Kate Almquist Knopf

Background

About Kate Almquist Knopf

Mission driven leader with a demonstrated history of strengthening organizations to catalyze impact toward international peace, security, and development objectives. Passionate about evidence-informed and strategic approaches to address complex challenges so that all may thrive. As the director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Kate led the organization to deepen its impact by setting and executing a new strategic direction focused on strengthening the effectiveness and accountability of African security sector institutions through its research, academic programs, and high-level engagements. In senior leadership positions at the U.S. Agency for International Development, Kate brought strategic approaches to integrate U.S. humanitarian and development assistance programs to achieve greater effect than the sum of their parts, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, while aligning operational resources to better support policy and program priorities. Throughout her career Kate has brought a passion for justice and equity for all, especially the marginalized, to her work. This is one reason for her persistent focus on finding an enduring end to violence for the people of South Sudan and Sudan. As an independent consultant, Kate advises international, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations on organizational strategy and programmatic design, U.S. foreign assistance, conflict mediation and management, security sector reform, and African affairs.