KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
Mr. Slacum, an enterprise development advisor, has 27 years of experience in microfinance and private sector strengthening. During this time he has served as Project Director on several USAID-funded projects as well as Advisor to local microfinance institutions. Mr. Slacum has extensive experience in: analyzing key constraints to microenterprise development and designing project interventions that remove them or minimize their effects; establishing solid working relationships with local counterparts and project stakeholders to ensure smooth project implementation and the achievement of project objectives; increasing women’s participation in project activities; and analyzing management information needs and identifying solutions to those needs. Currently, Mr. Slacum is working for the development of agribusiness credit mechanisms in Ukraine and Moldova, as well as supporting microcredit portfolios in Guinea. Mr. Slacum has also previously worked as Chief-of-Party for the MicroBank microfinance program in Benin, and an Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP) in Madagascar where he developed “alternative” microenterprise and small business livelihood options to stop those living in and around a protected area from continuing to deplete its resources. Mr. Slacum was also COP for microfinance activities in Chad and Liberia. In his previous capacity as Enterprise Development Services Director, Mr. Slacum was instrumental in helping microfinance projects adopt successful approaches to interest rate structure, loan size and diversification, and appropriate operational approaches to credit and technical assistance components and sustainability. He also designed a number of microenterprise projects for USAID and the World Bank.
