Mattito Watson
Collaborative on Global Children's Issues
Mattito Watson is a senior fellow at the Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, where he is working on understanding the impacts of funding cuts to international development and humanitarian response, and in particular, on child protection and violence against children.
- Has over 30 years of professional experience working with children, education, public health, child safeguarding, and child protection.
- Acted as the former global senior technical advisor with the Children in Adversity team at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), supporting child protection.
- Served as USAID lead for both the Protecting Children and Youth from Digital Harm and the Child Safeguarding Strengthening workstreams and oversaw the virtual symposiums on addressing digital harm for children.
- Worked primarily in Africa for over 25 years, where he managed projects, provided technical support, and procured new business for children’s programs in both development and emergency settings, including working with former child combatants, displaced and vulnerable children, and their families.
- Holds a double master’s degree in African studies and public health from the University of Illinois.