Shannon Sarbo has designed, implemented, and managed donor-funded programs for DAI since starting her career in 2006. Her experience includes leading technical activities and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) efforts, while integrating adaptive management and collaborating, learning, and adapting (CLA) for continuous improvement on environmental management, climate change, and food security projects. As the Deputy Chief of Party for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Policy Leadership, Interactions, Networks and Knowledge (LINK) project, Shannon drives efforts to transform agricultural policy systems worldwide to improve food security.

Previously, as the Deputy Chief of Party and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Director on the Building Capacity for African Agricultural Transformation (Africa Lead II) project, Shannon worked with the Chief of Party and country and regional directors to manage a diverse portfolio of activities across 10 bilateral and regional USAID missions and USAID/Washington operating units.

Prior to Africa Lead II, Shannon served as Acting Chief of Party and as Program and Monitoring and Evaluation Manager for the SERVIR Program Demand Activity, a joint development initiative of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and USAID that works in partnership with leading regional scientific organizations worldwide to help decision makers use geospatial information and technology to address critical challenges in food security, water resources, weather and climate, land use, and natural disasters. Under SERVIR, Shannon provided strategic oversight and programmatic management, including designing and managing a small grants program to promote partnership between SERVIR hub institutions and local civil society organizations, research institutes, and local government.

• B.A., international relations, Claremont McKenna College