DARA Examines Top Donors’ Humanitarian Response

By: Staff Person
March 12, 2012

The urgency demanded by humanitarian disasters often overwhelms a long-term vision, but aid effectiveness and foresight remain key considerations in the provision of aid. DARA, an international organization dedicated to improving aid quality in crisis situations, found in a recent report that the humanitarian sector has made limited progress in implementing reforms and good donor … Continue reading DARA Examines Top Donors’ Humanitarian Response

Shah Says Elevating Development is a Challenge, Not a Reward

By: Staff Person
March 8, 2012

Yesterday, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah delivered a major speech before the Council on Foreign Relations on how the administration is elevating development and transforming foreign assistance. Shah framed the speech by saying the decision by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to elevate development was not a “show of gratitude…It was a challenge.” To accept the challenge, and embrace the new world order, Shah said USAID changed its approach in three key ways: focusing on delivering value for money by making critical tradeoffs and shutting down missions and programs; prioritizing innovation through the Grand Challenges for Development; and instituting a new model for partnership that relies more heavily on “local entrepreneurs, civil society organizations and partner country governments.”

Secretary Clinton Defends FY’13 Budget Request to Congress

By: Staff Person
March 1, 2012

This week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made two appearances on Capitol Hill, testifying before four committees, on the administration’s FY 2013 budget request for the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Clinton appeared before the Senate State/Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House State/Foreign Operations … Continue reading Secretary Clinton Defends FY’13 Budget Request to Congress

The end of poverty: Is America in it to win it?

By: Staff Person
February 27, 2012

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Secretary makes the ritual annual trip to Capitol Hill, to testify before keyCongressional Committees about next year’s foreign affairs budget request. The Secretary has long been a champion of robust, effective global development programs. But with the economy still weak, and the deficit still big, the Secretary is going to need to make her strongest possible case if she is going to be able to avoid cuts to US diplomatic and development efforts.

USAID’s Town Hall on the QDDR

By: Staff Person
February 24, 2012

Last week, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a town hall discussion for employees on implementation of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) and other key initiatives, including Feed the Future. USAID Administrator Raj Shah provided opening remarks before introducing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who spoke at-length about progress on reform.

Mark Your Calendars – Week of February 27, 2012

By: Staff Person
February 23, 2012

Every Thursday, MFAN will post a list of upcoming events for the following week. For more information about each event and to RSVP, click on the links below. If your organization is hosting an event next week and you don’t see yourself on the list, please email info@modernizeaid.net.

WWF Reacts to USAID’s New Climate Change and Development Strategy

By: Staff Person
February 17, 2012

See below for a guest post from MFAN Partners at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Vanessa Dick, Senior Program Officer, Government Relations; Jonathan Cook, Deputy Director, Climate Change Program; and John O. Niles, Director, Tropical Forest Group. The authors respond to USAID’s recent release of a Climate Change and Development Strategy, which “provides a strategic framework for USAID to address the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change and outlines the Agency’s goals, strategic objectives, and guiding principles for climate change programming.”