Keith Brown

Keith Brown is a veteran international development manager who is leading the Jane Goodall Institute’s efforts to ensure a healthy future for Africa’s great apes.

"He combines 30-plus years of experience in Africa and in Washington to oversee the Institute’s Africa programs, which include the renowned chimpanzee research station at Gombe National Park in Tanzania, community-centered conservation programs in eastern and central Africa, Africa’s largest sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees (Republic of Congo), and awareness and outreach in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

"He can speak about many issues related to conservation and development in Africa, including "what works” in conservation, women and development, micro-credit, the bushmeat trade, the status of wild chimpanzees and other great ape species.

"He joined the Institute in 2004 as a 29-year veteran of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He held the highest career rank in the Foreign Service and served as USAID's Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa, guiding a $1.5 billion operation with a Washington and overseas staff of 2,000."

"He led US government consultations with the Ethiopian government on the design and implementation of a famine prevention program and also led USAID teams in the design of Presidential Initiatives on Nigeria and Liberia, as well as in Trade, Education, Agriculture, Anti-Corruption and Conflict (totaling more than $500 million). He also provided policy guidance in the design of post-conflict transition strategies now being implemented in Burundi, the DRC, Somalia and the Sudan.

"From September 1997 until February 1999, Mr. Brown served as USAID’s mission director in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As head of the largest USAID program in sub-Saharan Africa, he was successful in reestablishing the US government as a leader in the donor community and USAID as a trusted and valued development partner to Ethiopia.

"Mr. Brown also served as director of USAID’s Regional Economic Development Services Office for East and Southern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, where he was responsible for implementing President Clinton’s Greater Horn of Africa Initiative. And as director of the Office of Southern Africa Affairs, he was instrumental in shaping US government development assistance policy 10 years ago on support of the political and socio-economic transformation in South Africa.

"Before joining USAID Mr. Brown worked for the Continental Oil Company in Houston, TX, and the US General Accounting Office in Washington, DC."


 * Executive Committee, Bushmeat Crisis Task Force