Steve Haykin

Stephen “Steve” Haykin is one of the most seasoned U.S. development executives working on the continent. He has shaped strategy and partnerships across Africa and built deep, senior-level relationships that accelerate deal flow and de-risk execution for investors.

Steve brings a rare combination of senior-level access and operational depth earned over three decades leading some of USAID’s largest and most complex portfolios. A retired Senior Foreign Service Officer (Minister Counselor), he served as Mission Director in five postings, including Kenya, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo (and the Central Africa Regional Program), Georgia, and Nigeria — where he oversaw one of the largest assistance programs in Sub-Saharan Africa and a robust suite of public-private partnerships. His teams have managed up to $1B per year and 160+ staff, delivering results across economic growth, energy, health, governance, stabilization, and humanitarian response.

Post-retirement, Steve remains on the ground where it matters — recently serving as Acting Country Representative in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin — which keeps his relationships active with ministers, central agencies, private sector leaders, and development partners across West, East, and Central Africa. In Nigeria, he coordinated life-saving operations in the northeast and shaped senior-level engagement with the Vice President and National Security Advisor; in Kenya, he led major PEPFAR and health investments; in the DRC, he oversaw integrated prevention and care programs; and in Georgia, he directed the largest share of the U.S. Government’s $1B post-conflict pledge – experience that translates directly to de-risked execution for private capital.

What Steve opens for Anchorage Africa is access and certainty: a continent-wide network built over 30+ years with governments, multilaterals, and operators; a pragmatic understanding of policy, procurement, and regulatory pathways; and a track record of structuring partnerships that move quickly from concept to contract. Fluent in French and a long-time mentor to senior leaders, he is a force multiplier for origination and execution across Anglophone and Francophone markets.