Christian Rake is the Director of the Agriculture & Rural Development Department. He holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics and his core expertise covers water and soil resources management, participatory irrigation development, delegated water management, capacity development and funds management. He has been a permanent staff member of GFA for 30 years and has served in different functions, i.e. several long-term assignments as expatriate team leader and countless short-term expert missions in Africa, MENA, Asia and the Balkans. He combines hands-on technical and managerial experience for implementing projects with sound knowledge of donor administrational procedures. He is fluent in German, French and English.

Astrid Lindenau is a Portfolio Manager in the Agriculture & Rural Development practice. She is responsible for acquisitions, projects and studies as well as team management in Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Astrid joined GFA in 1995. As an agricultural economist, she has worked in the areas of land management and cadastre, value chain development, fisheries and sustainable production in the context of biodiversity and climate change.

Anke Schnoor is a Portfolio Manager for Africa in the Agriculture & Rural Development Department where she is responsible for acquisition, project, study, and team management. As an agro-economist she is experienced in various areas of rural development. Since 1993 she has been a member of GFA and has served as team leader in projects and studies, primarily in Africa as well as in Yemen and China.