The Asia Foundation

Expertise: Human rights, election and institutional reform, rural and regional development, governance, public administration, crisis management, policy development, strategic planning, program and human resource management

Russell Pepe has managed international development programs and projects around the world to a consistently high standard of excellence for 36 years. Mr. Pepe is currently Chief of Party for a five year (2010-2015), $23 million USAID funded Governance program – Promoting Democratic Institutions and Practices delivered through the Asia Foundation and the State University of New York Center for International Development, Rockefeller College. This program is a legislative strengthening program and works closely with the Parliament of Bangladesh and a broad range of Civil Society Organizations. From 2007 to 2010 Mr. Pepe served as Chief of Party for the Leaders of Influence Program, a USAID supported program to train faith based and secular leaders in dialogue on and practical exposure to modern development practices and democratic values, including those to which USAID contributes through its support for democracy and human rights, economic prosperity, and investment in human capital. The LOI program trained 12,000 Islamic Religious Leaders and 8,000 Buddhist and Hindu religious and secular leaders. Prior to this Russell served as Chief of Party\Senior Governance Advisor to The Asia Foundation-Bangladesh under the Canadian International (CIDA) - funded Fair Election and Institutional Reforms Project (FEIRP). Prior to this Russell worked with a number of development initiatives including: Director and Chief Technical Advisor of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)-funded Palli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (PDBF), the Rural Bittaheen Institution Program and the Bangladesh Rural Development -12 Project, three of the world's largest government operated integrated rural development initiatives. From 1976 onwards Russell managed several development programs in Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Mr. Pepe has demonstrated abilities as a strong manager of people, processes and has an ability to produce results under very complex and difficult conditions, with sensitivity to local social and cultural values. He has solid communications skills and over twenty year's experience living and working in South Asia, South East Asia and Middle East.

Education: Mr. Pepe holds an MA in Conflict Analysis and Management with concentration in ethnic and political violence.