Sarah Wood

Experience in strategic development planning in complex conflict environments, interagency collaboration, foreign policy, and national and sub national violence prevention. Expert in complex analytics for development planning and synthesis. Field based expertise in CVE, stabilization program design, climate security, citizen engagement strategy, civil society reform, conflict analysis, conflict prevention, vulnerability and risk reduction, alternative dispute resolution, and gender and social inclusion. Fifteen years of direct overseas experience in conflict-affected and fragile states. Specializes in conflict resource analysis, adaption strategies to climate crisis impacts and the role that governance and social cohesion plays in the prevention and mitigation of conflict, radicalization and instability. Served as the Senior Conflict Prevention Advisor for the Ministry of Social Solidarity with the Office of the Minister in Timor-Leste. Also served as a Social Cohesion Advisor for the Government of Timor-Leste and UNDP. Has managed multi-million dollar development projects, advised government officials and agencies, and has been the lead author of numerous briefs, policy papers, and strategic reports. Has served as a Chief of Party as well as a Senior Advisor for the USG, Host Country Governments, other donors and multilateral groups. Values critical analysis that moves the needle in complex countries. Prioritizes collaboration for decision making that improves measured and observed development impact. Expert in conflict sensitive integration in policy, programs and development design. Former civil servant for the U.S Government and worked for USAID in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance. Served as the USAID liaison for the State Department’s Office for the Coordinator of Reconstruction and Stabilization, now the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. Worked on the Fragile States Strategy and the Interagency Conflict Assessment Framework. Served as a Conflict Specialist for USAID’s Office of Conflict Mitigation and Management as well as a Transition Advisor and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Specialist for the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.