USAID/Guinea: Background about Guinea

FEBRUARY 22, 2006

Biography of Mission Director Jack Winn

USAID/Guinea and Sierra Leone Mission Director Jack Winn

Jack Winn was sworn in as USAID's new Mission Director for Guinea and Sierra Leone in October 2005 by David Eckerson, director of the Office of Human Resources, at USAID Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Winn will oversee a $30 million fragile state and humanitarian assistance program in Guinea and Sierra Leone. The primary goals of the programs are to address the root causes of fragility by focusing on institutional development based on democratic principals and encourage community-based participation in democratic processes. In Guinea, sector-based activities strive to promote better natural resource management practices; increase the use of essential family planning, maternal child health and HIV/AIDS prevention services and practices, and advance quality primary education with emphasis on girls and rural education.

In Sierra Leone, where the country is still in the process of recovering from a vicious 10-year civil war, USAID programs are geared toward providing social, economic and physical support to advance reintegration of war victims and communities and technical assistance to broaden community-based political participation, promote civic dialogue and informed participation in public affairs.

With more than 20 years of experience in international development, Mr. Winn served most recently as director of the Office of Program, Policy and Management in USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance. Previously, Mr. Winn was Program Officer for USAID's mission in Kosovo/Montenegro and controller for the New Independent States Task Force and USAID missions in Ethiopia, Haiti and Mali.

Prior to joining USAID, he was controller for Chapman and Cutler, a Chicago law firm. Mr. Winn has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Florida and an EMBA from George Washington University. He is married to Julie Winn, a member of the Foreign Service at the Department of State.