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Scott Merrill
Senior Director at Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, Habitat for Humanity International
Scott Merrill is a senior leader in innovation and market-based development approaches, currently serving as the Senior Director of Regional Operations at the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a part of Habitat for Humanity International.1
Professional Experience
Scott has an extensive background in international development, having worked in over a dozen countries across South and Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Balkans.1 His career has focused on addressing various development challenges, including:
- Economic and private sector development
- Housing
- Agriculture and food security
- Health
- Disaster risk reduction
- Humanitarian response
Current Role
In his current position, which he assumed in October 2023, Scott is responsible for:
- Designing and implementing strategies to scale Habitat's impact
- Developing regional approaches to influence housing systems
- Making housing markets more inclusive worldwide1
Previous Positions
Prior to his current role, Scott held several other positions within the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter:
- Senior Director (August 2019 - October 2023)
- Global Director, Market Systems and Entrepreneurship (March 2017 - August 2019)
In these roles, he led programs applying market-based approaches to create more inclusive housing markets, benefiting millions of people annually.1
Earlier Career
Before joining Habitat for Humanity, Scott worked in various capacities:
- Senior Technical Advisor at CARE (2015-2017)
- Senior Associate at Action for Enterprise (2009-2010)
- Senior Consultant / Program Manager at JOBS Trust (2007-2009)
- Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh (2002-2004)1
Education
Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).1
Through his work, Scott Merrill has demonstrated a commitment to applying innovative approaches to address global housing challenges and promote inclusive development.
