Christopher Abrams Email & Phone Number

Hartwick, Ny, Us

Central Europe

As Senior Development Advisor for Central Europe, I work to promote USAID programming in Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.

Kyiv City, Ukraine

Working to support Ukraine's economic sovereignty through diversification, energy, and economic reform. This includes support to cyber security, the development of capital, energy, and commodity markets, land reform, sustainable solutions for climate change.

Newport County, Rhode Island, United States

Vietnam

As Director of the Environment and Social Development Office I oversee a staff of 13 and 22 contract teams implementing a $282 million portfolio focused on Disabilities, Climate Smart Agriculture, Clean Energy, Biodiversity, Higher Education, and Agent Orange/Dioxin Remediation. Oversee environmental compliance for entire mission portfolio (40 activities/$450 million). A major area of focus is public-private partnerships, conservation finance, rural livelihood, and energy value-chain development.

Supervised a team of 7 (USDH, 1 USPSC, 5 FSNs) and managing a $189 million 5-year portfolio. Colombia has one of the largest USAID environment programs in the world, managing not only bi-lateral resources, but also regional, Washington, and debt-swap accounts under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act. Colombia is a Tier-1 Biodiversity priority and a Phase-1 High Priority Performance Country for the Presidential Initiative for Global Climate Change. Portfolio consists of programming under EC-LEDS, Clean Energy, REDD+, Adaptation, Tropical Forestry Alliance, Biodiversity, and Signature Efforts under the new USAID LAB. In addition, the Environment Office manages environmental compliance for the entire mission ($160 million/yr) portfolio. During my time here we have raised over $20 million in private sector investment for forest conservation, conserved over 1 million hectares of natural forest, established strong partnerships with NASA and private investment funds, and through our governance program have worked economy wide to set Colombia on a lower emission economic development track (+/- 1.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide reduced by 2040). The Colombia program is high profile and as such negotiations with congress, Washington, and deliberation in the inter-agency is a constant

Haiti

Supervised 11 Foreign Service National Staff, oversaw a $420 million LOP portfolio consisting of peace and stability, environment, micro-finance, trade reform, and agriculture, and served as the Mission Environment Officer. During this time, served on several response operations (most notably the Haiti Earthquake – 2010) and several other environment disasters and food riots. Served as COTR for a $120 million watershed management, $40 million micro-finance, and $20 million agricultural value chain activities. Involved in all aspects of design, staff management, and budget for SEG office. In addition, served as the Acting Director of the Economic Security and Agriculture Office for the Haiti Task Team for two months in Washington.

Washington, District Of Columbia

Worked in the Office of Urban Programs and Infrastructure and Engineering group, supporting programming on utility development in east Africa, Afghanistan, and Iraq and USAID's Cities Alliance program for urban planning.

Chief (GS-15), Natural Resource Damage and Restoration Division, US Led the Natural Resource Damage and Restoration Division consisting of 12 civil service employees and contracted expertise to disperse, investigate, and manage exposure to the $1.2 Billion “Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.” Managed team to prepare complex multi-million dollar claims, lawsuits, field investigations, and restoration as the result of oil and chemical spills throughout the U.S. Served as the Coast Guard’s lead environmental adviser providing expert testimony at trial or as lead negotiator with responsible parties. Served as representative to the US Federal Natural Resource Trustee Council, National Invasive Species Council, and Coast Guard Senior Management Council. Working for the Coast Guard for over 5-years, I began as a regulatory economist, moved to take the position as the Coast Guard’s Lead Restoration Specialist, and eventually took over leadership of the Natural Resource Damage and Restoration Division. During this time with the Coast Guard, my team adjudicated $415 million in negotiated settlements, managed $240 million in natural resource restoration projects, spearheaded regulations on invasive species and container cargo, and completed 4 national scope environmental impact assessments.

Worked in Economic and Social Affairs, Division of Sustainable Natural Resource Management. Development curricula for Disaster Response Coordination in the ECOSOC region, incorporating gender, and meteorological monitoring information.

Niger

Worked as part of the African Food Systems Initiative building and maintaining a demonstration farm, working with improved seed varieties, and sheep loan programs for women’s groups. In second and third year, became coordinator for the Balleyara Region responsible for the safety, security, and work of 12 other volunteers.

Colombus, Oh

Division of Storm Water Pollution Control. Responsible for compliance of industrial and commercial construction facilities over a 4 county area.

Leadville, Co

San Isabel Ranger District. Served as Wilderness Ranger for the Mount Massive Wilderness Reserve. Responsible for search and rescue, land management and planning, patrols, and use management.

Master Of Arts - Ma, National Security Strategy And Policy

Master Of Science (Ms), Applied Economics

Activities and Societies: Fellow, Adlai Stevenson Center for Community DevelopmentFellow, Stevenson Center for Community Development

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Natural Resources Management And Policy