Rebecca Savoie has over 25 years of experience in international agriculture and agribusiness development.

She believes in the transformative power of ownership and champions the cooperative business model. Rebecca has lived in Tanzania, Uganda, Liberia, and Egypt and has supported projects, training, coaching, leadership development and research in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the US. She has fostered successful partnerships with actors across the agriculture sector, from farmers and cooperatives to agribusiness leaders and government ministers. She pays particular attention to ensuring that women and youth capture economic opportunities and addressing barriers, focusing especially on navigating pathways and strengthening networks for women leaders.

Before joining OCDC, Rebecca consulted on projects for non-profit, for-profit, and government clients, with topics including apex organization financing, internet of things and cooperative management, cooperative policies and legal frameworks, cooperative learning events, and women’s economic empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa. She’s worked with several international development organizations as a technical advisor, most recently with a focus on innovation and business development. A lifelong learner, Rebecca completed her PhD in 2018 with a dissertation on the social capital benefits of membership in vertically integrated dairy cooperatives in Kenya. She and her daughter currently live in Minnesota.  

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