Issa Bitang A Tiati is the Senior Social Development Specialist based in Yaounde, Cameroon, leading the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) team's work on community and local development, social cohesion, and resilience. He oversees the implementation of community and local development programs of over $ 470 million in International Development Association financing for Cameroon. Issa also leads SSI’s dialogue with the Government and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). This includes involving the CSOs in advocacy, policy dialogue, consultations, information-sharing, operational collaboration, and partnerships.
Before joining the World Bank, Issa worked as an Humanitarian Advisor with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Yaoundé. In this role, he oversaw a humanitarian portfolio of over $50 million annually, which focused on supporting projects to address the lifesaving needs of conflict-affected populations and programs to build community resilience. Issa spent more than a decade working with USAID and non-governmental organizations, implementing humanitarian and development programs in several conflicts and disaster-hit countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Issa holds a master's degree in Economic and Political Development from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, and another in International Public Management from Sciences Po, Paris.