1. MARGOT ELLIS
Permanent Address: 2024 Rhode Island Avenue, McLean, VA 22101 | C: +1-203-848-4251 | ellismargot@gmail.com
Executive Profile
Accomplished executive with more than 25 years of experience in international development and humanitarian response.
Strategic leader with extensive managerial experience in large multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural organizations.
Skill Highlights
Collaborative, inclusive, energized leadership Operational and financial management expertise
Political acumen and diplomatic skills Strategy, design and implementation of sustainable
Decisive leader at the strategic, policy and development and humanitarian assistance
operational levels interventions
Professional Experience
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator & Acting Asst. Administrator 02/2015 to Present
Bureau For Food Security, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Washington, DC
The Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) provides senior leadership in the Bureau for Food Security (BFS),
which leads Feed the Future (FTF), the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. With a focus on
smallholder farmers, particularly women, Feed the Future efforts are rooted in partnership and driven by country-led
priorities. The Bureau manages an annual budget of $1 billion and draws on the strengths of 11 agencies across the
U.S. Government, while leveraging resources and efforts of other donors, multilateral organizations, the private sector,
civil society, universities, research institutions and other stakeholders to accelerate inclusive agricultural growth to
increase incomes, reduce hunger, poverty and under-nutrition.
BFS programming increases agricultural productivity, improves the nutritional status of the poor, invests in long-term
agricultural research, and strengthens the capacity of government, civil society and private sector partners, bolstering
resilience and sustainably propelling change. The Bureau brings together programmatic, technical and regional
expertise from throughout the U.S. Government to assist 19 focus missions and an additional 23 countries plus three
strategic partnerships with South Africa, Brazil, and India.
As a primary tool of the U.S. Government’s development assistance programming targeting poverty, FTF incorporates
agricultural production and markets, climate smart agricultural innovations, rural economic growth, institutional capacity
building, nutrition, gender, value chain development, trade, employment and resilience programming. The work of the
Bureau for Food Security in leading the Feed the Future Initiative and Agency’s traditional agricultural development
programs significantly contributes to USAID’s mission statement’s two complementary goals of ending extreme poverty
and promoting the development of resilient, democratic societies that are able to realize their potential. Ending extreme
poverty through inclusive sustainable growth that reaches the poorest and most vulnerable supports global stability and
prosperity.
 Lead a strategic effort to institutionalize Feed the Future through legislation, innovative communication of
impact and a strategic refresh of this major Presidential initiative. Ensure that Feed the Future continues to
evolve in response to changing global dynamics and builds on operational approaches with greatest impact on
poverty and childhood stunting.
 Oversee the Country Strategy and Implementation Office, ensuring that country programs optimally advance
inclusive agriculture growth and improved nutritional status.
 Lead the Bureau’s engagement with the private sector through the Market and Partnership Innovation Office,
the G-7 and G-20 through the Global Engagement Strategies team, as well as with African governments and the
agribusiness interests through the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.
 Direct the Agency’s work on resilience through the Center of Resilience based in the Bureau for Food Security
and the Agency’s food security-related communications and outreach efforts.

2. Deputy Commissioner-General 01/2010 to 01/2015
UNRWA, UN Agency for Palestine Refugees Amman, Jordan
The Deputy Commissioner-General (DCG), a position at the Assistant Secretary-General level of the UN, provides
strategic direction and leadership for all aspects of the Agency's policies and operations. UNRWA, a subsidiary organ
of the UN General Assembly, provides for the relief and human development needs of 5 million refugees in its five fields
of operation – West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
The DCG, as the second most senior leader of this regional UN organization with 30,000 staff members and an annual
budget in excess of $1 billion, advises the Commissioner-General on all aspects of the Agency's strategies and policies,
management and operations, including external advocacy and donor relations. Directs the Agency's programs
(Education, Health, Relief & Social Services, Microfinance and Infrastructure), ensuring UNRWA's effective and timely
response to the human development needs of the refugee population. Oversees headquarters support departments
including Finance and Budget, Human Resources, Internal Oversight, Administrative Support, Enterprise Resource
Planning, Planning, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. Represents the Agency at senior/ministerial level
with host and donor governments, and at international, regional and interagency fora.
Provides leadership in all aspects of programmatic and business process reform, developing and nurturing an
environment of innovation, best practice, cost effectiveness and transparency.
 Catalyzed and oversaw the Agency's 3-year program of reform, focusing on improved service delivery to
the beneficiary refugee population, strengthened results-based planning processes, structural reforms in
resource mobilization and the continuation of the modernization of the Agency's business processes.
 Developed a new resource mobilization strategy, a new partnership policy and strategy, and opened a new
representative office in Washington, DC. Galvanized support to diversify funding sources for the Agency and to
reach out to non-traditional partners from the private sector, foundations and individual contributors.
 Strengthened the Agency’s accountability framework, including by initiating a budget hearing process linking
program performance with financial requirements.
 As chair of the Advisory Committee on Internal Oversight, led to a more risk-based strategy for the Agency’s audit,
investigations, ethics and evaluation functions/
 Built critical alliances with staff, donors the UN Country Team and host countries resulting in successful
negotiations with staff unions, including unlocking a stalemate with its striking union in the West Bank.
 Initiated and led a process to contain growth in staff numbers and rein in budgetary expenditures.
 Oversaw implementation of a first generation SAP ERP system.
 Led the Syria Task Force responsible for protecting 560,000 Palestine refugees in Syria impacted by civil war and
those fleeing across borders.
Acting Assistant Administrator for Asia 07/2008 to 01/2010
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Washington, DC
Rank of Minister-Counselor in the U.S. Senior Foreign Service. As USAID's Assistant Administrator (AA) for the
Asia Bureau, had broad management and oversight responsibilities within the Asia region, spanning from Kazakhstan
and Afghanistan to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. The Asia Bureau had programs in 22 countries, with 17
bilateral missions and two regional missions in Almaty and Bangkok. The Asia Bureau's program budget in FY08 was
approximately $3.8 billion. The AA was responsible for a staff of approximately 60 in Washington, and more than 1300
employees in the field.
 Given the geopolitical importance of the region to the U.S. Government required extraordinarily close
cooperation and policy dialogue with the senior-most officials from the State Department, the NSC, the Office of
Management and Budget, the Treasury Department, Department of Homeland Security and other senior USG
and international partners. Collaborated with special political appointees responsible for malaria, HIV/AIDS,
counter-terrorism, Europe and Eurasia, Trafficking in Persons, Tibet, ASEAN and APEC, among others.
 Testified before the U.S. Congress, traveled extensively with high-ranking USG delegations abroad, and made
media and public speaking appearances before large and politically sensitive audiences.
 Undertook foundational work for USAID’s return to Burma (Myanamar) and the South Pacific.

3. Mission Director 08/2005 to 07/2008
USAID/Uganda Kampala, Uganda
Provided overall strategic, policy, programmatic and administrative management for one of the largest USAID programs
in sub-Saharan Africa, with a program budget of $300 million. Led 145 staff to advance the US Government's (USG)
priorities for Uganda, including supporting peace and regional security, governing justly and democratically, investing
people, economic growth and humanitarian assistance.
 Created two teams to address the sources and consequences of Uganda's vulnerability to crisis: 1) Mitigating
the Causes and Consequences of Conflict, which focused on peace-building, reconciliation, protection,
reintegration, food security and basic economic activity in Uganda's conflict affected regions; and 2) Increasing
Accountability and Broadening Participation, with a focus on increasing the fairness of Uganda's political
processes, increasing the effectiveness of civil society, and reducing corruption.
 Implemented one of the largest HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR) and President's Malaria Initiative programs.
 Pioneered new cooperation in conflict districts with Department of Defense through CJTF-HOA.
 Oversaw successful re-location of USAID to the Embassy compound, and developed common management
platform for the delivery of support services to all USG agencies in Uganda.
 Developed and implemented a Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Country Plan for Uganda focusing
on fighting corruption, particularly related to procurement.
 Successfully elevated the scale, breadth and profile of conflict programming by the USG by developing a cross-
sectoral team addressing the causes and consequences of conflict in Uganda, and launched and staffed a new
satellite office in Gulu in northern Uganda.
 Developed a joint DCHA-USAID/Uganda strategy to transition from relief to recovery in northern Uganda,
working with local governance capacity to ensure a more durable return for IDPs.
 Conceived of and won support for a $60 million bold integrated employment creation and civil works program for
northern Uganda to quickly infuse critically-needed cash into the local economy, empower local government
through improved service delivery, and construct the infrastructure needed for economic recovery.
USAID/West Bank & Gaza - Deputy Director 06/2003 to 06/2005
USAID/West Bank & Gaza - Director Private Enterprise Office 08/1999 to 06/2003
USAID/South Africa - Director Private Sector Division 08/1994 to 06/1999
USAID/Zimbabwe - Program Officer 07/1988 to 08/1994
Private Sector Experience:
JP Morgan Chase - Financial Projects Advisor to Controller
General Motors Corporation - Senior Staff Associate/Int'l Treasurers Staff
Ford Motor Corporation - Supervisor and Senior Financial Analyst
Education
MBA: Finance - Full Fellowship
Columbia University Graduate School of Business New York, New York
Bachelor of Science: Economics and Public Policy - with Honors
Cornell University Ithaca, New York
Awards
Senior Foreign Service Presidential Meritorious Service Award (2009) – awarded by the President of the United
States
State Department Superior Honor Award, For Flawless Support during and After Elections for a New Palestinian
Authority President, Promoting Palestinian Democracy and Demonstrating U.S. Commitment to the Cause of Peace in
the Region, 11/05

4. Superior Honor Award, USAID/West Bank and Gaza, For Innovative Performance to Support the Palestinian Private
Sector During the Intifada and Ensure that Programs Promoted Stability, 10/01
Superior Unit Citation, USAID/South Africa, U.S.-South Africa Bi-National Commission 1995-1997, 11/97
Superior Unit Citation, USAID/Zimbabwe, U.S. Relief and Logistics during Southern Africa Drought, 03/93
Performance Awards: 1989, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008