Mexico and Central America

Susan Bird

Program Officer Mexico City

Susan Bird's work focuses on improving economic opportunities for the rural poor in the foundation's Mexico and Central America office. Her grant making supports several areas of livelihood development, including agricultural and trade policy, strengthening the value chain for small farmers and the use of remittances for development. She also focuses on leadership development in rural areas and democratic institution building as it relates to rural economies. Migration is a central part of her work, as well as direct support to women and indigenous populations.

Before joining the Ford Foundation in 2009, Susan worked as the regional director for Oxfam America in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, based in San Salvador. She directed programming on agriculture and trade policy, humanitarian preparedness and response, microfinance and gender equality, in addition to managing relations with civil society and government agencies throughout the region.

Her previous work includes research on trade, also with Oxfam, and various positions with Save the Children-Mexico. Susan has also worked directly with at-risk youth and on a refugee resettlement in the United States.

She holds two master's degrees, in anthropology from the University of Chicago and in management and sustainable development from the School for International Training; and a bachelor's degree in international relations from Drake University.