Building a Better, Safer World Starting on Capitol Hill

By: Staff Person
February 10, 2011

Our message to the members of Congress was simple. Even in tough economic times, a strong and effective International Affairs Budget is worth every dime. Investing in democracy, development, and diplomacy serves our economic interests here at home as well and our national security. As I accompanied Truman National Security Project veteran Lt. General Norm Seip (US Air Force, Retired) and his group to meetings with several new US Senators, the national security and economic arguments for continuing our development work abroad had the most resounding impact. One thing is clear: development is not charity — it is part and parcel of our national security and it has very real impacts on the global economy.

Bipartisan Leaders Highlight the Importance of U.S. Foreign Assistance

By: Staff Person
February 10, 2011

As the debate over foreign assistance has heated up in past weeks, bipartisan leaders have spoken out on its importance to our security, our economic prosperity, our global leadership, and the success of our foreign policy. See below for some of the best pieces from around the media and the web.

Wilson Center’s Sewell weighs in on QDDR

By: Staff Person
February 9, 2011

In a recent post on the Wilson Center’s “The New Security Beat” blog, senior scholar John Sewell offers his perspective on the State Department’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), which was released in December.

MFAN Partners Sign Letter Urging Congress to Support Global Health Budget

By: Staff Person
February 9, 2011

What do doctors, Republicans, and nonprofits that fight poverty and global disease all have in common? They all support the global health reforms happening right now. As Congress heads into budget deliberations, these folks are urging Congress to support the budget for global health. Check out this letter running in Politico this week.

MFAN Partner CGD Asks How Would You Reorganize Foreign Assistance?

By: Staff Person
February 2, 2011

In the State of Union speech last week, President Obama called for the reorganization of the federal government. MFAN Principal Connie Veillette, director of CGD’s Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance, responded by posting a blog in which she asked her readers to comment on how they would reorganize the government agencies that manage foreign assistance.

Sen. Graham Defends State, USAID

By: Staff Person
February 1, 2011

“If you don’t want to use military force any more than you have to, count me in. State Department, USAID, all of these programs, in their own way, help win this struggle against radical Islam. The unsung heroes of this war are the State Department officials, the [Department of Justice] officials, and the agricultural people who are going out there.”

Showing US leadership through innovation in foreign assistance

By: Staff Person
January 27, 2011

Sara Messer, policy manager for aid effectiveness, at MFAN Partner ONE, recently posted a blog about the reoccurring themes of innovation and competitiveness in President Obama’s State of the Union earlier this week. “At a time when government programs are on the chopping block and every dollar needs to be justified, it’s important that we support those programs that are making real reforms and changing lives for millions of people around the world.”

MFAN Partners Sign Letter on IATI Standards

By: Staff Person
January 27, 2011

“The emerging ‘common aid language’ needs to be shaped by U.S. information and reporting systems and respond to U.S. accountability concerns. The Administration’s focus on results and accountability requires comprehensive and timely information on all resources being invested in a country, sector or area. Without the ability to compare U.S. spending to that of other donors, it is not possible to allocate or coordinate resources effectively or meaningfully assess their impact.”