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Stamford, Conn. – July 13, 2023 – Americares, the health-focused relief and development organization, has welcomed Provash Budden as deputy senior vice president of emergency programs. In his new role, Budden oversees Americares readiness, response and recovery programs in the U.S. and around the world.
Budden is tasked with deploying emergency response teams including medical teams, coordinating large-scale deliveries of medicines and relief supplies and overseeing recovery programs that restore health services for disaster survivors. His team of emergency response experts support primary health care services as well as mental health and psychosocial support in the aftermath of hurricanes, wildfires, disease outbreaks, civil conflict and complex crises.
Americares responds to more than 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters.
“We are thrilled to have Provash join our organization in such a vital position to lead our emergency response and readiness work,” said Americares Senior Vice President of Programs and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Julie Varughese. “He brings broad and valuable experience from his 25 years in the international development field working throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.”
Budden comes to Americares with more than two decades of experience in design, implementation and management of sustainable development programs, including programming for survivors of natural disasters and complex humanitarian crises.
Most recently Budden was consulting on projects assisting survivors of the recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. Prior to that he spent nearly 14 years with Mercy Corps where he served as country director in both Sudan and Colombia and as regional director for the Americas based in Bogotá. He also spent 10 years with Catholic Relief Services working in the Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq and Sri Lanka.
“I am honored to take on this position with Americares and look forward to supporting the organization’s readiness, response and recovery programs across the globe,” Budden said. “I am inspired by Americares commitment to localize humanitarian assistance and build community resilience into our emergency programs.”
Over the years, Budden has been on the frontlines of dozens of emergencies, including the Haiti earthquake in 2021, Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Central America in 2020, Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas in 2019, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017 and the continued humanitarian crises for Venezuelans and Central American migrants.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and Spanish from Whittier College in California and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.
Budden, who is married with two sons, recently returned to his hometown of Portland, Oregon. He is fluent in English and Spanish.