Executive Director - Joshua Valeta (Phd fellow)

CURRICULUM VITAE  

Name:                                    Joshua Madison Shongah Valeta

Professional Area:                 Agricultural Systems and Livelihoods Development

Academic Area:                     Aquaculture Systems Development

Date of Birth:                          5th of April 1978.

Sex:                                       Male

Marital status:                         Married

Present Address:                     Bunda College, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe.

Cell:                                        (+265)08 724490/09 101788,        Tel.(+265) 01 971 757

E-mail:                                    jvaleta32@gmail.com; valetajoshua@yahoo.com

Education Background

2009 to date:      Pursuing a PhD in aquaculture Technology at Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi

2006:                 Master of Science in Aquaculture, University of Gent, Belgium and University of Wageningen, The Netherlands.

                        2005:                 Master of Aquaculture, University of Gent, Belgium.

                        2003:                 Bachelor of Science in Irrigation Engineering; University of Malawi, Bunda College.

                        1994 - 1998:       The Malawi School Certificate of Education, Police Secondary School.

                        1994 - 1996:       Junior Certificate of Education, Police Secondary School.

Work Experience

• Technical Consultant for IFPRI-Malawi (2011)
• Currently working as lecturer in Aquaculture Systems and Engineering, Department of aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi(2003-11)
• Monitoring and Evaluation focal point for the Agriculture Research and Development Programme (ARDEP); “Dealing with major challenges to aquaculture development in Malawi”(2008-2011).
• Served as project officer for the Bunda College coordinated Scottish Government project: “Entrepreneurship in Aquaculture”, 2009. The University of Stirling was the UK partner.
• Training and logistics manager for the Japanese funded “Aquaculture Development in Malawi” (ADiM) project, under the Systems Science Consultants, South Africa (2004).
• Projects Officer for Ecological Research and Outreach Initiatives (ECORET), Lilongwe, Malawi

Student Supervision

• Supervised 4 students in Master of Science in aquaculture and fisheries science between 2007 and 2011.
• Supervised research for 4 undergraduates in aquaculture and fisheries science between 2007 and 2011.

Consultancy experience:

Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change

• Technical Consultant for IFPRI-Malawi (Current-2011)
• Leading the establishment of a center for urban agriculture, livelihoods and Environmental Sanitation (QUALIVES) to be registered as a non-governmental organization by end of 2011
• Coordinated a baseline study on potential of urban agriculture in Malawi as a sub-consultant under the Millenium Center for Research and Development (MCRD).
• Team member for the development of Climate Adaptation for Rural Livelihoods and Agriculture (CARLA) study and project development, Malawi, in collaboration with MARBEK, a Canadian Consultant Firm (2009-2010).
• Sub-consultant in report writing on the Evaluation of Impacts of a Rural Livelihoods Programme implemented by OXFAM (2009).
• Facilitator and trainer in Integrated Agriculture in Chata ADP, Lilongwe, for World Vision International (2009).
• Facilitator and trainer of extension frontline staff in integrated agriculture technology in Chingale Area, Zomba, Malawi (2008).
• Coordinator for Evaluation of World Vision Malawi Mphuka Area Development Programme (ADP): Food security, income, nutrition and health impacts on rural livelihoods (2007).
• Team member in the Evaluation of World Vision Malawi Kaufulu ADP: Food security, income, nutrition and health impacts on rural livelihoods (2006).
• Team member in the Climate Change National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) in fisheries for Malawi (2003).

Aquaculture and Fisheries

• Feasibility of sustainable fish farming in T/A Kachere, Dedza, Malawi, for Concern Universal.
•  September 2003: Assessment and Drawing of lessons from the implementation of the Participatory Fisheries Management Program (PFMP) in Malawi as GTZ sub-contractor.
• IFPRI policy research: “The Decline of Chambo Fishery in Malawi and failure to enforce regulations” - A policy agenda (2003).

General: Entrepreneurship, Health and Development

• Coordinated study on “Linkage between Masculinity, Alcohol and HIV and AIDS in Malawi”, for the Norwegian Church AID (2009).
• Coordinated Study on “Human Trafficking and Child Labor” for Salvation Army and the Norwegian Church Aid (2009).
• Resource person during training in Agribusiness management for a Farmer Cooperative in Lilongwe, Malawi (2008)
• Coordinated data collection for midterm evaluation of a Microloan Foundation Project in Kasungu, Malawi (2007)

Conference Organization, Facilitation and Reporting Skills

• Joshua has organized and facilitated a number of national and international conferences conducted within the country
• He has also acted as the chief rapporteur, and therefore, led the writing of conference reports towards concept notes on subjects of various disciplines ranging from Agriculture, Livelihoods and Policy.

Refereed Journal Publications:

• Gomani M. C., Valeta J. and Samson J. K. S. P. (2010). Modeling the fluxes of nitrogen, phosphate and sediments in Linthipe catchment, Southern Lake Malawi Basin: Implications for catchment management. African Journal of Agricultural Research. Vol. 5 (6), pp. 424-430.
• Valeta J.S., M.C.M. Verdegem (2009). Phosphate removal from aquaculture effluent by algal turf scrubber technology. Malawi Journal of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Lilongwe, Malawi. Vol. 1 (1), pp. 19-22.
• Kaunda E., J. Valeta, K. Kamanga, P.Mkwanda, T.D. Njobvu, and P. Kapondamgaga (2007). Suitability of small-scale fish farming for improved livelihoods in Traditional Authority Kachere, Dedza District, central Malawi. Malawi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Lilongwe, Malawi (2007). Vol. 3 (1), pp 40-48.

Conference proceedings:

• Kapute F. and J. Valeta (2009). The status of fish farming in Chingale. Agriculture Research and Development Programme (ARDEP) Annual Seminar Book of Abstracts. Programmes coordinating office, Bunda College, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, pp. 25-28.
• Kaunda E., D. Maliro, M. Mphepo, S. Khaila, L. Kamanga, L.Y. Phiri and J. Valeta (2005). Management regulations and enforcement in Malawi Fisheries. The Future of Smallholder Agriculture in Eastern Africa, by S. Babu and A. Temu (eds.) (2005), IFPRI, Kampala, Uganda. pp. 369-297.
• Valeta J. and K.A. Wiyo (2008). From dimba wells to ponds: point of integration and policy review. Proceedings of the First Policy Research Dissemination Workshop, Salima, Malawi. Center for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD), Bunda College, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi, pp. 4-13  

Summary of Conferences/Seminars/Symposiums attended:

• ARDEP dissemination conference, (2011)
• RUFORUM Biennial Conference, Entebbe, Uganda, (2010)
• Climate Change Adaptation for Rural Livelihoods in Malawi Stakeholders Conference, Mangochi, Malawi (2010)
• ARDEP annual dissemination conference, (2009)
• African Fisheries Network (FISHNET) launching workshop, Lilongwe, Malawi, (2010)
• Entrepreneurship Development in Aquaculture, Lilongwe Malawi, (2009)
• National Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on Climate Adaptation for Rural Livelihoods and Agriculture (CARLA) project design, Lilongwe, Malawi (2009)
• Research Methods for young fisheries scientists, Lilongwe, Malawi (2008)
• Research dissemination workshop on agriculture policy in Malawi, Center for Agriculture and Research and Development, Salima, Malawi (2008)

Referees: