Keith Palmer
Latest News
Keith Palmer awarded OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list 2010
Sat, 12 Jun 2010
Keith Palmer awarded OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list 2010 for contributions to economic development overseas. Keith said "obviously I'm delighted but what has been achieved could not have been done without the help of many people who deserve much of the praise.”
AgDevCo expands operations
Fri, 4 Jun 2010
AgDevCo was launched in May 2009. It has now received funding support to develop agricultural development opportunities which benefit rural communities in four programme countries - Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Ghana. AgDevCo stimulates investment in sustainable agribusiness in ways that ensure smallholder farmers sharply improve their productivity and incomes. Visit www.agdevco.com.
InfraCo leads development of Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor
Sat, 8 May 2010
InfraCo led the development of an investment blueprint for the Beira Agricultural Growth Corridor. It highlights the enormous untapped potential and develops a route map to deliver the potential in 10 years. Following the government endorsement, several fast track investments are currently under development. For more about BAGC visit www.africacorridors.com
AgDevCo completes Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania Concpet Note
Wed, 5 May 2010
AgDevCo completed a Concept Note setting out a framework for the development of the 8th Tanzanian agricultural growth corridor. Presented at the WEF Africa in May 2010, its findings are endorsed by the government and the private sector. Work is now underway to develop a full investment blueprint. For more information see www.africacorridors.com.
InfraCo Africa brings cheap, clean electricity to Ghana
Fri, 1 Jan 2010
InfraCo Africa has successfully introduced a major Africa investment group to invent in development of a major gas-fired customised cycle generation project in Ghana. The project will reduce the cost of electricity, reduce carbon emissions (substituting for diesel) and over time utilise recently developed domestic actual gas resources. Visit the InfraCo website for further details.
InfraCo Africa brings major benefits to small farmers in Uganda and Zambia
Sun, 1 Nov 2009
InfraCo Africa has successfully developed a 'multi-service' infrastructure business which will bring electricity, clean water and improved transport services to the rural community in Bugala island in Uganda. It has also completed a pilot irrigation project in Zambia which is massively improving the livelihoods of the rural community. Visit the InfraCo website for more details about Chanyanya, the Zambian irrigation project.
Recent Publications
Causes of Deficits of Hospital Trusts with New Buildings
Paper published by Healthcare Finance, February 2008. This paper presents data showing the link between deficits and 'excess' capital costs that are incurred by hospital trusts with new PFI-financed buildings but which are not funded in PbR tariffs.
Download 'Causes of Deficits of Hospital Trusts with New Buildings' paper
(doc 0.09mb)
Agricultural growth and poverty reduction in Africa: The case for patient capital Briefing Paper March 2010
The paper asks why, despite the huge agricultural potential in Africa, there has been so little private investment. It shows that there are high barriers to entry which deters investment. The conclusion is that there is a need for ‘patient’ capital from the international community to overcome the barriers to entry and kick-start sustainable, pro-poor agricultural development.
Download 'Agricultural growth and poverty reduction in Africa: The case for patient capital Briefing Paper March 2010' paper
(pdf 0.29mb)
Chiansi Irrigation: Patient Capital in Action: InfraCo Briefing Paper, March 2010
Authors: Keith Palmer, Richard Parry, Peter MacSporran, Han Derksen, Richard Avery and Paul Cartwright
Chiansi adopts a fundamentally new approach to boast food production and incomes of smallholder farmers. The result will be more than tripling of small farmers incomes, much improved food security and empowerment of rural communities. The paper describes the Chiansi model and highlights the critical importance of ‘Patient’ capital.
Download 'Chiansi Irrigation: Patient Capital in Action: InfraCo Briefing Paper, March 2010' paper
(pdf 0.28mb)
Financing early stage agricultural development in Africa: AgDevCo Briefing Paper, in press June 2010
Author: Keith Palmer
The paper describes new financing mechanisms for early stage agricultural development in Africa which will stimulate more viable agribusiness investments by private investors and generate major benefits for smallholder farmers and the community in which they live.
Final draft available from author