Former Gates Official Named to Lead U.S. Agency for International Development

Rajiv J. Shah, a former official with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who currently works at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been nominated to head the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The nomination comes as a relief to some aid groups, which have assailed the Obama administration for leaving the post vacant for nearly a year.

Mr. Shah could face a relatively smooth vetting process, as he has already been confirmed once this year by the Senate for his current job as under secretary for research, education, and economics.

Before joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mr. Shah served as director of agricultural development with the Gates Foundation. Previously, he was the foundation’s director of strategic opportunities and deputy director of policy and finance for global health. In these roles, he helped create an immunization program that raised more than $5-billion to immunize children around the world.

As head of agricultural efforts for Gates, Mr. Shah has focused on helping small farmers in developing nations increase how much food they produce and increase their ability to sell their crops in world markets.

Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America, called Mr. Shah “well positioned to lead this crucial U.S. agency.”

“We look forward to working with Shah and USAID to reinvigorate and restore the agency’s capacity to lead development efforts around the world,” Mr. Offenheiser said in a press release.