Washington, DC — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today welcomed Witney Schneidman as the new coordinator for Prosper Africa, the U.S. government initiative to increase trade and investment between African nations and the United States. In this role, Witney will coordinate all Prosper Africa work across the interagency to develop new policies, budgets, partnerships and initiatives to strengthen outcomes.

Witney will collaborate closely with the National Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, and other senior administration officials to help put into action the White House’s strategic vision for Prosper Africa and maximize its impact. He will coordinate and support any U.S. government activities that aim to improve conditions for equitable, sustainable growth in Africa through trade and investment.

This role calls on Witney to work directly with key stakeholders and private sector partners, including by representing the U.S. government at public events in Africa and the United States. He will be engaging with members of the African Diaspora, the Corporate Council on Africa, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other business forums to help expand Prosper Africa’s reach and results.

Witney has nearly 40 years of experience working across sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on his experience in the State Department, the World Bank, think tanks, his own consulting practice, and chairing the Africa practice at Covington & Burling LLP, Witney, a non-lawyer, has advised energy, technology, consumer and health companies, among others, on projects in more than 30 African countries. He has also served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs, and on the Africa advisory committees in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and at the U.S. Export-Import Bank.