Ford Foundation Appoints Anthony Bebbington as Director of Natural Resources and Climate Change
NEW YORK — The Ford Foundation today announced Anthony Bebbington as International Director of its Natural Resources and Climate Change program based in New York. In this role, he will lead the team that oversees Ford’s global work supporting rural, low-income, indigenous, traditional, and Afrodescendant communities in the Global South who play a key role in mitigating climate change, work toward better governance over natural resources in their territories, and fight for their land rights. Bebbington began his position in January 2021 at the start of the new year, succeeding former International Director Penny Davies.
Bebbington joined the foundation from Clark University where he taught as the Milton P. and Alice C. Higgins Professor of Environment and Society. Concurrent to his position at Clark, he served on the board of directors at Oxfam America and chaired the Programs Committee. An internationally recognized leader and scholar on extractive industries and natural resource governance, Bebbington brings more than 35 years of experience working with indigenous and rural communities, civil society, the private sector, and policymakers. His work has analyzed how extractive industries have transformed rural territories and how social conflicts have driven changes in environmental governance.
“We are thrilled to welcome Anthony to the foundation. He has been an extraordinary partner, helping to inform our work on natural resources and climate change over the years,” said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. “Inequality and climate change are inextricably linked. The same economic forces that worsen climate change also deepen inequality for low-income, indigenous, traditional, and Afrodescendant communities worldwide. It's time for all of us to support these communities who are fighting for their rights and to see the connections between how we treat people and how we treat the planet. I look forward to Anthony’s leadership in deepening our work on this front...