Jo Lesser-Oltheten is the mission director for USAID/West Africa, which supports U.S. foreign policy by partnering with the people and governments of West African countries as well as regional institutions to address transnational development and humanitarian challenges.
A member of the Senior Foreign Service since 2015, Ms. Lesser-Oltheten most recently served as the first mission director of the newly constituted, full USAID Mission to Niger. Previously, she served in Washington, DC as the director for Southern African Affairs. Ms. Lesser-Oltheten has served for over twenty-five years in Asia and Africa. She was previously posted in Uganda, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mali, and Guinea. Her portfolio includes food security, disaster and humanitarian assistance, economic growth, and education.