Becca Wadness is a 2018 graduate of the CMES AM Program in Middle Eastern Studies. She currently works as Senior Tunisia Desk Officer in the Bureau for the Middle East at USAID.
What is the mission of the USAID Bureau for the Middle East, in general and specifically with regard to Tunisia?
USAID supports the development goals of countries across the Middle East and North Africa. In the region, we work on a variety of issues that tackle inclusive economic growth, good governance, climate change and water scarcity, food security, conflict mitigation, and so on. In Tunisia, USAID supports Tunisian civil society and small businesses, helping strengthen democratic resilience and mitigate the severe impact of rising unemployment, inflation, and commodity shortages.
What are your goals and responsibilities as Senior Tunisia Desk Officer?
As a Desk Officer, I serve as a key liaison between our team in Tunis and Washington, DC. I help advance US Government policy conversations on Tunisia through a development lens and represent USAID’s efforts in Tunisia in front of high-level stakeholders like Congress, the National Security Council, and foreign government counterparts. I track and synthesize political and economic developments on the ground, address operational challenges, and advocate for our continued support to the Tunisian people. I also work closely with our incredible team based in Tunis. I travel often to provide them additional support and deepen my familiarity with the communities in which we work. Working side by side with my Tunisian colleagues is the best part of my job.
Where did you work before coming to USAID? What did you do at these institutions, and how did these experiences prepare you for your current position?
I first joined the federal government through the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, which I applied to in the final year of my AM. Prior to PMF, my career focused on managing international education and civil society programs across the Middle East and North Africa. My experience working for NGOs has been instrumental in my ability to represent USAID’s work in Tunisia. While at CMES, I also interned at the US Embassy in Algiers, which increased my knowledge and interest in the relationship between diplomacy, development, and foreign policy.
How did you decide to come to Harvard and CMES rather than a Middle East studies program elsewhere, or some other kind of graduate program entirely?
I loved the flexibility that CMES offered to chart my own course. I took advantage of courses across the university, including GSAS, the Kennedy School, the Law School, the School of Education, and the Divinity School. I was able to build a program that excited me, while learning alongside really passionate peers who had completely different interests. I often think about how special our small cohort was and our success in fostering a really supportive environment. Did you come to Harvard with a career path in mind? Did your time at CMES help clarify a career path for you? My goal for higher education was to cement my credentials in the region and to explore as much as possible what that could mean for the future. I’m grateful to CMES for introducing me to Tunisia. I first traveled there in 2017 on the Winter Study Excursion with Professor Granara, and still visit Sihem Lamine, the heart and soul of the CMES Tunisia Office, every time I’m in Tunis.
What advice would you give to CMES students interested in working for the US government, at USAID or another agency?
I think the government would greatly benefit from attracting more students who are passionate and well educated about the Middle East and North Africa. I have the pleasure of working with a CMES alum, Cybill Sigler, who serves as one of my senior leaders in the Middle East Bureau at USAID. For those interested in a career in public service, the federal government offers a surprising amount of unique opportunities. From my experience, I have found that it’s often really challenging to uncover the extent of opportunities until you have a foot in the door or are connected with the right people. My advice is to talk to as many folks as possible and apply for any and everything that sounds interesting. It’s much easier to move between agencies and roles once you’re “in.” Additionally, there are so many different ways to build your expertise. I’m grateful to have spent time both in and outside of government to diversify my perspective.