Chris Merriman serves as a Country Manager on USTDA’s team for Africa and the Middle East, where he leads the team’s critical minerals portfolio in Central and East Africa and co-leads the energy portfolio across Africa and the Middle East. In this role, Chris is responsible for business development, project preparation and evaluation, and supervision of USTDA activities in the region.

Chris previously served as a Desk Officer for USAID, where he supported foreign assistance programs in West Africa. He previously taught fifth grade in Guinea-Conakry with the Peace Corps and social studies in French and English at DC International School.

Chris holds a Master of Arts degree in International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he graduated summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Yale University. He speaks French fluently and is proficient in Spanish.