James Purcell, Senior M&E Specialist
Mr. Purcell has served in executive-level positions, including USAID Country Representative, Acting Mission Director, Director of the Program Office, Program Officer, Capital Development Officer and Program Analyst. His overseas experience included residential assignments in Iraq, Egypt, Zaire, Togo, Haiti, Liberia, and Mozambique. While in various positions at USAID, Mr. Purcell was the direct project officer monitoring more than 50 projects, amounting to over $100 million. He conducted or directed annual strategic planning, program budgeting and evaluations justifying the program to Washington audiences, and monitored policy reform and technical assistance interventions to effect institutional and national changes. During five residential overseas assignments, he regularly monitored, analyzed and interpreted economic developments and coordinated U.S. policy reforms and maintained liaison with the World Bank, IMF, and the African Development Bank.
Mr. Purcell has strong interpersonal skills and experience dealing effectively with senior host government counterparts and private businessmen, as well as USAID staff. An adept negotiator, he communicates clearly and persuasively both orally and in writing. Mr. Purcell has the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. His executive experiences and project monitoring and implementation skills enable him to convert strategy and vision into realistic objectives and action plans. He is also able to assess a situation rapidly, conceive and justify responses, and manage the results.
Mr. Purcell served at the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for MetaMetrics on the USAID/Jordan Customs Administration Modernization program, where he developed the performance measurement and monitoring plan for MCC threshold customs modernization and capacity-strengthening project (CAMP). He conducted a workshop for project staff and partners on recommended procedures to monitor activities, and collecting program descriptive and evaluation information.