Nancy Lowenthal
Washington,DC
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience at USAID, excelling in budget management and strategic planning. Proven track record in overseeing multi-million dollar health programs, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and driving impactful policy development. Adept at team leadership, fostering staff development, and ensuring program evaluation to achieve significant health outcomes across diverse global initiatives.
Overview
42
42
years of professional experience
Work History
Office Director Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN)
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
09.2022 - 07.2025
- As the Director of the MCHN Office, I led 90 staff and managed two accounts: MCH and Nutrition.
- MCHN programed in over 43 countries with a fiscal year (FY) budget of $1.07 Billion in FY 2024 with $910 million (M) MCH ($519.9 M in field, $15 M in core, $290 M in Gavi [The Vaccine Alliance], and $85 M in polio) and $160 M in nutrition ($143.5 M in field and $16.5 M in core).
- MCHN Office had four divisions: Maternal and Newborn Health, Child Health and Immunization, Nutrition and Environmental Health, and Research and Policy, and three front office teams: Program, Communication, and Policy.
- I supervised six staff: two deputies (one Foreign Service [FS] and one Civil Service [CS]); three front office team leads (one CS and two Institutional Support Contractors [ISCs]), and one FS C3.
- I was supervised by the Bureau's Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) and advised the Assistant Administrator (AA) on technical, programmatic and policy matters related to maternal and child health (MCH), immunizations, environmental health (including water, sanitation and hygiene [WASH]), and nutrition.
- Centrally-funded MCH, environmental health and nutrition programs were implemented through a portfolio of projects.
- I liaised and collaborated with U.S. and international technical organizations and donor communities.
- I represented the Agency at professional and scientific development assistance forums and policy discussions.
- I appeared before Congressional and interagency committees on matters related to the Global Health Programs Account.
- I served as a liaison on MCH, environmental health, and nutrition to donor agencies including UNICEF, WHO, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Global Finance Facility (GFF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and other bilateral donors.
- I represented USAID on the multi-stakeholder Child Health Task Force Steering Committee.
Country Representative
USAID
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
01.2019 - 08.2022
- As the Director of USAID operations in Côte d’Ivoire (CDI), I led 48 staff (6 US Direct Hires, 11 PSCs, 1 US Malaria CDC Advisor, and 30 Foreign Service Nationals) and managed an FY budget of $90 million bilateral resources while I also provided oversight and support for a range of regional and centrally-funded activities.
- I led operations across six offices: Program; Acquisition and Assistance; Executive; Health; Democracy, Human Rights and Governance; and Economic Growth and Power Africa.
- CDI was a focus country for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), Trade Africa, and Power Africa initiatives.
- The democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) portfolio was the top foreign policy goal of U.S Embassy Abidjan's Integrated Country Strategy, which increased the inclusion of citizens and promoted electoral reforms.
- Governance programs addressed post-conflict grievances, increased transparency and accountability of government service delivery.
- I focused USAID/CDI's health sector work on reducing the burden of infectious diseases, primarily HIV/AIDS and malaria, while also preventing, detecting and responding to potential pandemics before they become public health emergencies.
- The economic growth portfolio promoted access to electricity and increased regional trade, emphasized women's inclusion in small and medium enterprises, and programmed biodiversity, water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Program Officer
USAID
Islamabad, Pakistan
09.2017 - 09.2018
- As a Program Officer in the Office of Program Management (OPM), I led the Program Support Unit (PSU), supervising four national staff: Mission Environmental Mitigation Officer, two Gender Specialists, and a Participant Training Specialist.
- OPM coordinated USAID’s management, strategic direction and reporting of 96 awards with a FY 2017 $222 million budget and $1.2 billion portfolio and represented USAID’s interests to the Government of Pakistan (GOP) and U.S.-Pakistan bilateral assistance agreement.
- OPM/PSU ensured USAID programs met regulatory requirements and policy directives, and provided technical training programs for thousands of Pakistanis.
- I served as the Alternate Contracting Officer’s Representative for the Mission-wide $38 million participant training activity.
- I co-led the Mission’s donor coordination and coordinated the Sindh Development Forum 10-year development plan with the Sindh Governor’s office.
Health Office Director
USAID
Abuja, Nigeria
08.2013 - 07.2017
- As the Director of the Health Office, I led 19 staff (2 USDH, 13 FSNs, 3 PSCs, and 1 CDC PMI Advisor) and managed FY budget of $160 million for malaria ($75 million), maternal and child health ($41 M), polio ($7 M), family planning ($34.5 M), and nutrition ($2.5 M).
- This budget includes significant programming for routine immunization, obstetric fistula repair and prevention, and humanitarian assistance due to protracted conflict in northeast Nigeria.
- Nigeria had the Agency’s largest non-HIV health budget.
- I led the development of seven state-based MOUs holding state governments and USAID mutually accountable for health outcomes.
- I served as a member of the Mission Senior Management Team, and I led the Health Office’s strategic planning, external relationships, program management, design, and procurement.
- I co-chaired the Health Development Partners Group and represented this group to the Minister of Health (represent over $1 billion of annual health assistance to Nigeria).
- I represented USAID at external health meetings and functions and regularly met with representatives from the Government of Nigeria, other donors, the UN agencies, and international and Nigerian non-governmental organizations.
Health Office Director/USG Global Health Initiative Field Deputy
USAID
Bamako, Mali
08.2011 - 07.2013
- As the Director of the Health Office, I led 13 staff (one USDH, eight FSNs, three PSCs, and one Global Health Fellow) and I managed FY 11 budget $58 million and planned FY 12 $64.5 million program covering: malaria, maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS and neglected tropical disease.
- I reported to the Mission Director.
- Mali was a Global Health Initiative rapid scale-up country.
- I was part of the Mission Senior Management Team and I led the Health Office’s strategic planning, external relationships, team management, program management, design, and procurement activities.
- I represented USAID at external health meetings and functions and I regularly met with representatives of the Government of Mali, other donors, the UN agencies, and international and Malian non-governmental organizations.
- I managed the post March 2012 coup actions ranging from all health programs being suspended to over 80% of the programs being suspended and current planning/implementation of programs for the country’s complex emergencies.
HIV Team Leader/Supervisory Health Officer for HIV/AIDS
USAID
Maputo, Mozambique
12.2008 - 06.2011
- As the HIV Lead, I led 24 staff (2 USDH, 12 PSCs, and 10 FSNs) and I managed USAID’s $125 million FY 2009 PEPFAR program and $145 million FY 2010 PEPFAR program encompassing national level programming for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support, and health system strengthening.
- I managed the daily operations of the HIV Team, I supervised 1 USDH, 3 US PSCs and 1 FSN.
- I managed the overall procurement, budget, and personnel actions for the HIV Team.
- I represented USAID at the donor HIV/AIDS Partners Forum, and coordinated with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women and Social Action and the National AIDS Council.
Foreign Service Officer, Senior Technical Advisor
USAID
05.2003 - 09.2008
- As the Senior Technical Advisor, I served in OHA, Implementation Support Division.
- I was the Contract’s Officer Representative for two OHA flagship projects: AIDSMark Project, a $215 million global HIV/AIDS prevention project (operated in 39 countries) and IMPACT Project, a $441 million global HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment project (operated in 77 countries);
- I served on advisory teams for PACT/Community Reach; International HIV/AIDS Alliance; Health Communication Partnership (HCP) and Private Sector Partners (PSP).
- I was on the core team for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to Cote d’Ivoire, Rwanda and Senegal.
- I served as the USAID most at-risk populations technical work group co-chair.
- I worked as the OHA advisor on the procurement of C-CHANGE the agency-wide behavior change communication project.
Health and Communication Research Specialist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
, Benin
01.2002 - 04.2002
- As a researcher, I developed a health education training manual to train clinicians in patient counseling and behavior change to promote distribution and uptake of insecticide treated nets through the public health clinics.
- I trained health workers in patient counseling; I researched key health education messages and I developed health education messages for various communication channels.
Epidemiologist
Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH)
New Orleans, USA
09.1997 - 08.2001
- As an epidemiologist in the Division of Health Services, Epidemiology, Assessment and Evaluation Program (EAE), I developed, coordinated, analyzed data and prepared reporting for the Louisiana’s Title V MCH block grant and needs assessment;
- I trained regional health staff to collect and analyze epidemiological data.
HIV Prevention Coordinator
Louisiana Office of Public Health and Louisiana State University Medical Center HIV Program Office
New Orleans, USA
04.1996 - 01.1997
- As the New Orleans Prevention Advisor, I coordinated HIV and STD prevention services and community programs for Orleans Parish (25% of Louisiana’s population and 50% of all AIDS and STD cases).
- I coordinated regional community and service provider HIV/STD prevention working group to develop a comprehensive prevention plan.
- Plan was used in allocation of approximately $3 million in funds to prevention funds; Provided technical assistance to 12 community-based organizations.
Health and Communication Research Specialist
Population Services International (PSI)
Washington, USA
02.1995 - 02.1996
Child Survival Coordinator
USAID
Niamey, Niger
02.1991 - 10.1994
Health and Child Survival Fellow
Johns Hopkins University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
06.1990 - 03.1990
Guinea Worm Eradication Program Coordinator
UNICEF
Togo
08.1985 - 03.1987
Volunteer
Peace Corps
Togo
06.1983 - 07.1985
Education
Ph.D. - Public Health/Social Epidemiology
Tulane University
M.P.H. - Public Health/Health Behavior and Health Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A. - Economics
State University of New York at Buffalo
Skills
- Budget management
- Program evaluation
- Policy development
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Resource allocation
- Team leadership
- Performance monitoring
- Staff development
- Operations management
- Human resources management
Awards
- USAID Meritorious Honor Awards
- 2022
- 2019
- 2015
- 2013
- 2005
- Tulane University, MCH Epidemiology, Doctoral Research Grant, 2000
- CDC Research Fellowship through the Association of Schools of Public Health, 1989
- CDC Intern, Association of Schools of Public Health and CDC, 1989
- UNC-Chapel Hill Research Assistant, 1988
References
Available upon request.
Training
Contracts/Agreement Officer (C/AOR), GLAAS, Programming Foreign Assistance (PFA), Program Design (PDM), 2019 USAID Country Representative (CR)/Deputy Mission Director (DMD)/Mission Director (MD), Foreign Service Institute (FSI); 2019 Adaptive Leadership Program, Federal Executive Institute (FEI): 2024 Advanced Leadership (FEI)
Languages
- English, native
- French, fluent
- Portuguese, basic
Selected Documents
- Preventing Child and Maternal Deaths – Annual Reports to Congress 2022, 2023, 2024
- The Impact of the Source of Prenatal Care on Birth Outcomes in Low Income Women: A Retrospective Study of Live Births in Louisiana, 1997-1998 (2001) Ph.D. Dissertation, Tulane University Graduate School, New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Louisiana Title V Needs Assessment: American Public Health Association Annual Conference. Boston November 2000. Presentation. N. Lowenthal, J. Wightkin, and K. Simonian.
- Louisiana Statewide Capacity for Primary Health Care: APHA Annual Conference. Boston November 2000. Poster Session. N. Lowenthal and E. Baumgartner.
- E. Eng, G. Naimoli, J. Naimoli, K.A. Parker & N. Lowenthal. "The Acceptability of Childhood Immunizations to Mothers: A Socio-Behavioral Perspective." Health Education Quarterly, Spring 1991
- Health Seeking Behavior and Health Status: A Framework for Understanding Maternal Illness, Women's Roles and Impact on Child Health. (1989) M.P.H. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. N. Lowenthal.
Timeline
Office Director Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN)
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
09.2022 - 07.2025
Country Representative
USAID
01.2019 - 08.2022
Program Officer
USAID
09.2017 - 09.2018
Health Office Director
USAID
08.2013 - 07.2017
Health Office Director/USG Global Health Initiative Field Deputy
USAID
08.2011 - 07.2013
HIV Team Leader/Supervisory Health Officer for HIV/AIDS
USAID
12.2008 - 06.2011
Foreign Service Officer, Senior Technical Advisor
USAID
05.2003 - 09.2008
Health and Communication Research Specialist
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
01.2002 - 04.2002
Epidemiologist
Louisiana Office of Public Health (OPH)
09.1997 - 08.2001
HIV Prevention Coordinator
Louisiana Office of Public Health and Louisiana State University Medical Center HIV Program Office
04.1996 - 01.1997
Health and Communication Research Specialist
Population Services International (PSI)
02.1995 - 02.1996
Child Survival Coordinator
USAID
02.1991 - 10.1994
Health and Child Survival Fellow
Johns Hopkins University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
06.1990 - 03.1990
Guinea Worm Eradication Program Coordinator
UNICEF
08.1985 - 03.1987
Volunteer
Peace Corps
06.1983 - 07.1985
Ph.D. - Public Health/Social Epidemiology
Tulane University
M.P.H. - Public Health/Health Behavior and Health Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A. - Economics
State University of New York at Buffalo
Similar Profiles
Ghangela JonesGhangela Jones
Agricultural Development Officer at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Agricultural Development Officer at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
JULIE WOODJULIE WOOD
Country Desk Officer at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Country Desk Officer at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Julia KarmirisJulia Karmiris
Executive Officer at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)Executive Officer at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Kayla NewmanKayla Newman
Pet Sitter at RoverPet Sitter at Rover
Shanta BethelShanta Bethel
Teacher at Kidzcare Unlimited CDC,Teacher at Kidzcare Unlimited CDC,