Chicago Council on Global Affairs hosts day-long symposium on global hunger & food security

By: Staff Person
May 27, 2010

On May 20, 2010, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs hosted a day-long symposium on Agriculture and Food Security. Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, delivered the keynote address and shared the U.S. Government’s implementation strategy for its global hunger and food security initiative, now called “Feed the Future.” Feed the Future demonstrates adherence to key foreign assistance reform principles in accelerating progress toward the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty and hunger by 2015.

MFAN Principal Jim Kunder on Development and National Security

By: Staff Person
May 27, 2010

When evaluating the national security of the Atlantic nations, a strong defense clearly counts; an active diplomacy counts; and, equally clearly, reducing poverty, enhancing democratic participation, and providing hope for the future – which go by the name “international development” – also counts. London’s newly created National Security Council reflects all foreign policy elements of national security. It’s time for similar clarity in Washington.

USAID Launches IMPACTblog

By: Staff Person
May 13, 2010

“We want to let people know about the work we do…our successes, our failures, and how we learn always to do better. I hope this will be a place where you can get to know the thousands of development entrepreneurs who make up USAID’s talented staff, the work of our partners, and the beneficiaries of America’s support around the world.”

MFAN Partner CGD Responds to PSD Draft

By: Staff Person
May 10, 2010

“In practical terms, elevating development, as Secretary Clinton has pledged to do, means providing the USAID administrator autonomy over policy, program and budget decision-making sufficient to get the biggest bang for our development bucks. Of course this is not an entitlement for the agency. As with other agencies, we should set the bar high for USAID and expect to see — and measure — strong performance and results, with programs and resources scaled up or down accordingly.”

Michelle Obama Applauds USAID Employees at Town Hall

By: Staff Person
May 7, 2010

First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama appeared at this week’s U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) town hall meeting to recognize and give thanks to agency employees and the work they do on behalf of millions around the world.

MFAN Statement: Raj Shah Vision Speech at USGLC

By: Staff Person
May 7, 2010

MFAN congratulates U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah for his visionary speech yesterday to supporters of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. In the speech, Administrator Shah strongly endorsed elevating development as a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy and empowering it as a distinct discipline that requires unique resources and authority.

MFAN Statement: Shah Speech Touches on Important Elements of Reform

By: Staff Person
May 6, 2010

In the speech, Administrator Shah strongly endorsed elevating development as a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy and empowering it as a distinct discipline that requires unique resources and authority. Citing the fact that global hunger and extreme poverty have increased in recent years, Administrator Shah issued a call for reform of his Agency and America’s development apparatus overall, in order to drive more tangible results for recipients, implementers, and taxpayers.

MFAN Statement: Leaked White House Development Document Has Strong Reform Elements

By: Staff Person
May 4, 2010

Yesterday, ForeignPolicy.com’s Josh Rogin published an unreleased draft version of the National Security Council’s Presidential Study Directive on Global Development Policy (PSD-7), which is a landmark review of the strategy and structure behind U.S. development and foreign assistance efforts.