WASHINGTON, DC — September 10, 2015 — Evidence Action announced today that Jeffrey Brown has been selected as the organization’s incoming CEO. Brown has significant experience in international development, specifically focused on rigorous evidence and data-driven solutions. Brown will assume his new role on October 5, 2015.
Evidence Action scales up rigorously evaluated, evidence-based global development interventions. Evidence Action works in eight countries and reached 140 million people with its programs in the last year.
“I am honored to have been selected as Evidence Action’s incoming CEO. It’s a privilege to be part of an organization that effectively leverages evidence, scale, and cost effectiveness for global development interventions. I am thrilled to lead Evidence Action in its next phase — growing its programs and increasing advocacy for evidence-based development,” says Brown.
Amrita Ahuja, chairwoman of Evidence Action’s Board of Directors, says: “We are delighted to have been able to identify such an exceptionally qualified new CEO among a group of strong candidates. Jeff has been at the forefront of advancing the use of rigorous evidence in the practice of development at Development Innovation Ventures and at the Global Innovation Fund. He comes with a stellar track record of growing support and resources for the scale-up of effective programs. We look forward to working with him as he leads Evidence Action in its next chapter.”
Prior to joining Evidence Action, Brown served as interim CEO of the Global Innovation Fund on loan from USAID. He previously served as the Managing Director of USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures. Jeff’s earlier career focused on the evaluation and oversight of large international development portfolios at the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Brown holds an MPA in International Development from Harvard University, an MA in Economics from Brown University, and a BA in Economics from Colby College.
Brown succeeds Alix Zwane, the founding Executive Director of Evidence Action.
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About Evidence Action: Evidence Action scales proven development solutions to benefit millions of people around the world. Evidence Action only implements cost-effective interventions whose efficacy are backed by substantial rigorous evidence; identifies innovative, appropriate financing mechanisms; and develops state-of-the-art scalable operations for implementation.