Paul Richardson
Director for the Office of Economic Growth at USAID/Central Asia
Paul Richardson is the Director for the Office of Economic Growth at USAID/Central Asia. He manages a large and complex portfolio in trade, energy, and environment covering all five countries in Central Asia.
Mr. Richardson is a private sector officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with more than 20 years of international development experience and 13 years as a USAID officer. Prior to his assignment to Central Asia, he was the Director of the Economic Growth Office in South Sudan where he oversaw a portfolio of more than $120 million in life of project funding in biodiversity conservation, infrastructure and food security and livelihoods. Prior to South Sudan, he was the Director of the Economic Growth Office in the Regional Office of Sri Lanka and Maldives based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In this role, he oversaw implementation of $11 million in public-private alliances with leading Sri Lankan corporations that leveraged $26 million in partner investments. In addition, he created “CSR Sri Lanka,” a national not-for-profit organization that has become the leading provider of advisory, research, and training services on corporate social responsibility business practices in Sri Lanka. He also led in the creation of FOOD TV, an island-wide dedicated infotainment television program for agriculture, nutrition, and related sectors through formation of unique partnership with media, private sector companies, government, and international donors.
Prior to serving in Sri Lanka, Mr. Richardson served in Iraq from 2011-2012 where he led an innovative co-design process with the Ministry of Agriculture for the largest agricultural program in Iraq. From 2009-2011, Mr. Richardson worked in the Regional Mission for Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus and helped lead efforts to formulate a strategy with the World Bank to mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis on Ukraine’s vulnerable economy. From 2006-2008, Mr. Richardson served in the Regional West Africa Mission in Ghana where he spearheaded a loan guarantee program with Africa’s largest commercial bank to increase access to financing for West African small businesses in the export manufacturing sectors using development credit authority.
Prior to joining USAID, Mr. Richardson was the Director for Internatonal Partnerships with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC; and the Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Office in the United Kingdom. He holds a Master’s in International Economics and Management from Bocconi University, Italy and a B.A. in Economics from Concordia University, Canada. Paul was born and raised in Montreal, Canada but now calls Springfield, New Hampshire home. He is married and has two teenage children.
USAID Central Asian Mission
Mr. Paul Richardson is the Director of Economic Development with USAID/Central Asia Region and manages a portfolio of more than $184 million in economic development opportunities in energy, trade, and water covering four country offices. He has over 20 years of international development experience and 13 years as a USAID Officer. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director of the Economic Growth Office in South Sudan where he oversaw a portfolio of more than $120 million portfolio biodiversity conservation, infrastructure and food security and livelihoods. Prior to South Sudan, he was the Director of the Economic Growth Office in the Regional Office of Sri Lanka and Maldives based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In this role, he oversaw oversees a portfolio of $10 million in life of project activities promoting market access and economic diversification in farm localities, supporting research and development of clean, affordable energy and providing technical assistance for improved public services in addition to a climate change initiative in the Maldives.
Mr. Richardson joined USAID in 2005 and first served overseas as Deputy Director of Economic Growth in Ghana. His subsequent positions include Supervisory Private Enterprise Officer in Ukraine and Supervisory Private Enterprise Officer in Iraq.
Prior to joining USAID, Mr. Richardson was Director of International Partnerships at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC; Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the United Kingdom and a financial analyst at UNIDO in Italy.
Mr. Richardson holds a master’s degree in International Economics and Management from Bocconi University, Italy, a BA in Economics from Concordia University, Canada, and a Diplome Collegiate d’Ecole in Commerce from John Abbott College, Canada. He is fluent in French and has basic Russian language skills. He is the recipient of several Agency Awards including three Superior Honor Awards.
