https://www.firsthectares.com/hero-image-1 daily 0.75 2017-06-25 https://www.firsthectares.com/about daily 0.75 2017-06-25 https://www.firsthectares.com/hero-image-3 daily 0.75 2016-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498424274298-MQR8ETUWHC77771SRSVO/FHI+pivot+image.jpg SERVICES https://www.firsthectares.com/new-page daily 0.75 2017-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498425486083-5RJPLR89E5BBN9QMKTTE/IB+and+JV+bio+graphic.jpg New Page https://www.firsthectares.com/home daily 1.0 2017-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498444184825-T5BSC8UTUHRZX2OAH50T/image-asset.jpeg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498444308992-R9BUWA0HAOPZGBRFQFHF/tumblr_mn8b8sLRb61rkz363o1_1280.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498427461284-CB6564CMX5JG4ER4PYNA/FHC+web+home+page.jpg Home https://www.firsthectares.com/what-we-do daily 0.75 2017-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498487102041-HPENGB8W1T3HQRY7XLIY/image-asset.jpeg What We Do Non-profit research and training collaboration with faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, and the Corporate Council on Africa. www.akili-initiative.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498447950302-3N18WC84UU38TBSDW1RJ/Coastal+Shabelle+Green+Belt+Illustration.jpg What We Do https://www.firsthectares.com/projects daily 0.75 2017-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498443815097-EIGHWVBE3A9JL5F9T46F/image-asset.jpeg Projects Illustration by MIT Professors Alan Berger and Alexander D'Hooghe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498442430677-62GOU4ZL2KPLG7XO3978/tumblr_mlsetsKySj1rkz363o4_1280.jpg Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498443474627-5XJVR47N70DUC4MUOQ0L/image-asset.jpeg Projects South West State of Somalia Free Zone Investment Authority https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498442142636-2IIKI8DZWI2O35N0H17J/tumblr_mjco89cUVY1rkz363o1_1280.jpg Projects SWS Somalia Baraawe Safe Zone. Illustration by MIT Professor Alexander D'Hooghe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498443718542-FX93BNXOWQWNFH4LYR2O/image-asset.jpeg Projects Illustration by MIT Professors Alan Berger and Alexander D'Hooghe https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498442855118-RKRWEUT8SOSMHW0R8NWZ/baraawe+coastline+photo.jpg Projects https://www.firsthectares.com/team daily 0.75 2018-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498450606933-BAWJOG0LQY1XVWBYOAUJ/image-asset.jpeg Team - New Book: Africa Risk Dashboard   Click here for information on Africa Risk Dashboard, by Issa Baluch & Jon Vandenheuvel https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498447085247-B1CQY0LRUGROS5G0T0F5/IB+and+JV+speaking+invite.jpg Team - Issa Baluch, Chairman Issa S. Baluch founded Swift Freight International in 1989, one of the top freight logistics providers in the Middle East & Africa, pioneering the thriving sea-air combined transport multi-modal freight business that has shaped the industry in the UAE. He helped found and served as President of the National Association of Freight Logistics (NAFL), and from 2003-2005 served as President of the Zurich based, International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). Mr. Baluch has authored two previous books, Transport Logistics: Past, Present and Predictions, and Transport Logistics, the wheel of Commerce. Mr. Baluch has served as a Senior Fellow of the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative and was recently appointed to the Dean’s Council of the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2016, Baluch was appointed visiting chair Professor of the National Taiwan Ocean University. He currently serves as the Chairman of First Hectares Capital, and the Chairman of AKILI, the Agribusiness Knowledge and Innovation Leadership Initiative. Issa holds an MBA from the University of Hull (UK). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498447176995-FSDORJ3QQFM7HI28GW3R/image-asset.jpeg Team - Jon Vandenheuvel, CEO Jon Vandenheuvel is CEO of First Hectares Capital, an infrastructure development company focused on Africa and the Middle East. First Hectares is working to develop infrastructure and financing for small farm clusters and economic systems in Malawi and Somalia, with a special emphasis on refugees and IDPs. He is co-founder of AKILI, the non-profit Agribusiness Knowledge, Innovation and Leadership Initiative, and he recently served as an MIT Visiting Scholar for African Urbanism. He is also co-founder of Africa Atlantic Franchise Farms in Ghana, a laboratory farming operation on the shoreline of Lake Volta. Mr. Vandenheuvel started his career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., serving as Executive Director of the Republican Conference of the U.S. House of Representatives for then-Chairman, U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma. Earlier, he served as Chief of Staff for US Congressman Pete Hoekstra of Michigan. Jon holds a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) and bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College (Illinois). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594fa0e6a5790afdb0a65161/1498447773323-PF0RMT85UWEGOUHCS3A2/IMG_7131.JPG Team https://www.firsthectares.com/home-alt-bedford daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500612440-PGQSIY8KL9F7T5VIXQLO/chambers-2.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Contact Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500503574-5BAPXZO9U06UV61P49UO/chambers1.jpg Home Alt Sustainability Starts with you Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500933384-LII4SRIPHFYOUFX0UCXC/chambers-4.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390504287124-HQ8GNX1JCE22V047MSQ9/chambers-8.jpg Home Alt Preserve Nature Join Us