In her new role, which began earlier this month, Lefore will strengthen and expand the institute’s global program by developing, managing, and leading new activities on accessing and managing water for sustainable agriculture, particularly for smallholder farmers.
Lefore is dedicated to contributing to equitable, sustainable outcomes through agricultural water management and intensification. She has more than 30 years of international experience in research for development, policy advocacy and project implementation, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and the developing world. Lefore has worked with policy think tanks, the International Water Management Institute (Ghana and South Africa) and previously served as Director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small Scale Irrigation at Texas A&M University.
“We are pleased to have Nicole join DWFI’s leadership team,” said Peter McCornick, DWFI Executive Director. “Her extensive background in small scale irrigation development and sustainable water management complements the institute’s mission well. Nicole’s past collaboration with the institute make us confident she is the right person for this role and can help extend our important work in these areas.”
Lefore’s expertise includes water and land institutions and governance; markets and finance in small scale irrigation; equity in development; and gender. Her commitment to smallholder farmers globally is rooted in her family’s farm in Oregon. Lefore completed a PhD in Government at the University of Virginia and MSc in Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
