PSA: Don’t Cut Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face


See below for a public service announcement from the Association of Noseless Americans: Policymakers Would Cut off Their Noses to Spite Their Faces by Gutting USAID’s Operating Budget. Share this video with your friends and help us spread the word! Noseless Americans: Don't Gut USAID's Operating Budget!by: sjhdc

Back to the Future


See below for a guest post from MFAN Partner Gregory Adams, Director of Oxfam America’s Aid Effectiveness Team, on Congressman Berman’s efforts to update the Foreign Assistance Act. This post originally appeared on The Hill’s Congress blog. For most Americans, time travel is the stuff of science fiction. But the men and women who deliver … Continue reading Back to the Future

MFAN EVENT: PPD One Year Later Town Hall Discussion


Please join the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) for a town hall event marking the first anniversary of the PPD on Global Development. Our panel of experts from the Administration will discuss the progress being made toward achieving its full implementation as well as challenges that have been encountered.

Budget cuts threaten lives abroad and the economy at home


See below for a guest post from Christopher J. Elias, President and CEO of MFAN Partner PATH on the severity of House of Representatives-proposed cuts to the 150 account, particularly looking at the impact such cuts would have on global health programs worldwide.

A Crisis with a Female Face


See below for a guest post by Sinead Murray from MFAN partner International Rescue Committee on gender-based violence in the Horn of Africa crisis. The post originally appeared on ONE’s blog. Dadaab, Kenya — On the outskirts of Hagadera, a refugee camp near the town of Dadaab, Somali women and their families are gathered, desperately seeking … Continue reading A Crisis with a Female Face

CCEFA Profile: Rep. James Moran


In his eleven terms in Congress, Rep. Moran has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the developing world through his legislative endeavors. A proponent of comprehensive foreign assistance, he was a cosponsor both on the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009 and the Global Poverty Act of 2007.

MFAN Partner Mercy Corps Testifies before U.S. Senate about Horn of Africa Crisis


See below for a guest post from Jeremy Konyndyk, Director of Policy and Advocacy at MFAN Partner Mercy Corps, on his recent testimony regarding the crisis in the Horn of Africa. The original post is available here. Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ African Affairs … Continue reading MFAN Partner Mercy Corps Testifies before U.S. Senate about Horn of Africa Crisis

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Tammy Baldwin


To this point, Rep. Baldwin has been quoted in saying, “America’s reason for maintaining her superpower status must be to export the best of our democratic system of governance and the hope of the American Dream to the rest of the world.”

Following Through on Reforms


At this time of high budget deficits and higher political stakes, the U.S. needs to be more efficient than ever with its development dollars. This means the administration must tackle the hard parts of PPD implementation, like working with Congress on legislation that makes USAID’s reforms permanent. It means Congress needs to stop deluding itself that cuts to development assistance, just half of one percent of the federal budget, will balance the budget.

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Jim McDermott


See below for our latest Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) profile of the Congressman from Washington, Jim McDermott. We’ve already profiled the Co-Chairs Ander Crenshaw and Adam Smith, as well as Representatives Keith Ellison, Denny Rehberg, Laura Richardson, Dennis Ross, Aaron Schock, Lynn Woolsey, and Hank Johnson. Stay tuned for more!