Stephen Groff

Experience

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  U. S. Peace Corps

  Sept 1987 - Dec 1989

  Marine Fisheries Extension Agent

  Seconded to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and worked with municipal, provincial and regional governments to plan, implement, and evaluate fisheries policies, programs and projects in Luzon, Philippines. Trained subsistence fishermen in artificial coral reef construction and marine conservation. Coordinated regional and provincial governments in the rehabilitation of municipal fishing grounds. Assisted other regional governments in evaluating fisheries policy, programs, and projects. Show less

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  U. S. Refugee Program

  Dec 1989 - Jun 1994

  Program Director

  Program Director and Philippine Country Representative for the Joint Voluntary Agency, which (under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. State Department) processed 200,000 Indochinese refugees and immigrants from camps in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam for the U.S. Refugee Program. Specific responsibilities and accomplishments: prepared and managed annual program budget of $2 million; supervised sixty-five program staff; assisted Geneva-based headquarters in the development, management, and evaluation of related projects throughout Southeast Asia as well as in Russia and Croatia; and developed and implemented a retrenchment policy, agency reorganization, and reallocation of responsibilities that culminated in final program closure in 1994. Show less

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  Harvard University

  Aug 1995 - Jun 1996

  Research and Teaching Assistant

  Wide range of responsibilities, including: assisting in the development of an analytical framework for the economic and financial evaluation of “joint implementation” projects in developing countries, forecasting and analyzing economic outcomes for a range of policy modifications, econometric analysis of data collected from HIID studies, writing and reviewing journal articles and policy papers, and curriculum development for annual workshop on environmental economics and policy analysis. This work was undertaken concurrently with graduate studies. Show less

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  USAID

  Jun 1996 - Nov 1997

  Chief Economist/Deputy Chief of Party

  Chief Economist and Deputy Chief of Party for a $40 million program designed to accelerate private sector development and equitable growth in the southern Philippines. Responsibilities encompassed both analysis and program management, including: monitoring and analysis of economic indicators; developing multivariate regression and forecast models; preparing investment feasibility studies; producing economic sector analyses; coordinating the development of an agriculture-based geographic information system; and supervising program staff, performance evaluations, and budget preparation. Show less

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  Asian Development Bank

  Nov 1997 - Jun 2004

  Provided analysis and guidance to senior ADB management on the full range of policy, operational, and administrative issues within OG2, covering ADB operations in twenty-eight countries in East Asia, Central Asia, and the Pacific with an annual lending program of $2 billion and a total portfolio of $15 billion. Played a significant role in the policy formulation process with particular focus on translating policy objectives into regional and country-specific strategies and programs. Kept abreast of key ADB strategy and policy issues as well as country-specific developments and provided senior management with concise analysis, considered judgments, and practical recommendations. Evaluated and improved the consistency of regional and country-level operational programs with ADB policies and strategies. Reviewed and analyzed operational documents and prepared briefing papers and decision memos. Represented the Vice President as and when requested. Show less Led large multidisciplinary teams in the design and implementation of complex investment projects totaling more than $800 million in seven East and Central Asian countries. Analyzed the economic and financial viability of proposed investments in the process of identifying and quantifying development impact. Led negotiation and dialogue with governments and civil society as well as the private sector. Supervised the implementation of investment projects and the work of staff and consultant teams on technical assistance and loan projects. Spearheaded economic and sector work assessing policies affecting development and identified measures to improve efficiency and productivity. Also led an ADB team that developed Costab 32, a project costing software application. In 2000, received a Performance Recognition Award citing broad contributions to the institution. Show less

  • Senior Advisor

    Apr 2001 - Jun 2004

  • Senior Project Economist

    Nov 1997 - Apr 2001
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  Millennium Challenge Corporation

  Jun 2004 - Sept 2007

  Senior-most non-political staff and member of the senior executive management team with direct responsibility for MCC’s engagement with twenty-six developing countries around the world. Managed all aspects of program development and due diligence as well as oversaw program negotiation and implementation across multiple countries. Led a diverse staff of one hundred and fifty highly qualified professionals, playing a central role in ensuring quality, technical excellence and impact in MCC operations. Responsible for establishing strategic and operational priorities and streamlined processes for an investment pipeline and portfolio of over $7 billion. Directly advised the CEO and Board on strategy and policy and represented MCC in high-level global fora and with the international press. Spearheaded efforts to improve relations with Congress and worked closely with congressional staff on appropriations and authorizations. Managed MCC’s relationships with all qualified countries, multilateral financial institutions as well as with key government, private sector and civil society partners. Show less Among the first staff recruited to help build and manage a new government corporation that provides development assistance to low income countries that rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom. Responsible for operations in Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific, including: developing a pipeline of investments and technical assistance operations amounting to $1.5 billion; supervising due diligence activities and ensuring quality standards; implementing and monitoring ongoing operations; and leading a staff of highly qualified professionals. Provided CEO and Board with guidance on the formulation and implementation of the full range of strategies, policies, and processes. Represented MCC in a range of international fora and contributed to managing relationships with a broad array of key stakeholders, including the U.S. Congress, international and multilateral organizations, civil society, etc. Show less

  • Deputy Vice President for Operations

    Jan 2006 - Sept 2007

  • Managing Director - Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific

    Jun 2004 - Dec 2005
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  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

  Oct 2007 - Sept 2011

  Deputy Director - Development Co-operation Directorate

  Led strategic policy analysis on a wide range of development-related economic and political issues, resource mobilization and a staff of one hundred and twenty. Played a central role in the monitoring and evaluation of aid efforts of all major donors and managed the development and execution of a multimillion-euro work program. Served as OECD’s envoy to the G20 Working Group on Development, the G8 Accountability Working Group and the UN Secretary General’s High Level Task Force on Food Security. Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council and served as the first director of the “Partnership for Democratic Governance” – a multilateral initiative based at the OECD focused on fragile states. Show less

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  Asian Development Bank

  Oct 2011 - Feb 2019

  Vice-President for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific

  Responsible for the full range of ADB’s operations in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. Mandate includes establishing strategic and operational priorities; producing investment and technical assistance operations amounting to over $7 billion annually; managing an existing portfolio of $31 billion; and leading 650 staff. As ranking vice-president, also advise the Board of Directors, President and Management Committee on overall strategy and policy for ADB engagement across the region. Also serve as chair of negotiations for the replenishment of ADB’s concessional resource window. During tenure, responsible for a 14-point increase in project success ratings; a 30% increase in investment approvals; a 7-point increase in women staff; and a series of reforms across the organization with significant improvements in operational efficiency. In 2018, was identified by Richtopia as one of the top 100 leaders from multilateral organizations. Show less

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  National Development Fund صندوق التنمية الوطني

  Feb 2019 - now

  Governor

  Leading the creation of a US$130 billion national development finance institution that aims to be the main enabler of Vision 2030 social and economic objectives, as well as to enhance economic diversification and increase the sustainability of development financing. NDF aspires to grow the contribution of the private sector and to treble its developmental impact. By 2030, it will inject more than US$150 billion to boost GDP growth, triple the share of non-oil GDP to reach US$160 billion, and support significant employment growth in Saudi Arabia. Show less