Groundswell International Welcomes Sarah Sahlaney As Its New Executive Director
Groundswell International is pleased to welcome Sarah Sahlaney as its new Executive Director, effective April 1, 2026. She succeeds Steve Brescia, who is stepping into a new role after 17 years of service as founder and Executive Director, and who will now transition to Director of Action-Learning. The appointment follows an in-depth search led by the organization’s Board of Directors and a search committee that included board members and representatives of staff and local NGO partners.
Sarah’s leadership background
Sarah Sahlaney has 15 years of experience working with smallholder farmers and their communities, especially women and youth, to build more agroecological and equitable farming and food systems that improve livelihoods and are more resilient to climate change. She has led mixed-methods research and agricultural development programs across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, while mobilizing and channeling funding, and building effective partnerships with grassroots organizations.
Sarah has previously worked for ACDI/VOCA, Tanager, Metropolitan Group, and private foundations supporting women’s empowerment in agriculture across Africa, South Asia and Latin America. She holds an M.S. in International Agricultural Development and an M.S. in Community and Regional Development, both from University of California, Davis, as well as a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
“I am thrilled and honored to join Groundswell International as Executive Director,” said Sarah. “I look forward to working with Groundswell International’s partners and allies, expanding our work globally, and continuing a legacy of measurable impact for farmers and their communities.”
The Board expressed its appreciation for Steve Brescia’s leadership since Groundswell International’s founding in 2009, noting the network’s growth to include 16 local NGO partners in 11 countries, with over 250,000 farmers applying agroecology and documented impact reaching more than two million people.
“After a thoughtful search to strategically expand our leadership team, we are delighted to welcome Sarah Sahlaney as Groundswell’s new Executive Director,” said Dave Conner, Chair of the Board of Directors at Groundswell International. “We are confident she is the right leader to guide our next chapter of growth and deepen our impact with smallholder farmers and partner organizations worldwide. Sarah brings a career-long commitment to advancing farmer-centered solutions and a deep passion for agroecology.”
Fatou Batta from Burkina Faso, a founding member of Groundswell International and current Board member, represented the network’s NGO partners in the search process. “We surveyed partners from 11 countries to ensure that their perspectives were taken into account during the recruitment process,” said Fatou. “As a result, we are thrilled that Sarah will bring her personal and professional capacities to help lead and carry forward the work we have been building together. We are assured that Sarah will elevate Groundswell International beyond our expectations, and make Groundswell shine as an organization working with smallholder farmers as the main decision makers of their projects.”
The transition is part of a planned leadership development and succession process initiated in early 2024, and designed to ensure organizational continuity, growth, and strategic momentum. Steve Brescia will support Sarah Sahlaney’s onboarding and orientation, while transitioning to the role of Director of Action-Learning to work more deeply with staff, partner NGOs and allies to better document and leverage effective program strategies and results to contribute to systems change.
Groundswell International remains focused on advancing its mission of strengthening communities to build healthy farming and food systems from the ground up. We are guided by our 2023-2027 Strategic Framework, and we will develop our next five-year strategic framework to launch in 2028. Current strategic priorities include:
- Centering and strengthening the capacity of farmers’ organizations in the co-creation and spread of knowledge and practices to scale agroecology.
- Strengthening local markets and food systems that improve livelihoods.
- Building resilience to climate change.
- Strengthening the agency of women and youth.
- Improving nutrition and health.
- Contributing to agroecological transitions and systems change.
As Groundswell International enters this new chapter, we remain grateful to the farmers, partners, and supporters who have made this work possible. To stay connected and follow what comes next, visit groundswellinternational.org or subscribe to our newsletter.