Celebrating International Women’s Day

By: Staff Person
March 2, 2011

Tuesday, March 8 marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, but MFAN Partner Women Thrive Worldwide is drawing attention to the importance of women’s empowerment a few days early. Tomorrow morning they will have their 3rd annual International Women’s Day breakfast as the community takes stock of the progress made in agricultural development and food security and explores important questions for charting a path forward for gender equality.

House Appropriator Warns Against Cuts in Foreign Assistance

By: Staff Person
February 16, 2011

In today’s The Hill, Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a longtime member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense and State and Foreign Operations, argues that reducing U.S. foreign assistance will make America less safe.

Shah’s Speech at NIH: Delivering Dramatic, Sustainable Global Health Gains

By: Staff Person
February 15, 2011

Before US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah uttered the first word of his National Institutes of Health (NIH) Barmes Lecture today, NIH Director Francis Collins called attention to the symbolism of the moment: He said it marked the first time that a sitting USAID leader had spoken at NIH. But Shah had more than symbolism in mind.

USAID IMPACT Blog: Forming a Strong Partnership with Brazil

By: Staff Person
February 11, 2011

For the United States, the more donors with whom we can collaborate to address the some of the world’s most intractable problems, the more we advance our national interests and provide paths out of poverty. In Brazil, we have a partner who shares our commitment to advancing global development; and who has come up with effective and innovative approaches to tackling some of the very same challenges facing developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa.

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.

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 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.

Update on the Budget

By: Staff Person
February 1, 2011

State’s spokesman P.J. Crowley told POLITICO, “If we have to take a significant cut in foreign assistance, in some fashion, that is going to affect Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Those are countries where we have vital interests and vital security concerns.”

MFAN Statement: RSC Budget Proposal Would Derail Progress on Foreign Assistance Reform

By: Staff Person
January 26, 2011

We strongly oppose last week’s Republican Study Committee budget proposal, which would cut all operating expenses at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The cuts would derail the comprehensive reform agenda underway inside the agency, at a time when its ability to perform effectively is crucial to our national security, our economic interests, and the lives and well-being of millions of the world’s most vulnerable people.

MFAN Partners React to Shah’s Speech

By: Staff Person
January 24, 2011

Below are excerpts from MFAN Partners’ statements in reaction to USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah’s extraordinary speech last week. Stay tuned for coverage of the Republican Study Group’s call for severe cuts to USAID’s budget.