USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Indian-American Sonali Korde assumed her role as assistant to USAID Administrator Samantha Power for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance following her swearing-in ceremony. During the ceremony, Power lauded Korde, describing her as a valuable asset and a testament to her upbringing instilled by her Indian-immigrant parents in Cranford, New Jersey. Korde’s parents, who frequently returned to India, exposed her to the contrasting realities of the country, such as its vivid dynamism and persistent poverty. These experiences nurtured Korde’s strong sense of justice and commitment to addressing inequality and injustice.
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Power stated, “I view Sonali, and I think this packed house speaks to this for so many here, but Sonali is really a gift to us all. And because we get to see a lot of her, in time, and a lot of her many qualities, which I will dwell on”. Power added, “They took frequent trips back to India where Sonali saw a tale of two countries, such incredible dynamism and burgeoning intellect, culture but also such extreme poverty that persists in many parts of the country — even with all of the success lifting so many hundreds of millions of people out of poverty — but seeing people with and people without, I think for Sonali just contributed to what her parents had instilled in her, which is a strong sense of justice and a desire to address inequity and unfairness”.
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Prior to her current position, Korde served as deputy assistant to the administrator for the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, where she played a pivotal role in leading US efforts to address humanitarian crises, including the situation in Gaza, as deputy to the US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues. Earlier in her career, Korde held a position on the National Security Council staff as director for Global Health and Development, overseeing the US government’s global health initiatives and their integration into broader diplomatic and cooperation goals.
From 2005 to 2013, Korde served as a senior technical advisor for the President’s Malaria Initiative within USAID’s Bureau for Global Health, where she managed malaria and public health programs across Africa and Asia in collaboration with various partners. Korde’s academic background includes an MA in international relations from Yale University and a BS in economics from New York University. Her diverse experience and educational qualifications position her as a capable leader in addressing global humanitarian challenges.
