MFAN Releases Key Benchmarks for Global Development Policy Reform

By: Staff Person
June 16, 2011

As the first anniversary of the Administration’s new development policy approaches, and the State Department and USAID push forward with the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), MFAN has developed the following benchmarks as a tool for assessing the Administration’s progress toward implementing its policy proposals. The benchmarks are based on Administration policy documents and commitments and informed by MFAN implementation recommendations.

MFAN Introduces Legislative Standards for Global Development

By: Staff Person
June 16, 2011

MFAN has created a set of eight standards to serve as a guide for policymakers as they consider new legislation related to global development. Though MFAN continues to believe that an overhaul of the 1961 Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) is the most effective way to address today’s challenges, applying the following reform standards to develop ment-related legislation will help support progress on key reforms.

CCEFA Profile: Rep. Keith Ellison

By: Staff Person
June 16, 2011

To continue our profiles of new Congressman who have recently joined the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA), we take a look at Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison. This democrat rounds out the bipartisan caucus with an extensive record in support of foreign assistance and related programs. See below for a list of Rep. Ellison’s most notable actions and be sure to check back for more profiles.

CCEFA Profile: Co-Chairs Ander Crenshaw and Adam Smith

By: Staff Person
June 10, 2011

To kick off our Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) profiles, we revisit the founding Co-Chairs—Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) and Adam Smith (D-WA). Together, they led the Caucus’ launch event on the Hill last month that also included a panel of leading voices in development policy and practice. See below for more about the Co-Chairs and stay tuned next week as we begin to profile recent Members who have joined CCEFA.

Update: Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance

By: Staff Person
June 9, 2011

A few weeks ago, Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) and Adam Smith (D-WA) launched the Congressional Caucus for Effective Foreign Assistance (CCEFA) with a packed event on Capitol Hill. In the days since, the Caucus has put out an overview document laying out its purpose and topics for the roundtable and briefing event series. In the overview, the Caucus outlines five areas of focus, including: Strategic Importance of Effective Foreign Assistance; Importance of Foreign Assistance Reform; What Currently Works in Development; Aid Model for the 21st Century; and Best and Worst Practices in Foreign Aid.

PWYF Launches Campaign to Make Aid Transparent

By: Staff Person
June 8, 2011

MFAN Partner Publish What You Fund today launches a new campaign driving donors to make aid more transparent. See below for more information about the campaign and a video that highlights the importance of transparency in making sure foreign assistance is accountable, effective, and responsive to recipient country needs.

Tweet Stream: CSIS Launches U.S. Leadership in Development Project

By: Staff Person
June 7, 2011

Last week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) launched a new project on U.S. Leadership in Development, in partnership with Chevron. The launch event featured former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor General Jim Jones, and former USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore to discuss the important role development plays in U.S. national security. See MFAN’s live tweet stream (@modernizeaid) of the event below in reverse chronological order and see a video from the event below:

MFAN Partner ONE Interviews Amb. Marantis

By: Staff Person
June 7, 2011

ONE recently sat down with Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, to discuss the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and, more broadly, how trade can positively impact development.

MFAN & Management Sciences for Health on Performance-Based Financing

By: Staff Person
June 2, 2011

On Wednesday morning, MFAN co-hosted an event with Partner Management Sciences for Health (MSH) examining the impacts and implementation of performance-based financing (PBF) for global health services. A panel of experts, moderated by MSH performance-based finance Advisor Kathy Kantengwa, discussed the thinking behind PBF and shared some success stories. More efficient HIV/AIDS programming in Rwanda … Continue reading MFAN & Management Sciences for Health on Performance-Based Financing