Alex Deprez was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for West Africa in August 2013. In this capacity he will oversee USAID’s innovative regional activities to address trans-boundary issues, as well as activities in countries where there is no USAID mission. Since West African countries often face the same problems, regional projects are designed to complement and enhance country-specific programs in agriculture, governance, environment, health, and stability.

Prior to the assignment, Mr. Deprez served as Deputy Mission Director in South Sudan, where he supported USAID’s activities in one of the U.S. Government’s most strategic allies in sub-Saharan Africa. He was USAID’s Deputy Mission Director in Iraq from 2010 to 2012 and the Director of the Stability and Economic Growth Office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 2006 to 2010.

Mr. Deprez first joined USAID in 1994 as an Executive Officer and he served overseas as Deputy Executive Officer in Russia and Supervisory Executive Officer in Mali from 1995 to 1999. From 1999 to 2001 he served as Supervisory General Development Officer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the USAID Mission re-opened there following several years of closure. Mr. Deprez subsequently served as Project Development Officer in the Economic Growth Directorate in Egypt and from 2002 to 2006 as Deputy Director of the Regional Office of Food for Peace in Kenya.  

Prior to joining USAID, Mr. Deprez served as the Country Director for Volunteers in Technical Assistance in Bangui, Central African Republic, from 1992 to 1994. Mr. Deprez also has a decade of experience working in the private sector in Africa for multinationals and as an entrepreneur. From 1977 to 1979, Mr. Deprez was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire.

Mr. Deprez is a graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from George Washington University in International Business. He is fluent in French and Lingala and proficient in Spanish.

A Florida resident, Mr. Deprez is married to Colette Deprez. They have five children.