Linda Jones
Contractor Representative at Cowater International- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Nuzhath Ayaz
Linda is highly qualified, competent, well researched and creative senior leader in the socail sector space; especially concerning gender mainstreaming and women development. Her empathy, knowledge and ability to work across nationalities; and her intelligence in designing a systems impact, which is measurable and sustainable, makes her a great consult to work with. I partnered with her on a gender mainstreaming project, and she was very professional and buisness friendly. I look forward to our paths crossing again and wish her all the best in her new role.
Daniel Fuentes
Linda is a force to be reckoned with in the development sector. From groundbreaking numerous publications (e.g., the GEM Framework, a practical guide and toolkit for mainstreaming gender equality strategies within companies), to demonstrable expertise in Gender Lens Investing, Women Economic Empowerment, and Private Sector Development, Linda is a well-recognized black belt. I have had the unique opportunity of witnessing how Linda masterfully hosted conversations with top multinational consulting firms; delivered technical expertise in international fora (e.g., a panel discussion on women economic empowerment at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network); and coordinated internal and external efforts in the development of technically complex proposals, including pioneering gender lens investing mechanisms. I consider Linda a great mentor and expert in the field, and I highly recommend following her work in economic development closely.
Nuzhath Ayaz
Linda is highly qualified, competent, well researched and creative senior leader in the socail sector space; especially concerning gender mainstreaming and women development. Her empathy, knowledge and ability to work across nationalities; and her intelligence in designing a systems impact, which is measurable and sustainable, makes her a great consult to work with. I partnered with her on a gender mainstreaming project, and she was very professional and buisness friendly. I look forward to our paths crossing again and wish her all the best in her new role.
Daniel Fuentes
Linda is a force to be reckoned with in the development sector. From groundbreaking numerous publications (e.g., the GEM Framework, a practical guide and toolkit for mainstreaming gender equality strategies within companies), to demonstrable expertise in Gender Lens Investing, Women Economic Empowerment, and Private Sector Development, Linda is a well-recognized black belt. I have had the unique opportunity of witnessing how Linda masterfully hosted conversations with top multinational consulting firms; delivered technical expertise in international fora (e.g., a panel discussion on women economic empowerment at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network); and coordinated internal and external efforts in the development of technically complex proposals, including pioneering gender lens investing mechanisms. I consider Linda a great mentor and expert in the field, and I highly recommend following her work in economic development closely.
Nuzhath Ayaz
Linda is highly qualified, competent, well researched and creative senior leader in the socail sector space; especially concerning gender mainstreaming and women development. Her empathy, knowledge and ability to work across nationalities; and her intelligence in designing a systems impact, which is measurable and sustainable, makes her a great consult to work with. I partnered with her on a gender mainstreaming project, and she was very professional and buisness friendly. I look forward to our paths crossing again and wish her all the best in her new role.
Daniel Fuentes
Linda is a force to be reckoned with in the development sector. From groundbreaking numerous publications (e.g., the GEM Framework, a practical guide and toolkit for mainstreaming gender equality strategies within companies), to demonstrable expertise in Gender Lens Investing, Women Economic Empowerment, and Private Sector Development, Linda is a well-recognized black belt. I have had the unique opportunity of witnessing how Linda masterfully hosted conversations with top multinational consulting firms; delivered technical expertise in international fora (e.g., a panel discussion on women economic empowerment at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network); and coordinated internal and external efforts in the development of technically complex proposals, including pioneering gender lens investing mechanisms. I consider Linda a great mentor and expert in the field, and I highly recommend following her work in economic development closely.
Nuzhath Ayaz
Linda is highly qualified, competent, well researched and creative senior leader in the socail sector space; especially concerning gender mainstreaming and women development. Her empathy, knowledge and ability to work across nationalities; and her intelligence in designing a systems impact, which is measurable and sustainable, makes her a great consult to work with. I partnered with her on a gender mainstreaming project, and she was very professional and buisness friendly. I look forward to our paths crossing again and wish her all the best in her new role.
Daniel Fuentes
Linda is a force to be reckoned with in the development sector. From groundbreaking numerous publications (e.g., the GEM Framework, a practical guide and toolkit for mainstreaming gender equality strategies within companies), to demonstrable expertise in Gender Lens Investing, Women Economic Empowerment, and Private Sector Development, Linda is a well-recognized black belt. I have had the unique opportunity of witnessing how Linda masterfully hosted conversations with top multinational consulting firms; delivered technical expertise in international fora (e.g., a panel discussion on women economic empowerment at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network); and coordinated internal and external efforts in the development of technically complex proposals, including pioneering gender lens investing mechanisms. I consider Linda a great mentor and expert in the field, and I highly recommend following her work in economic development closely.
Experience
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Cowater International
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Canada
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International Trade and Development
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200 - 300 Employee
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Contractor Representative
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Jul 2022 - Present
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International GESI Consultant - Market Systems, Private Sector, Finance and Investment
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Jan 2007 - Present
Dr Linda Jones is a globally recognized thought-leader and action-oriented practitioner in women’s economic empowerment (WEE), gender lens investing (GLI), private sector engagement and inclusive market and financial system development. Linda has experience working in women’s empowerment and gender inclusion from the microenterprise to the corporate level; her finance experience ranges from microfinance through agricultural value chain finance and SME banking to a range of investment types (private equity, development finance, impact and gender lens investment, blended finance). Linda has designed, launched, managed and/or advised on WEE and GLI programs across Asia-Pacific (and other regions) for 20 years: for example, MEDA/Sarona’s Impact Investing in Frontier and Emerging Markets (INFRONT); Asian Development Bank’s Private Sector Operations Department; GAC’s WEE programming in Myanmar; SEEP’s work in the Philippines; CDC consulting in India; Katalyst gender advisor in Bangladesh; and DFAT’s GREAT Vietnam, ACCESS Cambodia, Laos-Australia Development Learning Facility, PRISMA Indonesia, BPPs in Myanmar and Pakistan, MAMPU/AIPTIS Indonesia, and the Market Development Facility in Fiji, Timor-Leste, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Linda has contributed to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the development of widely used tools for gender in market systems and gender lens investing such as the M4P WEE Framework (2011), WEAMS Framework (2016), Gender Equality Mainstreaming (GEM) Framework for SME investments (2017), Women’s Economic Empowerment: Transforming Systems through Development Practice (2019) and the FAO’s Agricultural Value Chain Finance (2010). Linda has also promoted learning through acting as the editor of the EDM Journal, part-time faculty positions, training, and participation in seminars and conferences. Linda is a Commonwealth Scholar with a PhD in Anthropology from McMaster University, Canada where she received numerous awards for academic excellence. Show less
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Cowater International
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Canada
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International Trade and Development
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200 - 300 Employee
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Vice President, Social, Economic and Environmental Development
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Mar 2020 - Feb 2021
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MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates)
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Canada
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International Trade and Development
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200 - 300 Employee
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Vice President, Partnerships and Innovation
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Jun 2017 - Mar 2020
Responsible for building partnerships and programming globally for MEDA Canada, a not for profit that has been a leader in financial inclusion and private sector development for over 60 years. Incorporating business solutions and market systems lenses, promoted systemic change in financial, agricultural, tourism and manufacturing sectors, ensuring that disadvantaged communities are integrated into mainstream markets, both contributing to and benefitting from their engagements as suppliers, employees and consumers. Show less
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MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates)
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Global (based at HQ in Canada)
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Senior Director, Global Programs
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Apr 2016 - Mar 2020
Responsible for Global programs in market systems, financial sectors, SME investing, and gender equality and social inclusion. Responsible for Global programs in market systems, financial sectors, SME investing, and gender equality and social inclusion.
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MEDA
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Global
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Director: SME/Investment
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Jun 2013 - Jun 2015
A contract position to launch MEDA's new department for SME / Investment with a focus on inclusion and development outcomes. Successfully established the department, its position in blended finance and industry recognition; awarded funding for inclusive SME / Investment initiatives; built capacity of supporting staff; ongoing-consulting arrangement to support programming. A contract position to launch MEDA's new department for SME / Investment with a focus on inclusion and development outcomes. Successfully established the department, its position in blended finance and industry recognition; awarded funding for inclusive SME / Investment initiatives; built capacity of supporting staff; ongoing-consulting arrangement to support programming.
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International Centre for Women's Leadership, Coady International Inst.
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StFX University, Antigonish, NS
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Director
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May 2011 - Jan 2013
Linda launched the centre for women's leadership and developed programming for emerging women leaders from around the world. With a strong focus on economic and social justice, the program supports women in all sectors and at all levels. Centre programs include education, research, partnerships for capacity building and knowledge management, network development. During her time a the Centre, Linda continud to consult in her main areas of technical expertise - gender and social inclusion, market systems development, financial inclusion, value chain development. Show less
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E3 Collaborative LLC
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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100 - 200 Employee
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Senior Advisor, Market Development
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Sep 2009 - Oct 2011
Linda was the global technical lead for achieving inclusive and sustainable market systems development across country programs at the Aga Khan Foundation. This role involved shifting the economic development programs from livelihoods approaches to systems/sector approaches, to building capacity in field programs. Linda set the economic development programs on a new course and hired her replacement, then returned to consulting for AKF and others. Linda was the global technical lead for achieving inclusive and sustainable market systems development across country programs at the Aga Khan Foundation. This role involved shifting the economic development programs from livelihoods approaches to systems/sector approaches, to building capacity in field programs. Linda set the economic development programs on a new course and hired her replacement, then returned to consulting for AKF and others.
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Technical Director
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Jan 2002 - Dec 2008
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The SEEP Network
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United States
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International Trade and Development
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1 - 100 Employee
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Chair, Board of Directors
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Nov 2004 - Nov 2007
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VP Marketing
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1991 - 1994
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McMaster University
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Canada
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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MA and PhD
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Sep 1981 - Nov 1987
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Education
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1981 - 1989
McMaster University
PhD and MA, Anthropologie / Linguistique -
Conrad Grebel College
Post-Degree Diploma, Peace and Conflict Studies
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