John Simon

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Project on Prosperity and Development
John Simon

John Simon is a founding partner at Total Impact Capital. Previously, Ambassador Simon was a visiting fellow at the Center for Global Development, where he coauthored More than Money, a report on impact investing as a development tool. Previously, he held a variety of posts in the U.S. government, including serving most recently as the ambassador to the African Union and the executive vice president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). At OPIC, Ambassador Simon championed the agency’s involvement in the social impact investment marketplace, spearheading efforts to finance housing in Africa, small and medium businesses in Liberia, and a largescale renewable power plant in Liberia. Ambassador Simon led the agency’s effort to develop a series of social development funds for Africa, which resulted in the creation of four private equity funds focused on achieving extraordinary social results as well as strong financial performance.

Ambassador Simon also served as special assistant to the president and was the first senior director for relief, stabilization, and development for the National Security Council (NSC). During his tenure at the NSC, Ambassador Simon oversaw the implementation of groundbreaking development initiatives, including the Millennium Challenge Account, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative, and the President’s Malaria Initiative. He was also responsible for the U.S. government response to international humanitarian disasters, such as the 2005 South Asia Earthquake. From 2002 to 2003, Ambassador Simon was deputy assistant administrator at the United States Agency for International Development, overseeing the agency’s development information and evaluation units. Ambassador Simon received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

All John Simon Content

Filter by

1 - 7 of 7 results

Financing Ukraine’s Critical Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

By addressing challenges, enabling access to finance, and fostering an enabling environment, DFIs and IFIs can contribute to the recovery, growth, and integration of Ukrainian SMEs into the European market to drive the country’s economic transformation and modernization. 

Report by John Simon, Janina Staguhn , and Sarosh Sultan — August 23, 2023

Creating a Consumer-Centric Digital Finance Ecosystem

Please join the Project on Prosperity and Development for a fireside chat, panel discussion, public Q&A, and networking lunch addressing how to design financial products with consumer protection in mind.

Event — June 27, 2023

Fiat Digital Currency, Information, and Power

Should markets alone shape the digital currency sector? Or is there a role for the state to provide a digital fiat alternative? A new CSIS commentary explores the relative challenges and opportunities in the digital currency world.

Commentary by John Simon and Onno Schellekens — August 24, 2021

Building the Future: Freedom, Prosperity, and Foreign Policy with Dan Runde

Enabling a Functional, Reliable, and Secure Digital ID

Dan's colleague and long-time friend John Simon guest hosts this week's episode to talk about how the developing world can develop and adopt a functional, reliable, and secure digital ID. 

Podcast Episode by John Simon — May 26, 2021

CSIS Building the Future

Financing Small Business Is Critical for a Strong Post-Covid Recovery

CSIS releases a new analysis highlighting how the impact investment and development finance community can effectively mobilize capital and address the economic challenges faced by African and U.S. small-businesses can be addressed in an inclusive and resilient way.

Brief by John Simon, Agnes Dasewicz, and Sundar R. Ramanujam — September 24, 2020