Eric Lief, M.P.A.

Center Affiliate

Eric Lief is a senior expert in public and global development finance, with an extensive background in international assistance policies and programs. He has served in a variety of U.S. Government, U.N. and think-tank capacities, including work as a member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, and as a Senior Advisor with the U.N. Joint Program on HIV/AIDS in Geneva. He has co-authored numerous publications on aspects of global health assistance financing.

Lief earlier served in a succession of U.S. Congressional staff capacities, including with the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees. As a Foreign Service Officer, he served abroad in Southeast Asia and South America, and in Washington D.C., during which time he led financing work for the Secretary’s Indonesia Assistance Task Force, developing a three-year $900 million interagency assistance package supporting a transition to democracy, as well as earlier formulation of the USG’s $600 million financing plan for Bosnia reconstruction. Prior to his entry into U.S. diplomatic service, he served as a Scientific Attaché with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). 

Lief is a graduate of the University of Miami (B.A.), and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (M.P.A.). He speaks French and Spanish.