William Merrow

William Merrow's picture
Title: 
Special Assistant to the President & CEO
Phone: 
202-552-6577
Department: 
Executive Office

Will joined InterAction in 2011 as Special Assistant to the President & CEO, and supports InterAction’s executive office in writing, research, and special projects. He joined InterAction after receiving his BA in International Relations from Tufts University, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While at Tufts, Will helped carry out agricultural development work in Guatemala and conducted field research in Bolivia. His prior work experience includes internships at think tank and advocacy organizations and on the Hill.

Zoellick, Panel of Experts Debate the Changing Role of Multilateral Institutions

The final session of the 2012 InterAction Forum started with a conversation with World Bank president Robert Zoellick, who discussed recent shifts at the Bank and how the institution must change to remain relevant going forward. Reflecting on his legacy, he highlighted the Bank’s recent focus on civil society as a critical actor in the development process, suggesting that the Bank should see itself as one part of a larger ecosystem of development actors.

Grynspan and Panel Debate What Should Replace the MDGs

Rebeca Grynspan, Associate Administrator of UNDP, jumpstarted the discussion on the future of the MDGs by reaffirming their impact and emphasizing the need to meet commitments by 2015.  She argued that the MDGs are right to place human development at the center of debate, but that thinking in terms of “success” or “failure” is too narrow a view of progress. She expressed hope that the new goals would be formed through a more transparent and participatory process, and called for an evolution of the current goals, not a substitution.