As Mission Director for USAID/Southern Africa, John Groarke is responsible for all USAID programming in Southern Africa, including bilateral programs in South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and eSwatini, as well as regional programming. USAID’s programs promote trade and investment, combat gender-based violence, increase basic literacy, improve access to energy, combat wildlife crime, and confront the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

As the USAID/Pakistan Mission Director from 2015 to 2017, Mr. Groarke led a $2.5 billion program promoting Pakistan’s development and the reconstruction of its conflict-affected border with Afghanistan. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Groarke served as Mission Director for USAID/Haiti, leading a $2.2 billion program supporting Haiti’s recovery from a devastating earthquake. As Mission Director for USAID/Morocco between 2009 and 2013, Mr. Groarke led a program supporting the Government of Morocco's political and economic reforms during a time of regional transition. In 2010, Mr. Groarke was detailed to Afghanistan to lead USAID’s efforts to implement the U.S. Government’s new counter-insurgency strategy. He previously served as Deputy Mission Director for USAID/Egypt (2006-2009) and for USAID/Iraq (2005-2006). He served as Senior Regional Legal Advisor for Egypt and Iraq (2002-2005) where, in 2003, Mr. Groarke helped open the Agency’s Baghdad mission in the aftermath of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and as a Regional Legal Advisor for various countries while based in Dakar, Senegal (1999-2002) and Dhaka, Bangladesh (1996-1999).

The son of immigrants and a first-generation college student, Mr. Groarke was born and raised in New York City and graduated from one its public high schools. He thereafter obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from New York University, a Master’s Degree from The London School of Economics, and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Groarke is a member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Career Minister.