Policy And Trade Law

ESAMI-Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (ESAMI-trapca) – Accredited By Lund University
Arusha, Tanzania
11.2024

Executive Post-Graduate Diploma (Advanced Level - International Trade Policy And Trade Law

ESAMI-Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (ESAMI-trapca) – Accredited By Lund University
Arusha, Tanzania
11.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Economics (minor in Business Administration)

National University of Lesotho (NUL)
Maseru, Lesotho
07.2007

Skills

  • Economic Development & Promotion
  • Investment Climate/Business Environment Reforms & Policy Advocacy
  • Investment and Trade Promotion & Facilitation
  • Investment Climate Reforms & Policy
  • Rural & Sustainable Development (Just Transition)
  • Economic and Impact Research & Analysis
  • Business Development & Project Appraisal
  • Project Management & Contract Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Team Leadership
  • Nation Branding & Place Marketing
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Staff Training & Capacity Building
  • Complex Problem-Solving
  • Lead Generation & Product Fulfillment
  • Communication & Negotiation
  • Advanced experience in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Office 365, Office Exchange, Power BI)
  • Good knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) software (Zoho CRM, Amplify CRM)
  • Good knowledge of economic and trade policy impact analysis and simulation models (WITS-SMART, GAMS-CGE, GTAP-CGE)

Languages

Sesotho
Native language
English (Fluent)
Proficient
C2

Non Academic Trainings

  • 2023, World Free Zone Organization (WFZO), Free Zones Leadership “Global Trade 2.0: ZONES AN ECOSYSTEM OF TRUST DRIVING PROSPERITY”
  • 2023, Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), Executive Training on Sustainable Investments in Agriculture
  • 2019, Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), Creating an Enabling Environment for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (eLearning)
  • 2020, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), FDI Excellence Series: Designing World-Class Investment Promotion Agencies, Investment Promotion Strategies, and Attracting Quality FDI Training Course
  • 2020, Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC), APAC Fresh Produce Agents Examination Certification
  • 2017, International Development Ireland Ltd, Innovation and Moving up the Value Chain Programme in Investment Promotion
  • 2015, Initiative for Risk Mitigation in Africa, African Development Bank, Risk Mitigation Instruments
  • 2015, Big Fast Results (BFR) Institute, Big Fast Results Training Seminar
  • 2014, IMF e-learning program (IMF Institute), Financial Programming and Policies
  • 2013, UNCTAD Virtual Institute, Trade and Poverty Analysis Course
  • 2013, WTO Institute, The WTO and Trade Economics: Theory and Policy
  • 2013, Joint Donors Competence Development Network, Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation
  • 2012, PEP-HSRC Partnership for Economic Policy, PEP-HSRC Advanced Training in CGE and GAMS

Professional Bodies Committees

  • Member of the Lesotho Public-Private Partnership Task Team tasked with facilitating the institutionalization and implementation of the Lesotho PPD framework; from 2023
  • Member of the Market Driven Irrigated Horticulture (MDIH) Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) Task Team – MDIH PDIA Task Team; from 2022 to 2023
  • Member of International Trade Council; from 2023
  • Member of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) Committee on Investment – Negotiator for the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment; from 2021 to 2023
  • Member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Investment Subcommittee; from 2022 to 2023
  • Member of the Dedicated Technical Committee tasked with reviewing and providing comments on the draft regulations on the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) report and its content as an annexure of the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods; from March to October 2022.

Digital It Skills

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Office 365, Office Exchange).
  • Good knowledge of customer relationship management (CRM) software (Zoho CRM, Amplify CRM)
  • Good knowledge of STATA; a statistical software program used for data manipulation, visualization, and analysis.
  • Good knowledge of economic and trade policy impact analysis and simulation models (WITS-SMART, GAMS-CGE, GTAP-CGE).
  • Basic Knowledge of Microsoft Power BI; a business intelligence (BI) and data management, analysis and visualization, and dashboard management tool.

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth: 12/12/85
  • Gender: MALE
  • Nationality: LESOTHO

Affiliations

  • International Trade Council (ID 59536233730561)

Certification

  • Free Zones Leadership Seminar “Global Trade 2.0: ZONES AN ECOSYSTEM OF TRUST DRIVING PROSPERITY”, World Free Zone Organization - 2023.
  • Executive Training on Sustainable Investments in Agriculture, Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) - 2023.
  • Creating an Enabling Environment for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (eLearning), Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) - Part 1 2019 & Part 2 2020.
  • FDI Excellence Series: Designing World Class Investment Promotion Agencies, Investment Promotion Strategies and Attracting Quality FDI Training Course, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) - 2020.
  • APAC Fresh Produce Agents Examination Certification, Agricultural Produce Agents Council (APAC) - 2020.
  • Innovation and Moving up the Value Chain Programme in Investment Promotion, International Development Ireland Ltd - 2017.
  • Risk Mitigation Instruments – Initiative for Risk Mitigation in Africa, African Development Bank - 2015.
  • Big Fast Results Training Seminar, Big Fast Results (BFR) Institute - 2015.
  • Financial Programming and Policies, IMF Institute (IMF e-learning program) - 2014.
  • Public Speaking and Presentations Training, Lesotho Institute of Public Administration & Management (LIPAM) - 2024.
  • Trade and Poverty Analysis Course, UNCTAD Virtual Institute - 2013.
  • The WTO and Trade Economics: Theory and Policy, WTO Institute - 2013.
  • Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation, Joint Donors Competence Development Network - 2013.
  • PEP-HSRC Advanced Training in CGE and GAMS, Partnership for Economic Policy - 2012.

Timeline

Pavilion Director

Kingdom of Lesotho Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai
10.2021 - 02.2022

Team Leader - Project Management

Lesotho Supplier Development Programe
09.2021 - 11.2021

Investment Climate Reforms Manager

Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)
05.2021 - 09.2023

Stakeholder Coordinator and Business Analyst

TAIG & LNDC
04.2019 - 10.2019

Foreign Investment Promotion Officer

Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC)
08.2015 - 04.2021

Economist

Ministry of Development Planning
01.2011 - 07.2015

Master of Science - International Trade Policy And Trade Law

ESAMI-Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (ESAMI-trapca) – Accredited By Lund University

Executive Post-Graduate Diploma (Advanced Level - International Trade Policy And Trade Law

ESAMI-Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (ESAMI-trapca) – Accredited By Lund University

Bachelor of Arts - Economics (minor in Business Administration)

National University of Lesotho (NUL)

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Reboneng Makoa