Kate McMahon

About Kate McMahon

Strategic leader with 18+ years of experience advancing food security, resilience, and climate-smart solutions across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding contexts. I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, policy savvy, and coalition-building skill—driving impact from community programs to global policy arenas.With a proven track record in business development, program design, data analysis, and policy advocacy, I specialize in shaping cross-sector strategies rooted in evidence, equity, and systems thinking. I’ve led high-performing teams, built strategic alliances, and secured major funding from public and philanthropic donors alike. Whether navigating crisis analysis and response or shaping long-term resilience agendas, I break down silos to amplify voices, connect priorities with evidence, and mobilize resources where they matter most.Driven by curiosity and purpose, I’m passionate about reimagining food systems, advancing locally led solutions, and bridging the gap between research and action to ensure resources reach the communities most affected by hunger and climate shocks.

Experience

1. Senior Food Security Analyst

   Famine Early Warning Systems Network Fews Net

   Sep 2025 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Joined FEWS NET after the closure of USAID to lead IPC-aligned food security analysis and scenario development to inform early warning and decision support across Ethiopia, Lebanon, Myanmar, and the Horn of Africa. Collaborate with regional teams to translate multisector data into forward-looking food security projections.

Education

• The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University

  Master of Science

• Khon Kaen University

  Study Abroad with the Council on International Educational Exchange

• Hampshire College

  Bachelors of Arts

• Tufts University - The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

  Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy