Dr. Mesbah Motamed

Dr. Motamed has worked on issues of agriculture and economic development, both in research and applied settings, over the past 15 years. Currently at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), he helps develop and design high-return public investments geared towards stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty in developing countries.

Prior to MCC, he worked at the USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) where he researched and published on issues of agricultural policy, risk management, land use and trade. While at ERS, his work appeared in a variety of outlets, including leading peer-reviewed journals, formal government reports and public-facing outreach. Dr. Motamed’s research and development experience spans across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Separately, he serves on the board of directors for Culpepper Garden, an Arlington, Virginia-based non-profit organization dedicated to affordable housing for seniors.

Dr. Motamed received a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University and a B.A. in Humanities from the University of Texas at Austin. He speaks Spanish and Persian, and with a little patience, some Arabic.