Director Food Systems Department at Oxfam AmericaOxfam America
Dr. Laté Lawson-Lartego is Oxfam America’s Food Systems Theme Department Director. Dr. Lawson-Lartego has over 20 years of experience across the private and nonprofit sector. He is passionate about making the world a just and equitable place for everyone, especially for under-privileged people and communities. Dr. Lawson-Lartego is a multi-cultural and innovative global leader and people manager. He has a depth of experience as well technical expertise in economic development, social enterprise, financial inclusion, gender equality, agriculture value chains development, food and nutrition security and climate change.
In his current role at Oxfam, Dr. Lawson-Lartego works with his team to achieve healthy, inclusive, resilient and sustainable food systems for all, especially for marginalized women and men who produce our food. His Theme focuses on three inter-related areas: Corporate Engagement for an inclusive food value chains; Women’s Economic Empowerment and Food & Climate Justice.
Before joining Oxfam, Dr. Lawson-Lartego spent a vast majority of his career with CARE International in various capacities in country offices in West Africa, regional and global roles. While with CARE, Dr. Lawson-Lartego and his team pioneered CARE’s first Market Engagement & Value Chain Development strategy and implementation, enabling CARE to impact over 10 million people, especially women, in developing countries. Dr. Lawson-Lartego also instigated the creation of CARE’s social enterprises and supported the spin off of a number of Microfinance Institutions and other Social Enterprises around the world. Dr. Lawson-Lartego also worked for Planet Finance in Paris, France as well as the private sector in Togo.
Dr. Lawson-Lartego has two master’s degrees in economics with a major in Management and in Rural Social Development respectively from University of Togo and Reading University in the UK. He also earned a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. His research interest is centered on the intersection of innovative business solutions to poverty reduction in the food and other economic development spaces.