Senator Rubio: Done Right, Foreign Aid Spreads our Influence “in a Positive Way”

By: Staff Person
July 6, 2011

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) made a compelling case for effective foreign assistance while addressing constituent questions last week. The Senator responded to a letter from Will, a 14-year-old in Palm Bay, which made a few familiar arguments regarding foreign aid spending and our debt. Sen. Rubio dispelled some of the myths, explaining that foreign aid … Continue reading Senator Rubio: Done Right, Foreign Aid Spreads our Influence “in a Positive Way”

MFAN Blog Series: Moving from Policy to Practice

By: Staff Person
July 5, 2011

This week, MFAN is launching a six-part blog series about our new reform agenda, From Policy to Practice. Each month, we will be focusing on a different pillar of our agenda, such as strengthening the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) or ensuring that our assistance is driven by local priorities, with the goal of moving the conversation from policy to practice. The posts in each series will draw from the vast experience and knowledge of MFAN’s Principals to articulate just how to take reform principles and put them in to practice, offering practical actions while addressing implications of such action (or inaction).

UPDATE: CCEFA New Members

By: Staff Person
July 5, 2011

After the jump, see a list of current Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) Members.

Brookings releases Catalyzing Development: A New Vision for Aid

By: Staff Person
June 30, 2011

On Tuesday, Brookings launched their recent publication, Catalyzing Development: A New Vision for Aid. The event featured engaging speakers and a panel of experts who assessed aid as a driver of global progress.  As participants examined the changing landscape of foreign assistance, many of their recommendations for increased effectiveness aligned with MFAN’s priorities. Inclusive partnerships … Continue reading Brookings releases Catalyzing Development: A New Vision for Aid

CGD: President Sirleaf’s Ambition for Liberia: Aid-Free in a Decade

By: Staff Person
June 29, 2011

A recent post on the Center for Global Development’s blog offers a recap of last week’s event with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Todd Moss, CGD’s vice president for corporate affairs, discusses the President’s speech and her laudable goals for Liberia. The full post is available here. CGD had the honor and privilege of hosting … Continue reading CGD: President Sirleaf’s Ambition for Liberia: Aid-Free in a Decade

CGD: New GAO Report on U.S. Food Aid and Monetization: Reforms Needed

By: Staff Person
June 28, 2011

Connie Veillette, MFAN principal and Director of CGD’s Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance initiative, reviewed the GAO’s report on international food assistance in a recent blog post. She finds, as MFAN did, significant opportunities for improvement and cost savings in food aid monetization reform. Read the full post and others on CGD’s blog. The Government Accountability … Continue reading CGD: New GAO Report on U.S. Food Aid and Monetization: Reforms Needed

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Laura Richardson

By: Staff Person
June 27, 2011

See below for our latest Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) profile of the Congresswoman from California, Laura Richardson. To read about other CCEFA Members we’ve profiled, click here.

New GAO Report Finds Food Aid Monetization is Inefficient

By: Staff Person
June 27, 2011

Since the Food Security Act of 1985, Congress has authorized the sale of U.S. food aid commodities in developing countries to fund development, referred to as monetization. Following interviews with agency officials, data analysis, and fieldwork, the GAO reported that the U.S. lost nearly $219 million of the $722 million expended on this program over three years due to inefficiency of the monetization process.

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Denny Rehberg

By: Staff Person
June 20, 2011

As the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) continues to gain new members, we bring you our latest profile of Montana’s Congressman at large, Denny Rehberg.