Caitlin Welsh is the director of the Global Food and Water Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where she analyzes the drivers and consequences of food and water insecurity around the world, including for U.S. national security. Her specific areas of focus include the impacts of Russia’s war in Ukraine on global food security and nutrition, food insecurity in the U.S. military, and the coherence between U.S. global water security policy and U.S. global food security policy. Prior to joining CSIS, Ms. Welsh served for over 12 years in the U.S. government, including at the National Security Council and National Economic Council as director for global economic engagement with responsibility for the G7 and G20, and at the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Food Security, where she served as acting director. Ms. Welsh was a presidential management fellow at the U.S. African Development Foundation and a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco. She has testified before Congress on global food security on multiple occasions, and her analysis has been featured in the New York Times, CNN, NPR, PBS, the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Financial Times, Foreign Policy, BBC, Newsweek, and other outlets. Ms. Welsh received her BA from the University of Virginia and MPA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and hails from Erie, Pennsylvania.
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Samuel Cestari
- Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
- 202.775.7317
- scestari@csis.org
In the News
Europe’s Farmer Protests Are Part of a Bigger Problem
Caitlin Welsh in Foreign Policy — February 20, 2024
Despite Bumper Grain Harvest, China Faces Challenge of Food Security
Caitlin Welsh in VOA — December 28, 2023
A conversation on food security and national security
Caitlin Welsh in Axios — October 16, 2023
Here’s one big reason (among many) for continued U.S. support of Ukraine
Caitlin Welsh in Washington Post — October 8, 2023
Russia wields ‘silent weapon’ of grain exports to weaken Ukraine
Caitlin Welsh in CNN — October 5, 2023
Israeli ambassador protests as Iranian president speaks - as it happened
Caitlin Welsh in The Guardian — September 19, 2023
Russia benefits from throttling Ukrainian grain traffic
Caitlin Welsh in Successful Farming — September 18, 2023
Rifts over Ukraine disrupt UN summit on crises in the global south
Caitlin Welsh in The Guardian — September 17, 2023
All Caitlin Welsh Content
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Evolving Tech: Innovation, Competition, and Change
The Unjust Climate: Bridging the Gap for Women in Agriculture
Event — March 8, 2024
Russia’s Food War
Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Caitlin Welsh — March 7, 2024
“Food as the “Silent Weapon”: Russia’s Gains and Ukraine’s Losses”: Audio Brief with Caitlin Welsh
Podcast Episode by Caitlin Welsh — February 29, 2024
Food as the “Silent Weapon”: Russia’s Gains and Ukraine’s Losses
Report by Caitlin Welsh and Joseph Glauber — February 29, 2024
Russia, Ukraine, and Global Food Security: A Two-Year Assessment
Critical Questions by Caitlin Welsh — February 27, 2024
Leading Private Investment in Global Nutritional Security with Drs. Antonio Tataranni and Marianne O'Shea
Podcast Episode by Caitlin Welsh — February 21, 2024
Fracturing Solidarity: The Grain Trade Dispute between Ukraine and the European Union
Critical Questions by Emma Dodd and Caitlin Welsh — February 20, 2024
2024 Global Forecast: Vying for Influence in the Global South
Digital Report by Michelle Strucke, J. Stephen Morrison, Noam Unger, Caitlin Welsh, Richard M. Rossow, Gregory B. Poling, Ryan C. Berg, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Craig Cohen, and Alex Kisling — February 7, 2024
Reviewing COP28 Outcomes for Food Security
Event — December 18, 2023