Chad Dear, PhD
chaddear@gmail.com | +1 202 999-0577 | Washington, DC
Profile
Chad is an interdisciplinary and applied social scientist, international development professional and educator dedicated to improving governance at the nexus of environment and development. Through positions in government, non-governmental organizations, and academia, Chad has designed, implemented and evaluated large- and small-scale international development projects and programs; developed and led multinational and multidisciplinary applied research programs; led major reforms of U.S. government environmental and social oversight processes; and advised senior U.S. and foreign government officials and leaders in international organizations. Chad, PhD in human dimensions of natural resources, has more than twenty years of professional experience, including ten years of on-the-ground international experience in Central, South and Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, with shorter professional experiences in more than 25 countries. He also has domestic experience in the American west, including Alaska. Chad publishes in technical, academic, and popular literature. He is an affiliate faculty with the Department of Society and Conservation at University of Montana and has been an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science Policy Fellow and a Fulbright Fellow.
Experience (post-PhD)
Program Manager & Compliance Lead, Independent Accountability Mechanism of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, 2024-present, Washington, DC.
Senior environmental and social specialist, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, 2022-2024, Washington, DC.
Senior advisor for environmental and social risk management & multilateral development banks, US Agency for International Development, 2016 – 2022 (“Senior” advisor since 2020), Washington, DC
Land and resource governance analyst / Open innovation advisor, US Agency for International Development, 2014-2016, Washington, DC
Senior research scientist & interim director, Mountain Societies Research Institute, University of Central Asia, Aga Khan Development Network, 2010 - 2014, Kyrgyzstan
Technical advisor for rural livelihoods, Aga Khan Foundation, 2010, Afghanistan
Natural resources program lead and head of regional office, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), 2008 - Feb 2010, Afghanistan and Timor Leste
Education
Ph.D. Forestry and Conservation: Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, May 2008
University of Montana, College of Forestry and Conservation, Department of Society and Conservation
M.S. Geography: Education and Environmental Management, Aug 2001
Western Washington University, Huxley College of the Environment
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies: Communications, Law, Economics, Government, May 1997
American University, School of Public Affairs, Cum Laude
Summary of additional qualifications
(details available on request)
Publications
Peer-reviewed journal articles in Climate and Development, Land Degradation and Development, Mountain Research and Development (x2), Society and Conservation, and Society and Natural Resources. Guest editor for special issue of Mountain Research and Development. Thirty-plus technical publications developed with and used by planners and other decision makers, including: USAID’s first formal guidance on compulsory displacement and resettlement and critical analyses of multilateral development bank projects in Samoa, Nepal, Myanmar, Georgia, and Paraguay each of which involved senior official and US congressional engagement and resulted in improvements to environmental and social safeguard implementation. Numerous publicly disclosed government reports.
Professional Presentations
More than 50 presentations at conferences and other events in more than 20 countries to diverse audiences including academics, practitioners, advocates and policymakers.
Teaching, Training, Facilitation and Presentations Experience
Taught two university courses: Environment and Development, FOR/RSCN475, University of Montana (2007); and Human Ecology, ESTU303, Western Washington University (2000). Assisted teaching four other courses. Numerous guest university lectures. Led training or facilitation for dozens of events with diverse audiences, globally.
Mentoring
Supervised and co-authored academic and technical publications with three post-doctoral and three pre-doctoral Central Asian scholars (see Mountain Societies Research Institute publications 2011-2014).
Grants & Awards
Prior to government service, secured and administered more than $2 million in applied research funding through University of Central Asia. Earned more than 20 individual grants and awards, including Fulbright and American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellowships. Earned numerous USAID and DFC meritorious awards.
Geographic Experience
Ten years professional residence abroad in Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Timor-Leste) and Africa (Mozambique, eSwatini, South Africa). Short-term professional experience in more than 25 countries.