Salih Booker is senior program officer on the Global Governance team. He is responsible for launching the foundation’s efforts to reimagine global economic governance by supporting and convening key stakeholders—particularly across the Global South—that are instrumental in addressing inequality. Salih works to foster dialogues and strategic alliances among non-governmental organizations, governments, and international organizations around the world, with a specific focus on ending unsustainable debt, decolonizing aid, and increasing investments in global public goods. He has over 40 years of experience in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy, including leadership of several American and international research and advocacy organizations.

Before joining the foundation, Salih was president and CEO of the Center for International Policy, a progressive and independent nonprofit founded to reorient US foreign policy towards greater international cooperation as the primary vehicle for solving global challenges and promoting human rights. Prior to that, he worked at a range of organizations engaged in international cooperation, serving as vice president of external relations at the U.S. Institute of Peace; executive director of Africa Action; senior fellow and director of the Africa Studies Program at the Council on Foreign Relations; and legislative assistant at TransAfrica. He also was a staff member of the U.S. Congress’ Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Additionally, Salih has extensive global experience as a human rights advocate and organizer. He served as executive director of the Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, implementing programs in 10 countries to promote adequate housing and advocate on economic and social rights. Earlier, he was executive director of Global Rights, working globally to build the capacity of local partners to undertake human rights research, litigation, and advocacy work. He also served as an advisor to the executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa; associate director of Catholic Relief Services’ Southern Africa Regional Office; and a program officer for Ford’s Eastern and Southern Africa office. Salih was educated at Wesleyan University, the University of Ghana, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has traveled for work to nearly 50 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.