WASHINGTON, D.C. November 12, 2014 - James “Jim” Hope was sworn in today as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for Kosovo. USAID Deputy Administrator Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt administered the oath.

As Mission Director for Kosovo, Mr. Hope will be responsible for managing USAID’s program supporting Kosovo’s efforts to strengthen democratic practices and institutions and increase economic growth. USAID was one of the first international donors on the ground in the immediate aftermath of the war in 1999, and remains one of Kosovo’s biggest financial backers. Mr. Hope will oversee USAID’s portion of that assistance.

Mr. Hope has more than 20 years of experience working on international development programs with USAID, most recently serving as Deputy Mission Director for Afghanistan. From 2008-2013, he was the Deputy Mission Director for USAID/Kenya. From 2007-2008, he headed the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Office at USAID/Afghanistan, responsible for promoting civil-military cooperation with US and NATO military partners. Earlier, he served at USAID/Indonesia from 2001-2007, where he led a Presidential initiative to improve basic education, and also worked on tsunami recovery.

Before joining USAID’s Foreign Service in 2000, Mr. Hope worked as a Program Officer at USAID/Bosnia from 1995-1999 supporting implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords; and at USAID/Poland from 1994-1995 supporting Poland’s transition to democracy and economic reform process.

Mr. Hope was born in New York, grew up in Boston, and currently calls Austin, Texas home. He received a Bachelor’s degree in history from American University and a Master’s degree in Russian and East European studies from Yale University. He speaks Polish. He has a daughter, Katherine.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for over 50 years.

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Press Contact: USAID Mission in Kosovo

Telephone: + 381 38 59 59 3000

Email: kosovousaidinfo@usaid.gov