USAID Announces Launch of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

On March 14, 2022, USAID announced the launch of the new Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, which will report directly to USAID Administrator Samantha Power and will lead USAID’s efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in its workplace and programs in support of President Biden’s ambitious reform agenda. USAID’s launch of this new office will elevate attention to these critical issues, better align and coordinate Agency-wide efforts, and support the continued implementation of USAID’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan, and will help USAID continue to create more respectful, inclusive, and safe environments in its workplace and programs, in support of USAID’s critical and lifesaving global mission.

The new office will be led by Chief Diversity Officer Neneh Diallo, a seasoned leader with a proven track record of championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in both the public and private sectors. Ms. Diallo most recently served as the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications at pocstock, a global Black-owned media platform focused on increasing representation and diversity in stock media. Ms. Diallo started her federal career at the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC), where she directed high-profile global communications and public affairs campaigns, and led stakeholder outreach on policy development on topics such as social and gender inclusion and country ownership in sustainable development. She also served as the MCC’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, leading the agency’s five-year diversity and inclusion plan, which supported the agency’s strategic framework and human capital strategy, implemented inclusive leadership and unconscious bias training, and chaired the MCC’s Inclusion & Diversity Council.

Ms. Diallo’s cross-industry and cross-sector experience will inform her immediate priorities as USAID’s new Chief Diversity Officer, including conducting a listening tour across the Agency to hear from staff about opportunities for growth and change and building out the DEIA Office. Under her direction, the new office will also focus on institutionalizing a respectful, inclusive, safe work culture and environment through enhanced DEIA; improving the recruitment, hire, promotion and retention of a workforce that represents the United States; building and sustaining an inclusive work culture; enhancing accountability and shared responsibility for advancing a culture of DEIA; increasing opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses and local organizations to work with USAID; and ensuring the principles in the DEIA Strategic Plan are embedded throughout USAID’s workplace and programs.