
The Divergence Room
Clifford Brown: USAID —Global Conflict, and the Human Stories Behind International Development
Clifford Brown brings nearly three decades of firsthand experience in international development, having served with USAID across Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa, including leadership roles in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Kyrgyzstan, and Colombia. A former commercial lawyer and multilingual international affairs professional, Clifford has witnessed military coups, civil conflict, corruption, humanitarian crises, and major political transitions while also seeing the impact of development and humanitarian work. In this conversation, he explores the realities behind foreign aid, the challenges within large international institutions, and the personal experiences that inspired his book Inside USAID: An Odyssey of Foreign Assistance . He also reflects on why he believes USAID will be missed and why foreign assistance remains relevant in a changing world.

