Midrand, July 23, 2015 - NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki has announced the appointment of Clifford Spencer as NEPAD Goodwill Ambassador.

Mr Spencer is a professional farmer with over 40 years’ experience in global agriculture and is internationally recognised for developing alternative crops and agronomic practices. Dr Mayaki said Mr. Spencer will be an excellent and eloquent advocate on NEPAD’s development agenda given his strong commitment to the values and principles of NEPAD. His experience and talent will assist the NEPAD Agency reach out to and engage with important stakeholders, he noted..

Mr. Spencer expressed his gratitude on the appointment and emphasised that he will use his experience and expertise to drive the NEPAD agenda forward.

. Mr Spencer acted for over a decade as a senior adviser to the United Nations Foundation on agriculture and bioenergy and the development of affordable energy, through which he developed strategies for Africa in the areas of climate change, land, lakes and seas. He has served on a panel of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany and Processors and Growers Research Organisation and as a national judge for the Agricultural Trade Awards. He is a Barclays Bank Farm of the Year award winner, former Barclays Bank business judge, previous Chairman of a regional Farming Group for the UK Sustainable Strategy in Farming and Food and a UK Institute of Directors ‘Director of the Month’.

As Chief Executive Officer at the Global Biotechnology Transfer Foundation, Mr. Spencer promotes awareness of the potential for biotechnology to support sustainable, long-term, socio-economic development. Upon leaving active farming Clifford became Head of Operations at the G4 Group and was responsible for operations in South America, Africa, India and China. He is listed in “Who’s Who in the World 2015”.

Mr. Spencer is the first NEPAD Goodwill Ambassador appointment under Dr Mayaki’s leadership.

Source: NEPAD

For more information and interview contact:

Name: Mrs Millicent Kgeledi

Number: +27 11 256 3615

Email: MillicentS@nepad.org