Travis Adkins Sworn in as USADF’s 10th President and CEO

WASHINGTON, DC – January 18, 2022 – Travis Adkins was sworn in as the U.S. African Development Foundation’s (USADF) 10th President on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 by Jack Leslie, USADF Board Chairman. Mr. Adkins will lead the U.S. government agency’s efforts to combat some of Africa’s most difficult development challenges through a participatory, grassroots model in the hardest to reach and often most impoverished communities.

As an international development leader with deep networks across the African continent, Travis comes to USADF with two decades of experience working in governance, civil society, and refugee and migration affairs in over 50 nations throughout Africa and the Middle East. This includes serving as Staff Director of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Africa and working with leading international NGOs and think tanks and within several branches of the United Nations system.

Speaking from the ceremony, USADF Chairman Jack Leslie stated, “We’re thrilled to have Travis at the helm of USADF. He’s the right leader to take the agency to the next level. Most importantly, his passion for Africa and our mission to provide a pathway to prosperity for the most marginalized will ensure USADF’s continued success.”

USADF had a record-breaking 2021 fiscal year, awarding $42.94 million via 329 development grants to African small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social entrepreneurs, the number of which represents a 23 percent increase from the 2020 fiscal year. Today, USADF operates in 21 African countries, providing funding for over 528 active projects benefiting more than 1.8 million people.

Mr. Adkins is excited to expand upon the agency’s successes and pilot new and innovative programming that prioritizes African-led solutions and community-driven economic growth as the region continues to recover from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Prioritizing localized, African-led development is not only the wave of the future in foreign assistance – but has been the mission of the U.S. African Development Foundation for more than four decades,” stated President and CEO Travis Adkins. “I couldn’t be more excited to lead this work forward.”