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Monty B. Crisp
70 Mountain Page Road
Saluda, North Carolina 28773 USA
mb_crisp@hotmail.com

ca.linkedin.com/in/montycrisp/View Page

Objective: Consultancies with agencies seeking background in disaster risk reduction, agricultural emergencies, capacity building, food security, and program development.

Summary: Bachelor, Associate, and two Master degrees in education, emergency preparedness, intercultural studies, and agricultural science. Significant overseas experience in disaster risk reduction, rural development, complex disaster response, and training. Background in risk evaluation, policy development, assessments, strategic planning, program implementation, budgeting. Representational skills with government officials, NGOs, ethnic and women’s groups, media, and the private sector. Self-starter with multiple program objectives delivered on time and within budget. Increasingly responsible roles with NGOs, USAID, UN, and consulting groups. Competent analytical, organizational, supervisory, and computer skills.

Education

  • A.S.Sc. Emergency Management; FEMA Emergency Management Institute; Frederick College; Frederick, Maryland
  • B S Clemson University; Clemson, SC. Secondary Education, Concentration: Biology, agriculture, general science.
  • M Ag Texas A&M University; College Station, TX. Agricultural Mechanization.
  • M A Columbia International University; Columbia, SC. Intercultural Studies.

Certificates

  • Certification: Watershed Management; US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC
  • Letter of Recognition, “Incident Management for Schools”, FEMA Emergency Management Institute, Frederick College, Maryland.
  • Letter of Recognition, “Animals in Disasters”, FEMA Emergency Management Institute, Frederick College, Maryland
  • Teacher Certification; Biology, Agriculture, and General Sciences; South Carolina, USA (inactive)
  • Certified Professional Agrologist; British Columbia Institute of Agrologists

Competencies

  • Disaster risk reduction strategies; hazard, vulnerability, and capacity analysis
  • Participatory training / national staff capacity building
  • Emergency management: Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation.
  • Integrated rural development / livelihoods systems
  • Livestock relocation / Food security
  • Watershed management

Work History

Risk Reduction Strategies / Victoria, BC / Consultant (self-employed)

Nov 2010 – present

Semi-retired (Aug 2021 –  present)

  • Curtailed emergency management consultancies due to COVID outbreak.
  • Divided time between winter (Sept – March) in North Carolina, and summer (April – August) in British Columbia
    • North Carolina
      • Repaired and renovated NC mountain cabin
      • enjoyed connecting with siblings and extended family
    • British Columbia
      • Volunteer maintenance supervisor at Esperanza, a ten-acre, off-the-grid, faith-based retreat/youth camp/healing/conference center, primarily serving 1st Nations impacted by personal tragedy (i.e. accidental death, suicide, substance abuse) on western Vancouver Island
      • enjoyed connecting with dual-citizen (Canada-US) son and daughter

Farm Laborer (Oct 2018 – July 2021)

  • Planting, cultivation and harvesting of fruit orchard and berry farm, primarily U-pick. Involved in all aspects of farm operation, which was owned by elderly retired couple.

BC Wildfire Response – 2018 Season (Aug – Sept 2018)

  • Recovery planner at Provincial Emergency Coordination Center (PECC), which operated under Advanced Planning Section within BCEMS (i.e. ICS) structure during 2018 wildfire response.
  • Interacted with PREOCs, EOCs, local authorities, 1st Nations, and partner agencies

Islands Agricultural Show and Presentation (Jan – Feb 2018)

  • Led a panel discussion related to livestock relocation due to emergencies such as wildfires and floods which could impact Vancouver Island farms

Emergency Agricultural Preparedness Appendix Template for BC Local Authorities (Feb 2017-Mar 2018)

  • For BC Ministry of Agriculture (AGRI): piloted, trained, and exercised Agricultural Emergency Appendices in BC Local Authorities during two project Phases

Cowichan Valley Emergency Management Project (Apr 2016 – May 2017)

  • Developed, tested, and revised on-farm and district-level Agricultural Emergency Planning documents for the Cowichan Valley Regional District on Vancouver Island.

Emergency Agriculture Template Exercises (Mar – Apr 2017)

  • For BC AGRI: Managed testing of Emergency Agriculture Template in two scenarios: Fraser Valley Regional District to simulate flood event; Peace River Regional District to simulate wildfire

Cowichan Valley Livestock Relocation and Management Plan (Mar 2016 – Mar 2017)

  • For BC Climate Action Initiative: Developed agricultural emergency planning tools for small and medium farms in the Cowichan Valley of Vancouver Island, BC. Focused on livestock relocation challenges and solutions

Fraser Valley Feed Grain Disruption Project (Jan 2015- Aug 2016)

  • For BC AGRI: Studied causes of Fraser Valley feed grain shortage, especially impacts on poultry industry. Made recommendations.

Nicomen Island Emergency Preparedness Planning (Jan – Apr 2016)

  • For BC AGRI: Managed exercise to test the flood readiness of livestock farms, especially dairies, on Nicomen Island, BC and to determine the steps in planning to safeguard livestock during major Fraser River flooding.

Emergency Management Materials for BC Agricultural Producers (Nov 2015 – Apr 2016)

  • Developed Emergency Management Guide for Small Mixed Farms in BC, including templates, checklists, support resources.
  • Developed Emergency Management Guide for BC Poultry Producers, including templates, checklists, support resources.
  • Recommended prevention, preparedness and response actions for small producers impacted by disasters, i.e. floods, wildfires, winter storms, drought, power outage, and hazmat spills.

2014 Avian Influenza Outbreak Response Debrief and Report (May – Aug 2015)

  • Managed with a colleague a discussion of major stakeholders in 2014-15 Avian Influenza outbreak response in the Fraser Valley
  • Identified issues, challenges, suggestions, lessons learned, and actions for improvement in another outbreak response.

Fraser Valley Feed Grain Disruption Strategic Options Study; BC Ministry of Agriculture Feb – Dec 2015 • Suggested options for both industry and government to prevent disruption of grain for feed mills in Fraser Valley of BC caused by environmental emergencies

  • Reviewed previous grain disruptions, causes and responses.
  • Identified stakeholders in feed grain supply chain, including current status, threats and vulnerabilities.

Agricultural Emergency Appendix Template for BC Local Authority Emergency Plans; Aug 2014 – April 2015)

  • Developed agricultural plans to be annexed in existing BC local government emergency plans
  • Piloted agricultural plans in four local jurisdictions, including field visits to gather specific locality information
  • Developing agricultural emergency plan template to be adapted by >160 local jurisdictions in BC
  • Drafted revisions to emergency agricultural planning documents for use in disaster event

Options for Planning a Response to Livestock Highway Rollover Incident In British Columbia (Jan – Mar 2015)

  • Developed options for planning a BC response to a livestock rollover accident, including pros and cons
  • Identified stakeholders and rollover response agencies
  • Performed literature review of response procedures in other jurisdictions to livestock rollover accidents

BC Emergency Management Materials Distribution (Oct 2014 – Mar 2015)

  • Distributed Emergency Management Guide for BC Beef Producers to ranchers
  • Gave several presentations to cattlemen’s associations; received feedback to improve Guide for 2nd Printing
  • Worked with graphic designer to make changes and design improvements for 2nd printing

Emergency Management Materials for BC Beef Producers (Nov 2013 – March 2014)

  • Developed 500 hardcopies and PDF of Emergency Management Guide for BC Beef Producers, for use by BC livestock industry, including templates, checklists, and support resources.
  • Recommended prevention, preparedness and response actions to be undertaken by BC cattle producers for high-consequence disasters, such as floods, wildfires, disease, winter storms, drought, power outage, hazmat spills, mass mortality.

BC Flood Response; Canadian Red Cross (June 2013)

  • Team Leader for 3-person Canadian Red Cross ERT (Emergency Response Team) to establish Resiliency Center in Elk River Valley (Fernie, BC) in response to flooding.
  • Conducted Capacity and Needs Assessments in four communities, totally >200 temporary evacuees. Followed BCERMS guidelines. Provided resources and supplies.

BC Wild Predation Socio-Economic Study; ARDCorp (May – Sept 2012)

  • Researched socio-economic impacts and costs of wild predation to BC agricultural sector, and urban/rural populations. Researched impact of predators and ungulates on forages, livestock, other wildlife.
  • Surveyed beef and sheep producers to determine degree of predation issue. Part of two-person team.

Hurricane Sandy Recovery, American Red Cross  (Mar-Apr 2013)

  • Canadian Red Cross deployment to assist American Red Cross in recovery efforts for those affected by destruction due to hurricane
  • Member of Recovery Team based in Manhattan ARC office with caseworker files. Handled >40 case files for Queens Borough
  • Processed homeowner and renter needs assessments, and recommended financial (or other) assistance to ARC.
  • Partnered with and referred clients to other NGO resources, and to FEMA, SBA, and other federal programs

Waste Disposal Emergency Planning (Sept 2012 – Jan 2013)

  • Created functional aids, guidance templates, and checklists for safe disposal of contaminated waste created by disease outbreak.
  • Collaborated with BC Min. of Environment, Health, Public Safety, Agriculture, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and local governments.
  • Performed literature review re disposal procedures in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, USA, and Canada

Animal Disease Emergency Planning (Apr 2011-Feb 2012)

  • Assisted in updating provincial Foreign Animal Disease Emergency Support (FADES) Plan to prepare province for possible outbreak of communicable diseases.
  • Helping to coordinate and manage Functional Exercise to test policies and procedures to contain animal disease outbreak. Consultation with relevant municipalities, ministries, agencies, and private industry.
  • Liaise with BC Cattlemen’s Association and membership, including two articles in BCCA trade magazine explaining FADES program.
  • Collaboration with representatives of British Columbia ministry sectors, such as Health, Agriculture, Environment, Public Safety Canada, and BC Provincial Emergency Program. Developed confidential contact and call-out list within BC ministries and agencies.

International Response Delegate; Canadian Red Cross — Port-au-Prince, Haiti (July – Oct 2012)

Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Directed Disaster Risk Reduction program for Canadian Red Cross in Haiti. Focused on reducing impact of future hurricanes, earthquakes, and human-induced events (i.e. presidential election turmoil).
  • Moved forward CRC DRR programming in operational areas of Leogane, Jacmel, and Les Nippes. Estimated impact on 300,000 Haitian nationals
  • Supervised 10 core staff and training of >150 volunteers in DRR methodology.
  • Helped develop DRR volunteer program; supervised 4 Canadian expatriate “surge” volunteers supporting DRR in operational zones.
  • Supervised implementing 7 disaster mitigation projects, such as flood management, tree planting, shelter reinforcement, etc.
  • Drafted and submitted final DRR proposal for ~$550,000 to Ottawa HQ, including narrative, budget, and logic model.
  • Business / Service Continuity Planning
  • Drafted Service Continuity Plan for CRC Haiti mission, with concentration on hurricane preparedness, shelter-in-place events, and possible evacuation due to possible turmoil during Haiti elections.
  • Developed checklists and procedures such as emergency procedures, staff phone call outs, utilities and services redundancies, internet and communications systems backup (e.g. cell phones, VHFs, satphones)

Emergency Planning

  • Created and distributed emergency preparedness kits for disaster preparedness to CRC offices and residences.
  • Monitored seasonal hurricane threat to Haiti and distributed threat level to broad Canadian Red Cross audience.
  • Conducted workshops on Emergency and Continuity Planning to CRC expatriate and national staff.
  • Performed disaster impact assessment; planned structural reinforcement for Red Cross offices and staff residences; ordered appropriate supplies.

Risk Reduction Strategies / Victoria, BC / Consultant (self-employed)
Oct 2009 – July 2010

Service Continuity Planning

  • Developed  Service Continuity Planning Guide for Community Council of Victoria for its wide NGO membership. Developed template and illustrations to address staff continuity, resource preservation, and workplace safeguards for small NGOs to adapt to their specific disaster mitigation and preparedness needs.
  • Conducted workshop on Continuity Planning for Ministry of Housing and Social Development to prepare for possible break in services due to disaster. Concentrated on H1N1 outbreak but used multi-hazard approach to planning. Attended by 45 NGOs or BC provincial ministries who support disadvantaged clients in shelter and housing.
  • Developed Service Continuity Plan for Victoria-based NGO that supports 150 developmentally disabled clients and works with approximately 60 partnering organizations. Included hazard identification; essential service safeguards; facilities, resources and workforce protection measures.

Enterprise Risk Management

  • Developed Risk Management tool and research reports for BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands to identify, evaluate, propose, and monitor risk treatment options for at-risk sectors. Studies focused on environmental degradation due to nutrient overload and on BC livestock industry.
  • Consulted with private sector, BC ministries and relevant agencies. Part of two-person team.

World Concern International, Seattle, WA / Disaster Risk Management Advisor  / Myanmar
Sept – Oct 2009

Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Developed Community-Based Disaster Risk Management training and mentoring program for 20 national field staff in post-Nargis Labutta township of Delta region.
  • Taught concepts of disaster response phases, risk management cycle, community livelihoods model, and disaster contingency planning, including risk management planning results logframe (i.e. input, output, outcome, indicators). Wide use of illustrations and demonstrations.
  • Taught and applied Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability, and Capacity (HRVA) Assessment tool to national staff. Applied HRVA in affected villages.
  • Mentored national staff in Participatory Assessment of Disaster Risk research tools (i.e. hazard mapping, seasonal calendar, Venn diagrams, transect walks, focus groups)
  • Developed and submitted DRR Action Plans per hazard priority, including identification of risk-reducing activities to decrease village vulnerability, increase capacity. Identify possible support, responsible person, timeframe, and indicators of success.

Risk Reduction Strategies / Victoria, BC / Consultant (self-employed)
2007 – Aug 2009

Enterprise Risk Management

  • Focused on applying Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) model in BC, which identifies, analyzes, evaluates, and treats agency or industry risks in a logical and systematic manner.
  • Consultancy consisted of researching, investigating, and identifying both short and long term risks for BC agriculture industry, with goal to recommend specific measures by which agencies and ministries can develop policies to improve and sustain services to public.
  • Collaborated and consulted with representatives of British Columbia ministries, municipalities, non-government organizations, private sector.
  • Submitted final draft of province-wide Risk Evaluation of agriculture sector

World Concern International / Seattle, WA / Country Director (interim) / Myanmar
July – Aug 2008

Disaster Recovery

  • Supervised 60 relief program staff in Cyclone Nargis recovery activities funded through approx. 25 partners providing >$4 Million to rehabilitate 200 coastal villages. The program established water and sanitation, built shelters, schools, and clinics, reclaimed farm plots, and addressed psycho-social needs.
  • Supervised a $5 Million program of rural development and cyclone relief activities in 5 states in Myanmar.
  • Overall manager of >150 staff to implement a sustainable development program funded by 6 international donors providing >$1 Million.
  • Increased the interest of donors in WCI programs and successfully raised funding by $500,000.
  • Mentored management staff, facilitated staff team-building exercises, and implemented relief program in a highly stressful environment.
  • Collaborated effectively with the UN, donors, other NGOs, and government officials.

SKM Consultants / Brisbane, NSW, Australia / Technical Advisor (GoI Provincial Ministry of Environment) / Banda Aceh, Indonesia      April – August 2006

Disaster Recovery

  • Member of 8-person technical team advising provincial GoI’s Ministry of Environment in sustainable livelihoods activities and overall social implications of post-tsunami rehabilitation activities in coastal villages.
  • With Asia Dev’t Bank (ADB) funding of >US$800 Million, team advised government toward improved policies, programming, and land use planning.
  • Responsible for organizing, delegating, and supervising 3 field teams totaling 45 persons that identified and detailed livelihood needs in more than 300 tsunami-affected villages in 19 sub-districts of western Sumatra. Sectors included health, education, gender, livelihoods, and shelter. Identified tsunami impacts on pre-tsunami livelihoods.
  • Prepared and delivered technical sections of 19 Strategic Action Plans (KAPs) that proposed livelihood recovery activities, such as health clinic locations, housing, farming, fishing, and micro-finance, including capacity building and training. Analysis of social safeguards, and inclusion of women’s groups.
  • Coordinated with other ADB teams and collaborated with team members and staff to manage portfolios and budgets.

World Relief Corporation / Baltimore, MD / Disaster Response Consultant / Hurricane Katrina, Gulf Coast, USA
Sept – Oct 2005

Disaster Recovery

  • Assisted in Hurricane Katrina with local strategic planning and creating a response framework for World Relief through local partners helping on Louisiana and Mississippi coasts.
  • Performed rapid assessment, conducted site visits, organized partner visits, made project recommendations, gave response training seminars.
  • Provided technical guidance, wrote impact-oriented proposals with five local partners, secured $10K – 40K per grantee, and monitored progress.
  • Coordinated diplomatically and effectively with other response agencies, such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA, faith-based agencies, and local municipality officials.

Canadian Red Cross / Victoria BC / Flood Response Volunteer / Calgary, Alberta
July 2005

  • Responded to unseasonal rainfall and flooding event in Canadian prairies. Response caseworker with file of clients impacted by flooding, recommending assistance and referral services to partner agencies.
  • Performed home and property damage assessments; Distributed Red Cross disaster assistance packages.

World Relief Corporation / Baltimore MD / Tsunami Response Program Consultant / Sri Lanka
Mar – Apr 2005

  • Provided technical and management support in response to tsunami disaster to national WR partner NGO, the NCEASL.
  • Planned, organized, and drafted a national response program, management templates, strategic documents, and reporting framework to assist in recovery of >300 coastal villages affected by SE Asian tsunami.
  • Mentored senior management and trained local staff in result-oriented, measurable sustainable objectives.
  • Advised in the prioritization of sector and geographical focus for response activities, including livelihoods, agriculture, shelter construction, and micro-enterprises.

World Relief Corporation / Baltimore MD / Tsunami Relief Consultant / Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Feb – Mar 2005

  • Key member of 6-member response team that assessed and planned tsunami recovery sites and projects in Aceh Province.
  • Recommended sector activities, including immediate programming to restore livelihoods to households (i.e. rice paddy, fishing, vegetable gardening, debris cleaning), water & sanitation, shelters, and school rehabilitation.
  • Actively involved with UN, donors, and NGOs in meetings; interaction between agencies for future medium to long-term involvement.

World Relief Corporation / Baltimore MD / Food Security Consultant / Bujumbura, Burundi
Nov-Dec 2004

  • Performed food security and nutritional needs assessment of refugee returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
  • Completed program design to build upon World Relief program strengths and complement other implementers, including food production, nutrition, and shelter.
  • Field visits and numerous meetings with UN, USAID / OFDA, CIDA, other donors, numerous NGOs.
  • Developed $300,000 proposal to OFDA, including narrative and budgets.

ACDI- VOCA, Washington, DC / Program Design Consultant / Goma, D.R. Congo
July-Aug 2004

  • Assisted in field research, design and development of a three-agency consortium for >$20 Million USAID-funded rural Development Activity Program (DAP) for North Kivu Province, DR Congo.
  • Performed a field appraisal of food insecurity causes, community viability, political constraints, logistic, and requirements for DAP.
  • Made recommendations, including sector activities, target communities, estimated beneficiaries, budgets, expected outcomes, and partnerships.
  • Examined potential role and credibility of assistance through associations and cooperatives.

Food for the Hungry Int’l, Phoenix, AZ / Earthquake Response Consultant / Bam, Iran
Jan 2004

  • Developed strategies and priority areas of focus for assistance after Bam, Iran earthquake.
  • Made recommendations of rehabilitation sectors, including micro-finance, potable water, shelter, irrigation, and food security for medium to long-term recovery.
  • Assisted in strategic planning, program development, and local capacity building with national partners.
  • Coordinated sensitively and effectively with a wide audience, i.e. Iranian government bodies and donors, the UN, Red Cross, and other NGOs.

Food for the Hungry Int’l, Phoenix, AZ / Program Design Consultancy / Victoria, BC
Oct – Dec 2003

  • Assisted in development of online Relief Library for FHI’s International Relief Office (IRO) field teams.
  • Strategic planning for IRO, including evaluation of files and publications for appropriateness of content, suggestion of resources for inclusion or exclusion, and writing / editing sections of Library.
  • Delivered CDs and web links to IRO for use by FHI relief teams during quick onset disasters.

UN Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome, Italy / Agricultural Program Coordinator / Ethiopia
Dec 2002 – Mar 2003

  • Coordinated FAO agriculture activities in response to drought, including supporting partner agencies in programs, i.e. crop production, soil management, seed distribution, crop storage.
  • Rapid appraisal field visits to drought-affected regions for project design.
  • Assisted in increasing donor program funding from approx. $150,000 to a level of $3.5 million for FAO Ethiopia’s Emergency Coordination Unit.
  • Technically assisted agencies involved in agriculture, especially crop production and seed distribution. Made rapid appraisal field visits to drought-affected regions for program design.
  • Represented FAO in development strategy for Ethiopia-Eritrea border zone, including teleconferencing with UN team in Asmara, Eritrea.

US Agency for International Development / Drought Emergency Response Coordinator / Ethiopia
Jun 2001 – Oct 2002

  • Helped implement a $23 Million USAID/Ethiopia drought response program with impact oriented focus on water systems, environmental sustainability, soil health, and training for small landholders.
  • Managed a $5 Million “Strengthening Emergency Response Abilities”(SERA) Project to build capacity for national groups.
  • Assisted in coordination of Title II food aid and other assistance programs in USAID/FHA Office.
  • Was interim manager of Ethiopia/Kenya border Southern Tier Initiative / Eth/Eritrea Border Dev’t portfolio, including medical clinics, watsan activities, and crop production.
  • Provided guidance regarding USAID procedures, regulations, and objectives to NGOs, national agencies, and other partners.

Earlier Experience

  • Project Consultant. Kosovo. Food for the Hungry Int’l. Developed seed, tools, and agricultural input delivery project to reach 350 villages. Strategic planning, technical assessment, program design. Result was $1.6 million Food Security program funded by USAID/OFDA. 1999.
  • Country Director. D.R. Congo. Food for the Hungry Int’l. Managed $3.4 million USAID-funded food security program: seed distribution & multiplication, rural rehabilitation, and food distribution program, reaching > 500,000 families in eastern Congo. Grant writing, beneficiary criteria, procurement, site selections, staffing, and financial reporting to head office and OFDA as major funder. 1997 – 1999.
  • Program Development Officer. Liberia. World Vision. Formulating strategic objectives, grant writing, and project development in sectors of rural agriculture and medical assistance. Liaised with major donors (USAID, DIFID, UNICEF, UNOPS, Dutch) and other implementing agencies. 1997.
  • USAID Program Officer. Rwanda. Managed $26 Million OFDA portfolio, including NGO and IO grant review and monitoring in sectors of agriculture, health, water, sanitation, child reunification, and shelter construction. Liaised with other agencies: UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF, FAO, ICRC, NGOs, GoR.. 1995- 96
  • USAID Drought Recovery Program Officer. Malawi. Managed $120 Million drought relief and recovery portfolio, including WFP food distribution and NGO support. Proposal guidance to NGO / IO partners, targeting crops and water rehabilitation. 1992-94. Liaised with numerous UN, donor, and GoM, offices. 1992 – 94.
  • Country Director. Somalia. World Concern. Strategic planning, policy development, and grant writing impacting 200,000 IDPs with medical and agricultural projects within war-affected zones. 1991-92.
  • Project Manager, Somalia. World Concern. Managed $500,000 grants from USAID, CIDA, UNHCR in food security, agricultural, and medical activities targeting villages in watershed areas with sustainable rural development. 1989-90.

Professional Affiliations

British Columbia Institute of Agrologists
Canadian Food for the Hungry
Canadian Red Cross Society

Articles (relevant)

“Foreign Animal Diseases: Prevention and Preparation”, Beef in BC Magazine. British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association; March – April 2012.

“Foreign Animal Diseases: Response and Recovery”, Beef in BC Magazine. British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association; May – June 2012.

Encyclopedia of Disaster Relief, Edited by K. Pradley Penuel and Mathew Statler, Sage Publications, 2011. Author of the following topics:

  • Water Systems
  • Pest Invasions
  • Radiological Disasters
  • Smallpox (20th Century)

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