“Foreign aid is far from wasteful spending: Dollars spent abroad help maintain America’s economic and political leadership, as well as support our vital national-security interests. These programs have amplified benefits for global stability through contributions to poverty alleviation, health and disease prevention, and infrastructure-building worldwide.”
“During these difficult fiscal times, it’s obviously imperative International Affairs programs, like every other part of our government, are accountable, transparent and results-driven. The good news is that diplomacy and development leaders have been taking concrete steps in that direction for the last several years. These reforms must move forward, but if we fail to invest, they could stop short, wedding us to the old flawed ways of doing business.”
Today’s post is the fifth and final post in a Feed the Future/Reform blog series that MFAN has been coordinating with key members of the community. Click here to read what leaders from the German Marshall Fund of the United States have to say about Feed the Future as it relates to aid and trade.
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and MCC CEO Daniel Yohannes appeared in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today for a hearing entitled “International Development Policy Priorities in the FY 2012 Budget.” Video from the hearing can be found here and MFAN’s full live tweet stream of the hearing is below in reverse chronological order: … Continue reading Tweet Stream: Shah, Yohannes Budget Hearing at SFRC
On Friday, MFAN Principals Noam Unger and John Norris released a policy brief exploring the structure of a U.S. Global Development Council, which President Obama called for in the presidential policy directive on global development released in September 2010. When released, the directive stated that this council would be “comprised of leading members of the philanthropic sector, private sector, academia, and civil society, to provide high-level input relevant to the work of United States Government agencies.”
While much of the aid that the United States sends abroad directly addresses health, food and security needs, a similarly important portion of U.S. assistance benefits the environmental conservation work in developing countries. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Biodiversity Program, Sustainable Landscapes, and Adaptation Program all seek to protect the natural environment in places that, for mostly economic reasons, are under threat.
See below for an op-ed from two former GOP Congressmen—MFAN Co-Chair Jim Kolbe and Connie Morella as they argue against cuts to foreign assistance programs in The Daily Caller. The Daily Caller Why Congress shouldn’t slash foreign aid Jim Kolbe & Connie Morella April 6, 2011 With a Congressional budget showdown all but inevitable, U.S. … Continue reading Why Congress shouldn’t slash foreign aid
In 2009, the Global Health Initiative (GHI) was launched. The GHI redoubles US efforts to strengthen health systems, so countries can ultimately care for their own. GHI makes all this progress on HIV, TB, malaria, polio, and other infectious diseases sustainable by strengthening local health systems, and training health workers to manage routine care and prevention. The US is shifting from emergency mode to working with governments and civil society to determine the long-term health needs of their country.
Click here to read a guest blog post by Col. Greg Hermsmeyer, USAF (ret.) on the important role of the U.S. Institute of Peace. He says, “I have worked on the defense and civilian sides of international affairs and know from firsthand experience that USIP is not just another “think tank.” The Institute and its cadre of dedicated peace-builders provide a critical bridge between the military—where I served for 21 years—and the non-military sectors and is a vital national security resource.”
The letter then runs through three sections that make the case for reform and explain how USAID fits into the broad range of U.S. development efforts. The first section, “The Modern Development Enterprise”, begins with Shah writing about his experience in Haiti. He notes, “Crises often bring clarity—a sense of urgency that leaves no room for hesitation or red tape…As USAID staff launched the largest humanitarian relief and search-and-rescue efforts in history, the speed, skill and dedication they showed was awe-inspiring. They responded quickly, overcame bureaucratic hurdles, worked inclusively with a broad range of partners and made smart, calculated choices to get better outcomes.”
