
Conor Savoy is a senior fellow with the Project on Prosperity and Development at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Conor brings nearly 15 years of experience to working on issues at the intersection of U.S. foreign policy and international development. Prior to CSIS, he was the executive director of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN), a diverse advocacy coalition focused on increased effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance. In this role, he worked closely with U.S. government development agencies, implementing partners, Congress, and other stakeholders to advance a positive aid reform agenda. In addition to his work at CSIS, he frequently consults with U.S. government agencies, NGOs and other implementing partners, and the private sector on evolving trends in international development. Prior to joining MFAN, he worked as the director of policy and advocacy for the Global Innovation Fund, a social-first impact investor backed by the U.S. government and other bilateral donors. Earlier, he served as deputy director of the Project on Prosperity and Development at CSIS. In this role, Conor helped build an innovative research program focused on the evolving role of the private sector in international development. He has also worked as a researcher at the Council on Foreign Relations concentrating on U.S. foreign and national security policy. Conor has taught as an adjunct lecturer in American University's School of Public Affairs, teaching a graduate-level course on comparative public administrative systems. He has published widely on U.S. foreign policy, aid reform, development finance, and other emerging trends in international development. Conor holds an M.A. in international relations from Boston University and a B.A. with honors in history from George Washington University.
In the News
Should the U.S. worry that assistance to Ukraine could end up in the wrong hands?
Conor M. Savoy in NPR — February 2, 2023
Pressures on Ukraine's power grid pose a challenge to U.S. aid delivery
Conor M. Savoy in NPR — January 27, 2023
Transportation Command at Scott AFB plays key role in America’s military support for Ukraine
Conor M. Savoy in St. Louis Public Radio — January 12, 2023
Russian attacks have struck Ukrainian health-care facilities and providers 715 times
Conor M. Savoy in The Washington Post — December 15, 2022
GOP ramps up call for more oversight of U.S. aid to Kyiv
Conor M. Savoy in National Journal — November 29, 2022
Future Ukraine Aid May Hinge on Control of Congress in 2023
Conor M. Savoy in Voice of America — October 4, 2022
Why blended finance risks being bad for SDGs
Conor M. Savoy in Capital Monitor — April 20, 2022
All content by Conor M. Savoy
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Enabling an Economic Transformation of Ukraine
Report by Conor M. Savoy and Janina Staguhn — January 10, 2023

Access to Finance for Smallholder Farmers
Commentary by Conor M. Savoy — December 7, 2022

Panel 4: U.S. Cooperation and Engagement in the Pacific Island States
Event by Conor M. Savoy — October 13, 2022

Ukraine Economic Reconstruction Commission: Interim Report
Digital Report by Daniel F. Runde and Conor M. Savoy — October 13, 2022

Addressing Infrastructure Financing Gaps in Emerging Markets
Critical Questions by Erin L. Murphy and Conor M. Savoy — October 12, 2022

Supporting Water Programming in the Sahel
Report by Conor M. Savoy and Alexandra Norris — September 27, 2022

Importance of Managing and Securing Water Access for the Northern Triangle
Commentary by Conor M. Savoy and Elena I. Méndez Leal — September 27, 2022

The Role of Water in Catalyzing Gender Equity
Commentary by Conor M. Savoy and Janina Staguhn — September 6, 2022

Will the U.S.-Australia Alliance Sprout a Development Dimension?
Commentary by Bridi Rice and Conor M. Savoy — July 21, 2022

Balancing Oversight and Risk: Transparency for U.S. Foreign Assistance to Ukraine
Commentary by Conor M. Savoy and Janina Staguhn — July 5, 2022
