Myrtille Danse appointed as Executive Director NFP
The Steering Committee of the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP) and the Board of AgriProFocus announce that Mrs. Myrtille Danse has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Netherlands Food Partnership starting September 1, 2020.
“Myrtille Danse is the right woman to shape the Netherlands Food Partnership”, says Meike van Ginneken, chair of het NFP Steering Committee. “The common thread in Myrtille’s career is working on innovations, sustainability and food security in the Dutch and international food sector. Her experience is an excellent basis for her to lead on operationalising the NFP vision to connect, innovate and scale.”
The NFP brings together Netherlands expertise to boost transformative approaches for sustainable food systems and healthy diets in Low- and Middle Income Countries. The core of the NFP is to accelerate the formation of coalitions which apply transformative approaches for impact. The NFP also provides other services to promote and share NL expertise.
Myrtille Danse is currently the Director Latin America and the Caribbean of HIVOS, working from the regional office in Costa Rica. In this capacity she manages an annual portfolio of 16 million euro, which includes various regional initiatives on sustainable food systems, healthy diets and climate smart agriculture. “My whole career I have worked in partnerships of the Dutch private sector and diverse Dutch and foreign stakeholders on impactful entrepreneurship in low income markets especially in the agri-food business”, emphasizes Myrtille. She also held several positions working on public private partnerships and sustainable trade including as Founding Director of the BoP Innovation Center, at Agricultural Economics Research Institute of LEI/ Wageningen University, trade attaché for the Dutch Embassy for Central America, and with international business consultancy companies and support agencies such as KPMG and ICCO. Myrtille adds: “I believe that NFP will play a catalytic role in accelerating the Dutch contribution to SDG2. I am looking forward to being part of it together with all corners of the Dutch Diamond.”
This year the current AgriProFocus and Knowledge Programme for Food Security (KP) are being blended to form the NFP organisation. “In the first instance, Myrtille will be employed by AgriProFocus as this change process is taking place.” says Theo Koekkoek, chair of the AgriProFocus Board. “Myrtille will be central in building the NFP organisation as a lean platform organisation that catalyses action and coordinates NFP activities. We are happy to have her on board.”
Theo Koekkoek – Chair Board AgriProFocus
Meike van Ginneken – Chair Steering Committee NFP
Congratulations to Myrtille Danse on her appointment as the Executive Director of the Netherlands Food Partnership (NFP). The appointment is a good sign that her relevance will continue to speak.
I worked with her for about two years during the Food Security Research Project, which she conducted in Africa.
She took me to IFDC’s Office in Accra, Ghana where we conducted some interviews on the role of international intermediary organisations in food security and inclusive business networks in Africa .
Following her directives, we also conducted some interviews with management at Friesland Campina (WAMPCO) in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
We also conducted some interviews with government officials at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja, North Central Nigeria.
Moreover, we conducted some field works including field trips, interviews and observations of stakeholders meetings at different communities in Oyo state, southwest Nigeria
Her visit to Nigeria and presentations to the management of the University of Lagos for research purposes remain evergreen.
She also linked me with her research team in Kenya and we had a good and productive working relationship.
Myrtille Danse has demonstrated exemplary leadership with good communication skills and excellent work ethics.