Chemonics International Consortium | Water IQC II

About this expert

Michael Kunz

Regional Focus Europe and Eurasia

Languages English, Czech, Serbo-Croatian, Vietnamese, Russian, Ukranian, German

Mr. Kunz built his 14-year career implementing projects that build the capacity of community-based organizations, private enterprises and local government to establish community development programs through democratic processes and public-private partnerships. He has strong experience in communications and building organizations' capacity in public relations. Mr. Kunz was integral to the rapid start-up of USAID CAIP in Southern Uzbekistan. Mr. Kunz mentored staff, implemented a comprehensive capacity building and infrastructure rehabilitation program in 72 communities, and designed and implemented a public outreach strategy that was instrumental in widely broadcasting the CAIP community success. He has lived and worked in Central Asia for more than 5 years and is familiar with the cultural and political intricacies of the country. Mr. Kunz has managed USAID and World Bank initiatives, including agribusiness partnerships, private farmer commercialization and credit programs, and the design stage of the Dry Lands Management Program in Central Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Moldova. In the Czech Republic, Mr. Kunz designed and implemented the Czech government's national certification program for community development; establishing offices of economic development in 12 provincial capitals and designing a $10 million revolving fund to assist communities attract foreign direct investment. An example of the success of this initiative, one community partnered with the national government to attract the Panasonic color television manufacturing plant, creating over 1,000 new jobs