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Ammon News - The US Embassy in Amman welcomed Leslie Reed as the new US Agency for International Development (USAID) mission director for Jordan on Sunday, a press statement said.

As mission director, Reed will oversee a portfolio of more than 50 projects and an approximate annual budget of $1.4 billion in assistance provided to the people and government of Jordan through the US-Jordanian Memorandum of Understanding for economic development.

Reed brings to Jordan a wealth of experience, both in the Middle East and around the globe. She most recently served as USAID/Egypt mission director from August 2020 to July 2023. During her tenure in Cairo, she led USAID’s efforts to support the Government of Egypt’s response to COVID-19, integrate climate change mitigation into all programming, and initiated a public-private partnership to conserve the Red Sea Coral Reef at COP27.

Throughout her career, Reed has been an advocate for women’s empowerment and a critical component of increasing the health and wealth of families, communities, and countries.

Prior to her work in Egypt, Reed led USAID missions in Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. She joined USAID in 1999 and also has worked in Peru, Ghana, South Africa, and Washington, DC.

“I am honored to join the USAID team in the US Embassy in Amman and to contribute to the strong US-Jordanian partnership,” Reed said.

“I look forward to working closely with the Government of Jordan, local communities, and our dedicated team to build on their remarkable achievements to date and to continue making a lasting impact on the lives of people across the Kingdom.”

Reed received a doctor of law (J.D.) from the University of California – Los Angeles School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of California – San Diego. She also studied political science at the American University in Cairo.