Christopher Burns is the Director for the Center for Digital Development within the U.S Global Development Lab at USAID.  In this capacity, he leads a number of technical teams focused on Digital Financial Services, Development Informatics, Digital Inclusion and Geospatial Visualization, and the role they play in driving an inclusive digital economy.  He previously served as Senior Coordinator, Digital Development for Feed the Future, working alongside the Bureau for Food Security, to integrate a suite of digital technologies into the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future Initiative.  He also served as Acting Director for the Digital Development team, as well as their Senior Advisor for Digital Inclusion, within the Lab.  In these positions, he led a fast growing and multidisciplinary group focused on widespread adoption of mobile and digital technologies in the developing world.  In his eight years with USAID, he has spearheaded and served as technical lead for a number of public-private partnerships including the Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL), the GSMA Connected Women Program and the Alliance for Affordable Internet.

Immediately prior to USAID, Christopher spent nearly ten years with the Peace Corps, as Program and Training Officer for Peace Corps/Niger, Country Desk Officer for Central Asia, and Agro-Forestry Advisor in Ghana.  He has supervisory and management experience and technical background in mobile technology, natural resources management, agro-forestry, food security, gender equality and solar power design/installation.  All told, he has 20 years of international development experience, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, including 6.5 years living on the continent.

Mr. Burns has spoken and written publicly on a variety of topics related to digital technologies and development.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development and Environmental Management from St. Lawrence University (Canton, New York) and a Master of Science in Development Management from American University (Washington, DC).

Twitter: @cmitchellburns