Melody McNeil is a foreign policy and international development professional with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of diplomacy, natural resource governance, and sustainable development across Africa and Asia. As USAID’s Director for the Central African Regional Program for the Environment — a $250 million portfolio spanning five countries — she worked directly at the interface of critical minerals, conservation, private sector investment, and complex political economy in one of the world’s most contested resource regions. That experience included navigating stakeholder dynamics across host governments, local communities, conservation organizations, extractive companies, multilateral donors, environmental and human rights advocacy groups, and others.
Prior to USAID, Melody served Catholic Relief Services in Kenya, Afghanistan, and South Sudan, leading programs in fragile and conflict-affected settings. She is currently advising nonprofits and philanthropic foundations on conservation and climate investment strategies. She holds a Master of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resource Economics from Michigan State University and speaks English, French, and Spanish.
