During the interview, Deputy Secretary Nides pushes back on recent criticisms to foreign aid spending by noting how these programs are both cost-effective and central to our national security: “For every dollar you spend on assistance, it saves you five dollars for boots on the ground.” See the full interview below.
November 30, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by Co-Chairs David Beckmann, George Ingram and Jim Kolbe: MFAN commends Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Obama Administration for announcing at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea that the United States … Continue reading MFAN Statement: Sec. Clinton Speech in Busan Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Aid Effectiveness
50 years after President John F. Kennedy established the U.S. Agency for International Development, the agency has made remarkable strides in the fight against global poverty. Celebrate USAID’s progress with this powerful video, and explore their work at 50.usaid.gov.
Today, on the 50th anniversary of the creation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), we celebrate the work done by thousands of committed and selfless public servants – both U.S. citizens and foreign service nationals – in helping to alleviate poverty, fight diseases, and create economic opportunity for struggling people in the world’s poorest countries. These efforts, which have resulted in tens of millions of lives saved or improved, have been as important to our security and prosperity over the last five decades as any defense or diplomatic program.
As the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction – the Super Committee – works toward delivering its final recommendations next month, we urge members to avoid making drastic and disproportionate cuts that would cripple U.S. foreign assistance programs and undercut reforms that are making these programs more effective and accountable than ever before.
In a new op-ed for Roll Call, House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX-2) and former Rep. Jim Kolbe argue that modernizing the U.S. foreign assistance system will helps us confront challenges abroad while making the most effective use of every dollar spent.
MFAN applauds Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) for introducing the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2012 (HR.3159), which calls for more coherent and consistent monitoring and evaluation of U.S. foreign assistance programs. The proposed legislation has attracted a strong list of co-sponsors from both parties, signaling broad support for U.S. development programs that are critical levers of U.S. influence in an increasingly complex global environment.
To become a member, participating countries must make an Open Government Declaration; deliver a country action plan; and report on progress. Country plans were released as the OGP was launched. The US and the UK made important commitments to aid transparency, including to publish information in line with a common standard.
“We are delighted that President Bush is weighing in to protect funding and promote continued reform in U.S. foreign assistance,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “This week’s bipartisan cooperation on global health is a welcome break from the gridlock that has characterized efforts to reduce our national debt.”
On Monday, September 19th the Kojo Nnamdi Show will feature MFAN Co-Chair Jim Kolbe, former Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Paul O’Brien, Vice President of Policy and Campaigns at Oxfam America to discuss the future of foreign aid and the trajectory of reform, continuing a conversation that began two years ago.
