Brookings announces Caren Grown as new director of Center for Sustainable Development

Washington, D.C.—The Brookings Institution today announced Caren Grown as the new director of its Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), effective February 1.  A Brookings senior fellow since 2022, Caren will succeed the Center’s inaugural director, John McArthur, who has accepted an appointment in the government of Canada.  

Since its inception in 2020, CSD has generated cutting-edge research and empowered collaborative action to help tackle the world’s interwoven economic, social, and environmental challenges in all societies and at all scales. Housed within Brookings Global Economy and Development program and rooted in a focus on the needs of people being left behind, CSD harnesses a unique blend of outlooks to inform decisionmakers across international institutions, North American policy arenas, and platforms that connect perspectives across geographies, sectors, and scales. Its scholarly work focuses on issues ranging from financing global sustainable development, understanding U.S. foreign assistance, to reimagining America’s rural polices and leveraging new technologies for collective problem-solving.  

“Our world is in a profound moment of shifting and unpredictable geopolitical and socioeconomic dynamics,” said Caren Grown. “I believe that CSD and its scholars have a key role to play during these times, contributing forward-looking research and actionable policy insights for key stakeholders, including governments, nonprofits, multilateral organizations, academia, and others. My goal is to support the Center’s work to advance innovative forms of finance, reduce inequality and address climate change, and, ultimately, help promote sustainable development for all.”  

“Caren brings exceptional qualifications to this role. An internationally recognized expert on gender and development, she has decades of experience conducting policy-relevant research, publishing influential scholarship, and shaping global debates on inclusive growth, sustainability, and poverty reduction,” said Brahima S. Coulibaly, vice president and director of the Global Economy and Development program. “We are deeply grateful to John for his visionary leadership of the Center’s early years and for the lasting impact of his work. Caren brings the strategic vision, intellectual leadership, and managerial expertise that will serve CSD well in its next chapter tackling the challenges of sustainable development.”   

CSD will continue to advance its mission of providing cutting-edge scholarly research, embracing collaborative ethos in knowledge creation, and convening diverse groups of leaders and innovators from around the world. 

“At Brookings, we are deeply committed to advancing research and policy strategies that promote peace and security worldwide, particularly in an increasingly interdependent world,” said Brookings President Cecilia Rouse. “The Center for Sustainable Development continues to play an important role in identifying key global challenges and shaping solutions that support sustainable growth, economic opportunity, and long-term prosperity for all.”  

About the Global Economy and Development program 

Founded in 2006, the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution aims to play its part to ensure that the future of globalization is one of inclusive growth and shared prosperity. With an interdisciplinary team of experts and led by Vice President and Director Brahima S. Coulibaly, Global provides thought leadership, cutting-edge research, and innovative policy solutions to achieve a more equitable global economic system for sustainable prosperity, drawing on the core strengths of Brookings authoritativeness, independence, depth of practical expertise, and unparalleled convening power.  

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