Robert McKenney
Robert McKenney is a senior international development professional with over 25 years of experience designing and leading U.S. foreign assistance programs across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with deep expertise in Central America and migration policy.
He began his career in 1995 in San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua, working under the local mayor to implement community-led development initiatives. Since then, Robert has held senior roles in USAID Missions and U.S. Embassies worldwide, including in Guatemala, El Salvador, and other regions, where he has directed complex, multimillion-dollar portfolios focused on democratic governance, citizen security, migration, reintegration, human rights, and economic growth.
Most recently, as Director of the USAID Migration Office in Guatemala, Robert led the creation of the U.S. government’s flagship $70 million initiative to expand legal pathways, support the reintegration of deportees, and reduce repeat irregular migration. He has collaborated extensively with national and municipal governments, the private sector, and civil society—particularly in the construction, agriculture, and hospitality sectors—to mobilize jobs, build reintegration systems, and reduce the drivers of migration.
Robert has managed over $1 billion in development programming across his career and has successfully briefed senior U.S. policymakers, including the White House, on migration trends and regional political developments. He is known for introducing data-driven policy tools, such as returnee outcome tracking dashboards and migration analytics units, now used across Central America to shape reintegration strategies.
He holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, with a focus on urban policy, economics, and security, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Drexel University, with a concentration in environmental engineering and water resources. His multidisciplinary background enables him to operate effectively at the intersection of policy, infrastructure, and development, translating strategy into impact across varied geopolitical and institutional environments.