Sonali Korde Joins USAID as Assistant to Administrator

Sonali Korde, an Indian-American, was sworn in on February 12, 2024, as USAID Administrator Samantha Power's assistant for the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance. The event, witnessed by a large audience, was highlighted by Power's words of love for Korde, describing her as a "gift to us all" and praising her upbringing and ideals imparted by her Indian immigrant parents.

Sonali’s background includes a strong devotion to humanitarian problems, which she developed after noticing discrepancies during travels to India. Power underlined Korde's strong sense of justice and willingness to rectify inequality and unfairness, both of which her parents instilled in her.

Sonali formerly worked as deputy assistant to the administrator of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, where she played an important role in international catastrophe response. Notably, she was the deputy to the US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, where she helped to coordinate diplomatic efforts to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Sonali’s extensive history in global health and development includes positions at the National Security Council and the President's Malaria Initiative, where she oversaw integrated malaria and public health projects in Africa and Asia. Korde has a Master of International Relations from Yale University and a Bachelor of Economics from New York University.

Sonali Korde's appointment demonstrates USAID's commitment to solving global humanitarian problems, harnessing her knowledge and devotion to have a meaningful effect on communities globally.