Laird Treiber is a senior associate (non-resident) with the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Prior to this position, he was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in the State Department. He worked most recently as the State Department’s senior liaison for Prosper Africa, the U.S. government’s program to promote trade and investment between the United States and Africa. Laird previously served as the economic minister-counselor at the U.S. embassies in South Africa, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, as well as earlier tours in Poland, Mexico, and Washington. From 2018-19, the State Department detailed Laird as the senior adviser to the president of the Corporate Council on Africa, where he helped hold two major international events bringing U.S. and African companies together with senior government leaders. Laird has worked extensively on issues related to energy, environment and climate change, finance, trade, intellectual property rights, and aviation. Over the course of his career, Laird has developed broad experience counseling U.S. and foreign companies on how to evaluate economic and political risk. Laird is proficient in Turkish, Spanish, and remembers some of his Polish. Laird received a B.S. from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, an M.I.A. from Columbia, and a master’s in security studies from National Defense University.

Programs & Projects

All Laird Treiber Content

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What Africa Experts Are Watching in 2023

To preview some of the top stories in 2023, the CSIS Africa Program presents its annual list of key countries and issues to watch this year.

Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Catherine Nzuki, William Mark Bellamy, Mimi Alemayehou, Maria E. Burnett, Emilia Columbo, Ryan Cummings, Cameron Hudson, and Laird Treiber — March 8, 2023

What to Watch in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022

The CSIS Africa Program previews some of the top stories and trends in the region for 2022.

Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, William Mark Bellamy, Hannah Ryder , Laird Treiber, Emilia Columbo, Will Brown, Rafiq Raji, Ryan Cummings, Maria E. Burnett, and Marielle Harris — January 20, 2022

Creating an Effective Net-Zero Partnership with Africa

U.S. climate envoys are warning African states to forego gas and oil development ahead of COP 26. Laird Treiber outlines limitations of this strategy and recommends a multi-pronged approach including methane capture and green minerals alongside natural gas development.

Commentary by Laird Treiber — October 19, 2021

It’s Time for a New Economic Partnership with Africa

The United States has an opportunity to establish a new economic partnership with Africa. Laird Treiber urges Washington to thread the needle between existing unilateral trade preferences and evolving bilateral and continental free trade agreements.

Commentary by Laird Treiber — July 1, 2021

Build Back Better: Next Steps for Africa’s Response to Covid-19

What will the response to Covid-19 look like in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021? Senior Associate Laird Treiber discusses challenges with the vaccine rollout and opportunities for cooperation between regional governments and external partners.

Commentary by Laird Treiber — February 12, 2021

What to Watch in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2021

From escalating conflicts in Ethiopia and Mozambique to a China-Africa relationship characterized by vaccine distribution and debt forgiveness, the CSIS Africa Program previews some of the top stories to watch in sub-Saharan Africa in 2021.

Commentary by Yemi Adamolekun, Lina Benabdallah, and Will Brown, Maria E. Burnett, Emilia Columbo, Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Hilary Matfess, Rafiq Raji, Jon Temin, Laird Treiber, Judd Devermont, Marielle Harris, Kyle Murphy — January 12, 2021

Into Africa

Work in the Age of Covid-19

How will the Covid-19 pandemic affect the future of business, trade, and investment in sub-Saharan Africa?

Podcast Episode by Judd Devermont and Laird Treiber — May 28, 2020

CSIS Into Africa