Simpunga Innocent
About Simpunga Innocent
Simpunga Innocent serves as a Senior Agriculture and Livelihood Specialist for the Huguka Dukore USAID Project at Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore, Maryland. He holds multiple advanced degrees in Agronomy, Engineering, and Philosophy, and has extensive experience in supporting youth farmers and enhancing agricultural value chains.
Work at Catholic Relief Services
Simpunga Innocent serves as the Senior Agriculture and Livelihood Specialist for the Huguka Dukore USAID Project at Catholic Relief Services. He has held this position since 2017, contributing to agricultural development initiatives in Baltimore, Maryland. His role involves providing technical oversight to implementing partners, particularly in supporting youth farmers. He focuses on helping these farmers form groups and utilize e-business planners to enhance their agricultural practices.
Education and Expertise
Simpunga Innocent has an extensive educational background in agriculture and related fields. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Atlantic International University, where he studied Agronomy, Engineering, and Philosophy from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, he obtained a Master of Science in Agriculture from The University of Göttingen and another Master of Science from Wageningen University & Research. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Demography from University Libre De Kigali ULK.
Background
Simpunga Innocent's academic journey includes studying at multiple prestigious institutions. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Demography at University Libre De Kigali ULK in 2006. He further pursued advanced studies in agriculture, earning two Master's degrees and a Doctorate in Philosophy. His diverse educational background equips him with a comprehensive understanding of agricultural practices and their socio-economic impacts.
Achievements
In his current role, Simpunga Innocent supports the Market Development Specialist in identifying gaps in agricultural value chains. He focuses on establishing income-generating activities for youth and identifying employment opportunities with agro-dealers, processors, and other private sector actors. Previously, he worked as a Consultant Expert at Agriterra for one month in 2017, where he provided expertise in agricultural development.