Technical Director, Market Systems

Schafer Bomstein Castella is an international development specialist with over twelve years of experience designing, managing, and providing technical assistance for agriculture, health, governance, education, and humanitarian programs in Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Her work focuses on fostering inclusive market systems that facilitate sustainable partnerships, increase economic growth, promote climate-smart agriculture, and improve nutrition. Castella’s work has taken her around the world to many countries, including Mali, Ukraine, Panama, and France. 

Throughout her career, Castella has provided a range of support in business development and project management for programs funded by the U.S. Government, the European Union, foundations, and the private sector. She brings strong experience in technical program design, proposal writing, project oversight, reporting, compliance, financial management, and performance monitoring. She has also collaborated with private companies to develop and implement strategies that help them meet their sustainable development and financial goals. 

Before joining CNFA in 2020, Castella served as an independent consultant providing services in technical program design, proposal writing, project management, and organizational management for various nongovernmental international development clients. Prior to this, she led a consortium of six local and international organizations, providing humanitarian assistance in Eastern Ukraine and new business development and project management assistance for the Aga Khan Foundation’s West Africa office. 

Castella holds a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs and French from the University of Virginia. She speaks fluent French and intermediate Spanish.