John Riley is a senior international development executive and recognised expert in climate resilience, food security, and rural economic development, with more than three decades of leadership experience designing, directing, and advising high-value development programmes across Africa. He has led complex, multi-country initiatives funded by the European Union, USAID, DFID/FCDO, and other major development partners, serving in Team Leader, Chief of Party, Country Director, and Programme Director roles.
With an M.Sc. in International Agricultural Development from the University of California, Davis, John has established a distinguished career at the intersection of climate adaptation, agricultural transformation, natural resource management, and institutional strengthening. His expertise encompasses climate-smart agriculture, watershed management, resilience programming, agricultural value chain development, food systems, and sustainable livelihoods, supported by an exceptional record of integrating climate adaptation into national policies, sector programmes, and local development planning.
Over the course of his career, John has provided strategic leadership to multidisciplinary teams and managed complex programmes valued at more than US$50 million in some of Africa’s most challenging operating environments, including Ethiopia, Mali, Uganda, Ghana, Cape Verde, Benin, Guinea, and Chad. He is widely recognised for his ability to build trusted partnerships with governments, donor agencies, research institutions, the private sector, and civil society, translating policy into practical, scalable solutions that strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods.
His work has directly influenced climate-smart planning within Ethiopia’s flagship Productive Safety Net Programme, supported national climate adaptation frameworks in Mali, and advanced market systems, cooperative development, and food security initiatives benefiting hundreds of thousands of rural households. Combining strategic vision with pragmatic implementation, John is regarded as a trusted adviser and accomplished leader whose technical expertise, diplomatic skills, and commitment to locally led development have consistently delivered sustainable results at scale.