Professional Experience:
Summary of Kenneth Barden’s International Development Experience
Professional Background
Kenneth Barden is an attorney and governance specialist with over 30 years of professional experience spanning legal practice, compliance, and international development projects.
Key Roles and Advisory Positions
- Senior Anticorruption and Good Governance Advisor, Governance and Rule of Law Team, USAID
- USAID representative on interagency committees with the Departments of Treasury, State, and Commerce
- U.S. delegate at multiple UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of State Parties
Compliance, AML/CFT, and Risk Management
- Developed anti–money laundering and counter–financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations for several countries
- Established Financial Intelligence Units in Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Palau, and Palestine
- Led compliance and integrity due diligence at the Green Climate Fund in South Korea
Project Consultancy and Development Advisory
- Independent consultant on USAID-, MCC-, World Bank-, UN-, and ADB-funded programs
- Legal advisor to the UNDP International Law Resource Unit reviewing Vietnam’s foreign investment laws
- Advisor on a World Bank project to reform East Timor’s business regulatory environment
- Extensive experience in corporate governance, public finance, administrative reform, and infrastructure contracts¦
Geographic Scope of Engagement
Kenneth’s work has covered Eastern Europe, Central and Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa, addressing integrity, accountability, and governance challenges across diverse political and cultural contexts.
Additional Insights
Beyond his project roles, Kenneth Barden’s writings and webinars on financial integrity and compliance shape best practices in governance worldwide. His blend of legal acumen and on-the-ground advisory has influenced how donor agencies build resilient institutions, especially in climate finance and anti-corruption initiatives.
If you’re exploring governance frameworks or aiming to strengthen compliance in development programs, Kenneth’s methodologies around risk assessments and interagency collaboration offer valuable templates.