Director, Cooperative Development
U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau of Economic Growth, Education and Environment, Office of Local Sustainability
Emily Varga is currently serving as the Director of Cooperative Development for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Bureau of Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3) in the Office of Local Sustainability, where she manages the Cooperative Development Program (CDP) and serves as the Office Liaison for Private Sector Engagement. Prior to USAID, Emily managed a diverse international development portfolio as a Senior Program Manager at NCBA CLUSA. She has more than 15 years of experience building, strengthening and supporting cooperative businesses in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. In 2007, she founded the nonprofit organization, Crafting Change, which supports artisan cooperatives in Brazil to become more competitive in global markets.
Emily holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management and Logistics from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in International Development from Boston University. Her areas of interest include sustainable sourcing, empowerment of local communities, and inclusive development.