Andrea Gros is the Head of Communication. Before coming to IITA she has worked for over 20 years as a communication expert in Africa, with long-term assignments in Rwanda, Mali, Kenya, Guinea, and Tanzania. With an academic background in audiovisual communication, marketing, economics, and sustainable development, she is experienced in using media for agricultural development. By developing participatory approaches for the involvement of smallholders in decision making processes, Andrea has carried out successful programs for international organizations, such as FAO, UNDP, and the African Union as well as smaller organizations and consultancy firms. Her technical expertise lies in communication strategy development, qualitative research, print, TV, and radio production, fundraising, monitoring and evaluation. She has also designed and managed event-based campaigns, music tours, and exhibitions in rural settings in Africa and Asia. More recently she was seconded by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia, where she held the position of Communications Advisor to the Victims’ Unit. Again for the Swiss Cooperation, Andrea worked as Communications Advisor in a value chain development program in Dodoma, Tanzania. In 2011-2012 she co-directed one of the biggest cultural events in East Africa, the 2011 Sauti za Busara festival in Zanzibar and the production of a popular TV and radio show in Tanzania on gender issues, called “The Team”. Andrea is a citizen of Germany and Switzerland.
For further information:
Address: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
Telephone: +1 201 633 6094 or +234 2 7517472 ext 2987
Email: A.Gros@cgiar.org
Nationality: German / Swiss