Articles

Below are articles on development happenings, issues, etc. If you have comments on them, please share them with us in the Forum. If you have articles that you believe would be of general interest to the UAA membership, please submit them here.

New! A First Look at USAID’s Redesign Plan (Brookings) – George Ingram’s take on USAID’s realigned structure. His bottom line: Administrator . Green and his USAID colleagues should be commended for producing a restructuring plan that is rational and innovative, and for making it public before it is finalized.*
New! The USAID Reorganization in Power Point (USAID) – This will provide some of the detail and background that are in in the Devex articles below.
New! Rightsizing the Relationship Between the State Department and USAID (Brookings) – The core of the problem is the lack of agreement on the respective roles of the two agencies. The differences are stark at a conceptual level, but clouded when confronting practical decision making involving influence and power.
New! USAID Chief Unveils Major Organizational Shakeup (Devex) – The new organizational chart calls for the consolidation of a number of Agency offices and functions, and a more unified approach to budgeting and management.
New! Russia’s Nefarious Meddling Is Nothing Like Democracy Assistance (Washington Post) – With revelations of Russia’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election, a specious narrative has come back into circulation: that Moscow’s campaign of political warfare is no different from U.S.-supported democracy assistance.
New! USAID to Unveil New Organizational Chart (Devex) – The restructuring will aim to strengthen and elevate humanitarian assistance, consolidate and elevate resilience, connect budget and strategy, and have a more field-focused presence.
How Bangladesh Vanquished Diarrhoea (The Economist) – Its GDP per person is barely half India’s, but it has a lower child-mortality rate.
John Bolton: The Essential Profile (Lobe Log) – From PPC head to National Security Advisor, learn more about the latest Trump nominee.
Head of USAID Defends Big Cuts in Foreign Aid Budget (Washington Post) – Even the harshest critics of Trump’s budget proposal expressed admiration for Green as he struggled to put a good face on what he could do with a third of his funding gone.
Last, Best Chance for Food Aid Reform? (CGD) – A new bill offers legislation that would reform US international food aid to deliver more help and faster to more people in crisis.
Congress again rejects steep cuts to US foreign Assistance in New Budget (Devex) – Congress released a budget that largely maintains U.S. foreign aid funding at fiscal year 2017 levels, rejecting the steep cuts proposed by the Trump administration.
At the State Department, Diplomats Prepare for a Dramatic Shift in Style (Washington Post) – Diplomats and civil servants at State expressed relief and trepidation after the stunning firing of Rex Tillerson, whose tenure as Secretary was one of the most contentious in recent memory.
China Sets Up New Foreign Aid Agency to Better Project Influence Abroad (The Economist) – The move is designed to give full play to foreign aid as a key means of major-country diplomacy, enhance its coordination and better serve the nation’s diplomatic strategy.
Debt Is Creeping Up in Sub-Saharan Africa (Economist) – The median debt-to-GDP ratio in the region is back over 50%.
What a New US Development Finance Institution Needs to Succeed (Devex) – A bipartisan group of senators and representatives introduced the Better Utilization of Investment Leading to Development (BUILD) Act, which, if enacted, would create a new agency called the United States International Development Finance Corporation. The IDFC would absorb OPIC and several functions performed by USAID.
Lucky That Time: Escapes from Animals (Foreign Service Journal) – Over the course of a Foreign Service lifetime, alum John Pielemeier has had dangerous encounters with at least seven different species of animal—and survived them all. This entertaining article describes a few of those.
The Olympics of Foreign Assistance (GLC) – An easily absorbed presentation of some remarkable stories about how our overseas programs are a win for America and the world.
Why the Marshall Plan Spooked the Soviets and Sparked the Cold War (Washington Post) – A new book tells the story of not just the development of the Marshall Plan but also the division of Germany and the founding of NATO.
President Trump’s FY19 Budget Repeats Reckless Cuts to Foreign Aid Effectiveness (MFAN) – Trump’s proposed 30 percent cut from FY17 levels to the International Affairs Budget is out of step with global needs and U.S. interests. These deep and disproportionate cuts would threaten our national security and diminish America’s standing in the world.
StateDept’s Mandatory Harassment Training (Diplopundit) – A training video.
Tillerson Scales Back State Department Restructuring Plan (Politico) – After resistance from diplomats and lawmakers, the Secretary of State is lowering expectations for his new “Impact Initiative.” Far from swinging a wrecking ball, Tillerson looks ready to tap with a hammer and chisel.
Airborne Lifeline’s Johnathan Miller to be Asst Administrator For USAIDAfrica (Diplopundit) – Airborne has provided scheduled air transport of medical personnel to remote medical facilities in several Southern African countries. Miller also served in the Peace Corps, NSC and State.
The Link Between Foreign Aid and Domestic Social Spending (Brookings) – Do countries that spend more on their own domestic social priorities spend less on ODA? This article makes the case for the opposite.
Why pegging US Foreign Assistance to Countries’ UN Votes is a Bad Deal (Brookings) – In his State of the Union, Trump asked Congress for legislation to ensure that “American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to friends of America, not enemies of America.”
State/OIG “Looking Into” Reported Political Targeting of Career Employees (Diplopundit) – Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have called on State OIG to look into reports of violations of personnel policies and political retribution against Department employees.*
StateDept Launches New System of Records to Capture All Emails (Diplopundit) – The purpose of doing this is to be better able to search records and to reveal leakers.
For US Aid Groups, Shutdowns Are Just One Piece of a Bigger Problem (Devex) – Unpredictable budgets have hobbled long-term planning, and U.S. country offices have responded in different ways, creating inconsistency and incoherence that humanitarian and development organizations still have to cope with.
Senators Seek Review/Analysis of @StateDept and @USAID Sexual Harassment and Assault Data (Diplopundit) – This is an action that has widespread support.
U.S. Withholds Millions of Dollars in Promised Palestinian Food Aid (Foreign Policy) – As a result, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency is now confronted with a massive unpaid bill at a time when it is facing huge cuts from the Trump administration for its education and health care programs.
MFAN Recommendations Embedded in New Accountability Guidance for U.S. Aid Agencies (MFAN) – These suggestions set standards pertaining to monitoring, evaluation, and learning for all U.S. foreign assistance agencies.
Tillerson’s State Overhaul Faces Mutiny as USAID Weighs Role (Bloomberg) – USAIDs participation in the Tillerson reorganization group has been suspended. There been broad frustration about communication with the Secretary over the redesign and confusion about its goals.
USAID Transforms (State Dept. Blog) – Some notes from USAID Administrator Mark Green.
How Can USAID Work Itself Out of a Job? Ideas for Smart Strategic Transitions (CGD) – There is now renewed attention on the question of how to responsibly and sustainably transition countries away from traditional, grant-based development assistance.
U.S. Ambassador to Panama John Feeley Resigns From the Foreign Service Over Trump Policies (Diplopundit) – U.S. Ambassador to Panama John Feeley, a 28-year veteran of the Foreign Service, tendered his resignation over Administration policies he is no longer able to support and defend.
Former A/AID Henrietta Holsman Fore Named UNICEF Executive Director (Devex) – Fore will take over for Anthony Lake, whose term as UNICEF executive director ends on Dec. 31.
USAID in Afghanistan: Challenges and Successes (Relief Web) Cogent analysis from alumnus Bill Hammink.
#MeToo in Aid Agencies (Tufts Now) – A new report suggests that sexual assault is pervasive within the ranks of humanitarian groups.
Tillerson Announces “Immediate Changes” From Redesign (Diplopundit) – State and USAID email addressbooks to be combined and other administrivial changes.
Gayle Smith’s Blueprint for an Activist Humanitarian Community (Devex) – Such a community will empower aid workers to convince politicians that the humanitarian sector needs their support more so than ever.
USAID Anticipates @StateDept Hiring Freeze Will Last At Least Through End of FY2018 (Diplopundit) – It also has told Congress that it is considering whether to seek waivers from the Secretary of State to fill several additional positions
USAID Reinstates Pre-Employment Status of FSO Candidates After Congressional Interest (Diplopundit) – Several USAID FSO candidates have received the message that supersedes the job cancellation notification issued in October:
USAID Announces a New Development Impact Bond (Devex) – USAID Administrator Mark Green, will announce a new development impact bond aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths in India.
Much of the Money Donated After Disasters Is Stolen (Economist) – To make theft less common, governments and donors must admit its scale.
Foreign Service Grievance Board: Members as of November 3, 2017 (Diplopundit) – After a long delay in filling vacancies, the Administration has moved forward.
USAID’s Job Cancellations Raise Questions About Its Staffing Future and Operations (Diplopundit) – Questions include the future of the Agency, its ability to perform its mission, and the great expense that is the consequence of not moving forward.
Curing USAID (The American Interest) – Alum Jeffrey Cochrane tells us that USAID needs to reclaim its original mission and stop trying to do everything at once. This would be better for the bureaucracy and better for those it’s trying to help.

State to Offer Buyouts to First 641 Employees Who Agree to Leave by April 2018 (Diplopundit) – It is reported that State will soon offer a $25,000 buyout to diplomats and staff members who quit or take early retirements.
A Letter From AFSA President Barbara Stephenson (AFSA) – The focus is on the extent and impact of the loss of experienced and new FSOs.
State Redesign Briefing Presents Five “Guiding Beliefs” and Five “Key Outcomes” (Diplopundit) – A State Department top official recently did a redesign presentation to ranking officials. The presentation described five State and USAID “Guiding Beliefs” for the Tillerson redesign.
When Criticism Falls on Deaf Ears: The Case of U.S. Foreign Aid (Foreign Service Journal) – Alum Thomas Dichter explains that, although economists and practitioners have questioned the theory behind foreign assistance to underdeveloped countries for more than four decades, the aid industry is bigger and stronger than ever today.
White House Taps Pence Associate to Run Foreign Service (Foreign Policy) –The Administration has nominated an associate of VP Mike Pence to be Director General of the Foreign Service, a position normally reserved for senior career diplomats, prompting fears that this will further politicize American diplomacy.
After Months of Waiting, USAID Foreign Service Applicants See Opportunities Vanish (Devex) – 97 FS applicants who were already in USAID’s pre-employment process received emails informing them that the positions they applied for no longer exist.
State Department Support for Diplomats With Children With Disabilities is Contracting (Washington Post) – State has been quietly withdrawing financial support for diplomat families of children with special needs, effectively forcing some to serve overseas without their children or leave the Foreign Service.
Gatekeepers Say Gender-Neutral Pronouns Pose ‘Deadly Danger’ for the French Language (Washington Post) – France’s highest authority on language fears that French is in “mortal peril” over attempts to make the language a little less complex and a little less, well, male-dominated.
Pence Says US to Stop Funding ‘Ineffective’ UN Relief Efforts (The Hill) – He said that President Trump has instructed State to stop funding certain “ineffective” United Nations relief efforts and to instead provide humanitarian assistance directly through USAID and “faith-based groups.”
Authors of Six Major Aid Proposals Release Unified Plan for State Department and USAID Redesign (MFAN) – The unified proposal lends more specificity to the ten common themes MFAN identified among the various redesign structures.
The Birthplaces of African Leaders Receive an Awful Lot of Aid (Economist) – Much of it comes from China.
Barack Obama on How To Convince a Nation that Development Is a Bargain (Devex) – Obama called for public education that tells a good story and pointed out that aid is “actually a bargain” — and that it is intrinsically linked with security: “If you’ve got failed states, then generally some of that is going to spill over on us…”
Meeting the North Korean Nuclear Challenge (National Security Forum) – Co-authored by alumnus Ted Morse, this article explores a very different policy and action approach to North Korea’s nuclear capability.
Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the US Foreign Service (Diplopundit) – This book, now in its third edition, offers an insider’s guide to the Foreign Service as an institution, a profession, and a career. It provides an up-to-date, authoritative, and candid account of the life and work of professional US diplomats.
Despite Proposed Budget Cuts, Officials Say the U.S. Is Committed to Humanitarian Aid (Washington Post) – There are six disaster assistance response team currently dispatched by USAID to countries struck by disasters, both natural and man-made. “America is and will remain the world’s leading humanitarian donor,” said Mark Green, the head of USAID.
Loving USAID to Death (Lobelog) – For those who recall the relentless attacks on the U USAID throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the recent outpouring of support for the institution and its mission is simply stunning. Another insightful analytical piece from alumna Diana Ohlbaum.
As the Death Toll Climbs in Sudan, Officials Shy Away From the ‘Cholera’ Label (Washington Post) – State and USAID are related agencies, but there is an odd disconnect in how they have described a looming public health emergency in the African country of Sudan. A report from the Post’s Fact Checker.
World Hunger Worsens As War, Climate Shocks Hit Food Access (Washington Post) – The number of people suffering from hunger last year rose at the fastest pace since at least the beginning of this century, as conflicts and climate-related issues curbed access to food.
Top consensus points for State and USAID (Global Leadership Coalition) – This “Report on Reports” is a comprehensive analysis of over 60 reports from top think tanks and national security experts on tackling the key issues facing the State Department, USAID, and beyond.
State Department Reform Report (Atlantic Council) – This report recommends reform of the State Dept. to restore its historical mission of leading the development and execution of US foreign policy. It encourages that USAID’s standalone status be maintained. For a Washington Post overview of the report, click here.
United States to Give Ethiopia $91 Million in Drought Aid for Food and Medicine (Washington Post) – As the country experiences its third straight year of drought, this extra funding will bring U.S. aid for food and medical care in Ethiopia to $454 million this year.
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Approves FY2018 State & Foreign Ops Appropriations Bill (Diplopundit) – The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs announced that it approved a $51.35 billion appropriations bill that is $10.7 billion above the President’s request, but it is $1.9 billion below fiscal year 2017. Re. any State Department reorganization/redesign, the bill provides for notifications and consultations with the subcommittee on proposed changes.
USAID Administrator Green Visits Darfur (Washington Post) – U.S. considers lifting sanctions on Sudan.
House Dem Warns Guatemala’s Foreign Aid in Peril (The Hill) – Guatemala’s President has ordered the head of the U.N. anti-corruption commission out of the country. The US Congress threatens an impact on continued aid.
13 Recommendations for Reforming America’s Foreign Aid (The Hill) – The Heritage Foundation will soon publish a detailed report with extensive analysis of the current dysfunctional state of U.S. government foreign assistance programs. This article highlights the report’s 13 recommendations to reform U.S. foreign aid.
U.S. holds up military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns (Washington Post) – $195 million in military aid for Egypt has been withheld and almost $96 million in other aid for the impoverished country has been completely withdrawn as a sign of displeasure over human rights concerns and a new law placing strict restrictions on aid groups working in the country.
Dear Administrator Green: A Five-Step Vision for the Future of USAID (The Hill) – Here are five recommendations for the new A/AID as he faces challenges both internally and from an increasingly violent world.
Foreign Aid Experts seething after Key State, USAID Meeting (Foreign Policy) – A recent meeting between U.S. officials and NGO leaders to discuss the future of foreign assistance quickly devolved into disarray.
Former Diplomats Warn Against Merger of State Department and USAID Crisis Roles (Washington Post) – A bipartisan group of former diplomats and other officials warned against a merger of the roles of State and USAID. “Consolidation of the functions of either agency into the other would be a significant error,” the report advises. “Each has functions that are inherent in its organizational mission.”
A History of American Public Opinion on Foreign Aid (Devex) – A sitting U.S. president has calculated that there would be no significant political fallout to gutting America’s aid programs. A John Norris look at the history of public opinion toward foreign assistance helps explain why and is essential in helping the community come to grips with where it now finds itself.
Bush removed it. Obama reinstalled it. Will a plaque honoring Hillary Clinton stay in place under Trump? (Washington Post) – The 800 lb. Plaque in the USAID lobby has a rather convoluted history, with an on-again, off-again presence in the Ronald Reagan Building.
Some Re-Design Concerns (Diplopundit) – Read-out from a town hall with the Deputy SecState, which includes a substantial portion on the (im)probability of a State/USAID merger.
Rex Tillerson Is a Huge Disappointment (Washington Post) – If Cabinet members are to be judged by the gap between expectation and performance, Rex Tillerson is among the worst. Op ed piece by Michael Gerson.
The Vital Role of International Development Organizations (politicsay.com) – International development’s relevance in the world has never been more apparent. Development groups and organizations are important supporters of diplomacy throughout the world.
And the Foreign Affairs Reorganization Fight Is On! (LobeLog) – More analysis from Diana Ohlbaum: Buffeted by a double whammy of restructuring proposals—one from the White House recommending a transfer of the State’s Population, Refugees, and Migration Bureau (PRM) to the Department of Homeland Security, another from development experts recommending a merger of PRM’s programs into USAID—the heavyweights are striking back.
A Bevy of Good Ideas on Foreign Aid Reform….If Anyone’s Listening (LobeLog) – Reorg analysis from alum Diana Ohlbaum: There are lots of difficult problems with no good solutions. Foreign aid isn’t one of them. For starters, the system works, even if it’s not particularly efficient, or popular with the public. It can be enhanced with small tweaks if a wholesale make-over proves unrealizable.
A Foreign Assistance Philosophy for an Era of Limited Resources (Washington Post) – A profile of USAID Administrator Mark Green.
Mark Green Takes Office as the USAID Administrator: Here he highlights his vision for USAID in a welcome video. Also, learn more about the experiences that have shaped his perspectives on US foreign assistance in the 7 Facts You Might Not Know About USAID’s New Administrator blog.
Where is the Opening for Aid Reform? (Lobelog) – USAID alumna Diana Ohlbaum reviews a recent CSIS think piece on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance.*
The Politics of Foreign Aid (Brookings) – Many voices in US society who understand the stakes of America’s global leadership and the value of foreign assistance are speaking up—educating, engaging, and mobilizing.
How the Trump Administration Broke the State Department (Foreign Policy) – Morale has hit rock bottom at Foggy Bottom, as Foreign Service officers languish and Rex Tillerson builds a mini-empire.
What “America First” Means for US Foreign Aid (Brookings)– Brookings experts have dispelled myths about foreign aid and explained why development assistance is important for recipient countries as well as for U.S. security.
State Department Considers Scrubbing Democracy Promotion From its Mission (Washington Post) – The current drafts are similar to the old mission statement, except for one thing — any mention of promoting democracy is being eliminated.
A Practical Vision for US Development Reform (CGD) – US foreign assistance should focus on four core development priorities: state fragility, inclusive growth, global health, and humanitarian assistance. Within these priority areas, 14 immediately actionable reforms would increase US development effectiveness and efficiency.
‘Rexit’ From (the Departure of the SecState) Is Now a Thing (Diplopundit) – Some sources say they would not be surprised if there was a “Rexit” from Foggy Bottom before the end of the year.
A Practical Vision for US Development Reform (Center for Global Development) – To advance US values and foreign policy interests, while maintaining relevance in a changing global development landscape, this paper recommends organizing the US development architecture around four focal areas: State Fragility, Inclusive Growth, Global Health, and Humanitarian Assistance.
Five Myths About the Foreign Service (Washington Post) – What we are vs. what people may think we are. In addition, read a commenting letter from alum Steve Callahan, pointing out that USAID officers also are Foreign Service.
USAID and State: On Marrying Bears and Frogs (RealClearDefense) – The debate continues to rage over how to integrate USAID into the Department of State. It’s the wrong debate—again—but for now, it has captured the city’s imagination.
SFRC Grills D/S Sullivan About State FY18 Reauthorization Bill and Reorganizational Plans (Diplopundit) – He assured senators that there is no predetermination in absorbing USAID in State.
House bill would cut State Department funding by 14 percent (The Hill) – The House Appropriations Committee proposed a spending bill that would cut 14 percent at the State Department in fiscal 2018 from current levels, half the reduction suggested by the White House.
America’s Glorious Guilt (Washington Post)- OpEd by Michael Gerson: In an era of “America first,” we are sometimes better than our slogans. The assertion is still shocking: that a life on the other side of the world is created equal — honestly, objectively, God-blessedly equal — to our own.
How to Deter North Korea (NY Times) – A letter to the editor by Alumnus Len Rogers.
Is a More Prosperous World More Secure? Not as Trump Sees It (NY Times) – Since the end of World War II, American foreign policy has understood the role of economic development in the prevention of conflict around the world. President Trump isn’t buying.
A New Foreign Aid Architecture Fit for Purpose (MFAN) – This discussion draft is intended to inform ongoing efforts around potential reform of U.S. aid agencies. It proposes to consolidate four agencies and several major State Department units into two new focused agencies: a Global Development Agency (GDA) and a Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
Cuts to A.I.D. Budget (NY Times) – A letter to the editor by Alumnus John Champagne.
US giving $638M aid to Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan (ABC News) – Regional conflict has helped to cause what the UN calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years. This assistance was approved by Congress months ago, but had been delayed by the Trump administration.
State/USAID Listening Tour Report This report, commissioned by SecState Tillerson, is intended, among other things, to inform any future reorganization decisions.
Foreign Aid: Fading Faith in Good Works (The Economist) – Aid brought Liberia back from the brink. It also weakened its fledgling government.
Trump Administration Wants to Rally World to Stop ‘Four Famines’ (Politico) – Food and water shortages, caused by conflict as well as climate, are threatening to tip parts of Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan into famine. The White House is planning to rally other governments to do more to prevent the calamity
Trump Abandons Plan for New Food Aid Rules (The Hill) – President Trump will not pursue an executive order that would have required all U.S. food aid to be transported on U.S.-flagged ships. Doing so would have increased food aid costs and significantly slowed the amount of time it would take the food to reach beneficiaries.
Tillerson Wants to Merge the State Dept. and USAID. That’s a Bad Idea. (Washington Post) In his always cogent style, former Administrator Andrew Natsios tells us why.
Foreign Aid is About US Interests (Foreign Policy) – American foreign aid has never just been about merely doing good. Ever since the end of World War II, it has always also been recognized to be in our own interest.
What Can Fiction Reveal About Development? (Devex) – Fiction can build depth, richness and empathy to the concepts development professionals grapple with daily.
The IMF is Back in Africa (The Economist) – Falling commodity prices mean that loans are needed, overcoming distrust built up during the age of structural adjustment.
Why I Resigned from the Foreign Service (Washington Post) – “When the administration decided to withdraw from the Paris agreement on climate change, however, I concluded that…I could not in good conscience be involved in any way with the implementation of that decision.”
State Dept Releases New Sexual Assault Guidance For COM Personnel & Facilities Outside the United States (Diplopundit) – This is now a part of the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM).
Both Sides Back Former GOP U.S. Rep. Mark Green at Confirmation Hearing for U.S. Foreign Aid Post (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) – Senators from both parties signaled their support for former ambassador and Wisconsin congressman Mark Green. Read Green’s opening statement here.
Five Myths About Famine (Washington Post) – As we are facing one of the worst humanitarian food crises since World War II, former Administrator Gayle Smith rebuts some often mis-held conceptions.
Ex-USAID Officer Pleads Guilty to Steering Contract to Close Friend (Washington Post) – BethAnne Moskov, 53, of Silver Spring, faces up to a year and a day in prison at Aug. 28 sentencing. She was deputy director for the USAID office of health, infectious disease and nutrition from 2012 to 2016.
Foreign Assistance Agency Briefs (CGD) – CGD is providing briefing folders to every congressional office this week so that when Members and staff begin to consider the administration’s budget proposal for foreign assistance programs, they will have a solid guide on-hand to help them parse the details.
Senators Young and Shaheen to Co-Chair CSIS Congressional Task Force On Reform And Reorganization Of U.S. Development Assistance (CSIS) – The task force is bipartisan and consists of former Bush administration and Obama administration officials, as well as retired senior State and USAID Foreign Service Officers. It will identify actionable steps that the Trump administration and the Congress can take to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability.
Atwood Speech on the Achievements of the OECD Development Assistance Committee – The former USAID Administrator and chair of the OECD development assistance committee (DAC) gave the Kate Hamburger Lecture in Duisberg, Germany.
Colin Powell: American Leadership — We Can’t Do It for Free (NY Times OpEd) – Being a great nation has always meant a commitment to building a better, safer world — not just for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren. The administration’s proposal to slash approximately 30 percent from the State Department and foreign assistance budget signals an American retreat, leaving a vacuum that would make us far less safe and prosperous. While it may sound penny-wise, it is pound-foolish.
Foreign Aid Under the Ax in State Department Budget Proposal (Washington Post) – SecState Tillerson said the proposal reflects Trump’s goal of a leaner, more efficient government that prioritizes national security and U.S. economic interests. Dropped would be more than two dozen countries now receiving assistance and direct the rest not to nations most in need but those deemed most critical to U.S. national security.
All In: Tillerson on Trump’s FY2018 State and USAID Budget (Devex) – The Secretary released a statement calling the proposed -32% budget for his agency “responsive to the realities of the world in the 21st century.”
USAID FY18 Budget Request Fact Sheet This version focuses on the full portion of the cup.
Guiding Principles for Effective U.S. Assistance (MFAN) Some guiding principles to be considered in thinking about the forthcoming reorganization plan for U.S. foreign assistance.
USAID Exploring Food Aid, Disaster Assistance Merger for Trump Reorganization (Devex) – USAID is exploring a merger of its disaster assistance and food assistance offices. This would be done as part of the Agency’s contribution to the restructuring plan the Trump administration is requiring federal agencies to submit by June 30.
George W Bush’s man in Africa handed tough challenge by Donald Trump (The Guardian) – Donald Trump has achieved what could be seen as a first under his presidency: choosing someone to lead a government agency who has met with bipartisan approval.
To ‘Protect Life’, State Department Rolls Out Women’s Health Policy Critics Call a ‘Death Warrant’ (Foreign Policy) – The “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance” policy places new restrictions not just on funds that go to family planning assistance, but also money that supports malaria eradication, maternal and child health, and AIDS prevention and treatment.amounts to a heavy dose of comfort that comes with a familiar name and a clear and sound track record as a development policymaker.
Foreign Aid Advocates and Fiscal Hawks All Like Trump’s Nominee to Head USAID (Washington Post) – Mark A. Green serves as a rebuttal to the hyper-partisanship of Washington. From across the ideological spectrum came effusive praise for the Trump administration’s nominee (see the official announcement).
A Growing Share of Aid is Spent by Private Firms, Not Charities (Economist) – Nearly a quarter of USAID spending in 2016 went to for-profit firms, a share that was two-thirds higher than in 2008.
A Guide for Secretary Tillerson: Let State Focus on Diplomacy, USAID Be Accountable for Assistance (Brookings) – Thoughts from George Ingram. Where development is paramount, development needs to be in the driver’s seat. Where foreign policy imperatives are overriding, diplomacy is the driver and USAID should have a voice on targeting and implementation.
The Future of US Aid (Devex) – This page contains many interesting articles assessing the impact of anticipated cuts and policy shifts.
What Trump’s Foreign-Aid Budget Means to the Rest of the World (The Atlantic) – The proposed 31% cut affects the U.S. bilateral foreign aid, funding for the UN, World Bank, and other international institutions; and State’s diplomatic duties. US friends and allies in the developing world now have tangible evidence of what they had feared since Trump’s election: the withdrawal of the US from active world international leadership.
U.S. Foreign Aid: A Waste of Money or a Boost to World Stability? (LA Times) – It has long been a divisive issue: how much money the United States gives to foreign nations in aid, what kind of effect development assistance actually has on recipient nations, and whether America should be involved in the aid-giving business at all.
Expected USAID Pick Ex-GOP Rep Mark Green Lost in the Trump Jungle (Diplopundit) – Former GOP Rep. Mark Green is the Trump administration’s expected pick to lead the USAID, but has struggled to close a deal with the Trump administration.
Trump Administration Plans StateDept-USAID Merger and Deep Program Cuts (Diplopundit) – Senior USAID officials have told staff that the agency is attempting to cope with the steep cuts by prioritizing its field offices abroad over its offices in Washington. Nonetheless, the agency still anticipates that the budget proposal will necessitate eliminating 30 to 35 of its field missions.
Foreign Aid Reform: Opportunity or Threat? (lobelog.com) – 4 of 4 from Ohlbaum. By proposing to eliminate USAID, reorganize and downgrade State, and institute draconian cuts to diplomacy and development, Trump is in effect rejecting the concept of “soft power,” leaving it to the military to promote and defend U.S. national interests abroad.
Disparaging Diplomacy (lobelog.com) – 3 of 4 from Ohlbaum. The Trump administration’s steady stream of assaults on diplomacy has become a raging river. Decisions on reorganization and staffing have been made before a review has been completed.
Dismantling USAID (lobelog.com) – 2 of 4 from Ohlbaum. Attempts to do away with USAID are not new, nor limited to Republican administrations. However, consolidation of USAID into State is, and always has been, a power play, not a cost-cutting measure. It’s not about making aid more efficient or effective. It’s about making aid more political.
US Diplomacy and Development Aid: Death by a Thousand Cuts (lobelog.com) – In this first of four articles, alumna Diana Ohlbaum assesses the implications of the draft Trump FY 18 budget.
The End of Foreign Aid as We Know It (Foreign Policy) – Trump budget would gut development assistance and fold USAID into State.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues, Challenges, and U.S. Responses (Congressional Research Service) – To date, regarding Africa, Administration policy in general and aid policy in particular are uncertain. This item reviews the facts and factors that would help inform such decisions.*
The Case for Keeping USAID and the State Department Separate (U.S. Global Leadership Coalition) – Bringing USAID directly under the control of State not only would risk jeopardizing the long-term strategic arm of America’s national security toolkit but would likely make U.S. development assistance less, rather than more, effective.
A Primer on U.S. Foreign Aid (Council on Foreign Relations) – What it is, why it is, and how much it costs.
Number of Women Leaders Around the World Has Grown, But They’re Still a Small Group (Pew Research) – Most of the world’s nations never have had a female leader.
Nervous State Department Workers Prepare for Major Restructuring (Politico) – Career staff are reading budget documents and a Heritage Foundation report to figure out where the biggest cuts are coming.
The Damage Already Done to the Foreign Assistance Budget (CGD) – The White House has decided to politicize foreign assistance in a way that we have not seen for over 30 years.
MFAN in Defense of Foreign Aid (MFAN) – A broad range of evidence and thought regarding aid effectiveness.
The War on Poverty: Fewer, But Still With Us (The Economist) – The world has made amazing progress in eradicating extreme poverty. The going will be much harder from now on.
Trump Seeks Further Funding Cuts From State Dept/USAID, This Time From 2017 Budget (Diplopundit) – In next month’s Continuing Resolution, the Trump Administration is seeking cuts from the FY2017 budget. The “savings” from the proposed cuts in the current fiscal year will reportedly also go to DOD for additional military spending, and to help build that wall.?
Trump’s America First Budget Puts Africa Last (Foreign Policy) – Sub-Saharan Africa is grappling with record levels of displacement and hunger due to conflict and drought, but President Donald Trump is proposing “deep cuts to foreign aid” that would hit this continent the hardest.
Results Measurement and the Case for Aid (CGD) – At a moment when the case for maintaining aid budgets is being fundamentally questioned, we might do well to ponder how we measure and communicate results. Broad audiences don’t know about unprecedented progress in poverty reduction and human development in recent decades.
USAID Should Further U.S. Interests, Not ‘Safe Spaces’ (Wall St. Journal) – During the Obama years, USAID was prominent in sectors like LGBTI rights, abortion and “social justice”—promoting agendas that were neither supported by segments of the U.S. population nor of clear benefit to American national interests. It now will need to reassess all existing programs to determine which ones are actually advancing U.S. interests.
Aid to Fragile States: The Central African Conundrum (The Economist) – Providing foreign aid to chaotic countries is both necessary and hazardous. It can be done better.
Primer on USAID (CGD) – What the Agency does and how it does it.
Proposed Cuts to Foreign Assistance Will Reverse
Decade-Long Bipartisan Reform Effort (MFAN) – The Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network is gravely concerned over the proposed 31% cut from FY17 levels to the International Affairs Budget, and urges Congress to reject such a draconian approach to programs that are central to U.S. interests.
AFSA Draws on UAA AGM Conversation With Past Administrators (Foreign Service Journal) – Wisdom on what the Trump administration should understand as it moves forward on implementing the USG foreign assistance program.
“The Secretary” Writes FY18 Budget Love Letter to Foggy Bottom (Diplopundit) – T-Rex’s diplomatic nudge appears to result in a 36% funding reduction instead of the first reported 37% funding cut.
Cuts to the 150 Account: Searching for a Constructive Path Forward in Foreign Aid (CGD) – Any major budget cutting should be informed by a review of US assistance agencies and programs—designed to provide an evidence-based assessment for cuts. One area where smart cuts could be found big programs that were put forward more for diplomatic than development reasons and have failed to achieve development outcomes.
Bill Gates Is Right, USAID Is Not Just Foreign Aid, It Aids the U.S. (Fortune) – The term foreign aid is inaccurate and may be misleading. It suggests that what USAID does is all charity work. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Soft Power and the New Administration (CSIS) – Thoughts from Andrew Natsios. The US is facing the greatest threats since the Post-WWII era, and now needs its aid programs more than at any time since their inception. While some types of threats can be stopped at our borders or with military force, most cannot. That is where our development and disaster assistance programs come in.
Trump’s Siege on International Development (Center for American Progress) – The U.S. commitment to development may be facing an extinction-level event through a combination of draconian policies, shattering budget cuts, and the potential for the president to use aid as his own “walking-around fund.”
Draconian Cuts to Diplomacy and Development: Unilateral Disarmament or Head Fake? (Brookings) – George Ingram observes that, despite being a modest 1 percent of all federal spending, U.S. foreign aid has contributed to historic successes over the past two decades. The president should champion these accomplishments, rather than vilify the programs that support such efforts.
Fear and Loathing in Foggy Bottom (Washington Monthly) – Changes at State are not really a purge, but perhaps a house cleaning in the administrative side of the house. Still, morale is low and anxiety is high.
Throwing More Money at the Military Won’t Make It Stronger (Washington Post) – Fareed Zakaria observes that more than just enhancing the military, long-term success in achieving security goals requires economic development, institution-building.
Trump’s ‘Disastrous’ Proposal to Cut Foreign Aid (Atlantic Council) – Republican official says defense spending should not come at the cost of foreign assistance.
Why Cutting Foreign Aid Makes America Weaker (Overseas Development Institute) Alex Thier, former Assistant to the Administrator, provides a strategic assessment of the humanitarian and policy benefits that result from USG investments in foreign aid.
Trump’s Plan to Slash Foreign Aid Comes as Famine Threat is Surging (Washington Post) – Trump has proposed large cuts to foreign aid at a time of acute need across Africa and the Middle East.
US Foreign Aid Expected To Be Biggest Casualty of Trump’s first Budget (The Guardian) – US spending on overseas aid is expected to bear the brunt of dramatic cuts as part of Trump’s plan to increase defense spending by $54bn in his upcoming budget.
With @StateDept Facing a 30% Funding Cut, 121 Generals Urge Congress to Fully Fund Diplomacy and Foreign Aid (Diplopundit) – The generals say that State, USAID, MCC, Peace Corps are critical to preventing conflict and reducing the need to put our men and women in uniform in harm’s way.
‘America First’ Shouldn’t Mean Cutting Foreign Aid (Washington Post) – OpEd thoughts from Raj Shah and Michael Gerson. There are real national security consequences of poverty, instability and poor governance around the world. But gains in hope, health and stability reduce these threats and better protect Americans.
Will Trump Keep ‘America First’ With USAID Pick? (Politico) – Trump’s pledge to put “America first” could spell bad news for USAID. But the two people believed to be the leading candidates to head it are at least giving the global do-gooder community some hope.
Trump Seems to Support Bush’s AIDS Program for Now (The Atlantic) – But will it be hobbled by his other policies?
Warren Buffet’s Best Investment – An exchange of letters with Bill Gates re. the impact of his contribution to fight disease and reduce inequity.
Letter to President Trump Prioritizing Girls and Women (Plan International) –The letter focuses on the importance of maintaining progress for women and girls in the US and around the world. A total of 112 organizations have signed-on.
ONE Campaign Announces Gayle Smith as CEO (Devex) The ONE Campaign, the poverty-fighting advocacy organization co-founded by philanthropist and U2 frontman Bono, on Tuesday said Gayle Smith, the former administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will be its next president and CEO.
The Trump Administration Threatens to Imperil Women’s Health Worldwide (Washington Post Editorial) – Over the next four years, Trump’s enhanced Mexico City policy could result in 6.5 million unintended pregnancies, 2.2 million abortions and 21,700 maternal deaths.
Trump Immigration Order Could Harm USAID’s Ability to Carry Out Crucial Work (Devex) –There are fears of significant operational fallout, as crucial interpreters, trainers and operational staffers reconsider the attendant risks of working for U.S. embassies, aid agencies and the military.
National Security Council Memorandum Includes Role for USAID (Devex) – A presidential memorandum signed President Donald Trump may shed some light on what role development is likely to play in his administration. The USAID Administrator is listed as a permanent member of the Deputies Committee.
Recurring Storms (CSIS) – This paper authored by alumna Emmy Simmons posits that climate and demographic change will continue to have a devastating impact on global agriculture. The risk of resulting food insecurity and population movement portend conflict and disruption in the future.
How Do You Know If Aid Really Works? (NPR) – Since the early 2000s, a growing movement of social science researchers have been pushing policy-makers to do “impact evaluations” of their programs.
Trump Revives Ban on Foreign Aid to Groups That Give Abortion Counseling (NY Times)– President Trump signed a memorandum freezing federal funding to health providers abroad who discuss abortion as a family-planning option.
Wade Warren Appointed Acting USAID Chief (Devex) – Administrator Gayle Smith informed employees Wednesday that Wade Warren, who leads the Agency’s policy bureau, will take over as acting administrator at noon on Jan. 20.
Agency Interim Leadership as of Noon January 20
Developing the Next Generation of Followers at USAID (Foreign Service Journal) – This thoughtful article by alumnus Jose Garzon focuses on the need to better understand followership—not just because it essentially complements leadership, but for its own specific qualities.
Reconciling Interagency Priorities Remains a Top Management Challenge (Diplopundit) – Contingency operations and other efforts require coordination with multiple U.S. Government agencies. Yet USAID’s development priorities do not always align with other agencies’ priorities
New Feds Could be Fired for ‘No Cause At All’ by Trump Under Planned Legislation (Washington Post) – Under the proposed bill, an employee may be removed or suspended, without notice or right to appeal, from service by the head of the agency at which such employee is employed for good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.
Rex Tillerson Outlines US Aid Vision (Devex) – Tillerson offered general support for furthering U.S. foreign aid and its development agenda as Secretary of State, but expressed reservations on various hot-button topics, such as climate change and women’s health.
Foreign Assistance: Time to Sharpen a Vital Diplomatic Tool (Foreign Service Journal) – Eight recommendations to rationalize U.S. foreign assistance and, thus, greatly increase its effectiveness.
Grumbles Grow Over Britain’s Generous Foreign Aid Budget (The Economist) – The UK is one of just six countries to meet the UN’s target of spending 0.7% of GDP on international assistance. Yet, although the leaders of all Britain’s main political parties support this generosity, grumbles that the money should stay at home are growing louder.
State Dept Apologizes For Past Discrimination Against LGBTI Employees/Applicants (Washington Post) – Secretary of State John Kerry apologized for past discrimination against gay and lesbian people at the State Department, an unusual acknowledgment that members of the diplomatic corps were hounded out for their sexual orientation.
The Economist Crony Capitalism Index (The Economist) – An index designed to test whether the world is experiencing a new era of “robber barons.”
USAID Innovation: Putting the Best Foot Forward to Fight Zika (Foreign Policy) – A $15 million investment in innovations to fight the virus produced a sandal that effectively stops the mosquito bites that cause infection.
House GOP Brings Back Holman Rule to “Retrench” Agency Spending, Slash Pay of Any Federal Employee (Diplopundit) – House Republicans reinstated an arcane procedural rule that enables lawmakers to reach deep into the budget and slash the pay of an individual federal worker — down to a $1 — a move that threatens to upend the 130-year-old civil service.
In exit memo to Obama, USAID chief points to ‘hard work ahead’ (Devex) – In a cabinet exit memo delivered to President Obama, outgoing USAID Administrator Gayle Smith pointed to eight years of progress but warned advancing U.S. global development efforts will require “hard work ahead.”
Rockefeller Foundation Picks Rajiv J. Shah, a Trustee, as President (New York Times) – The appointment will make Shah one of the most powerful forces in charitable giving, overseeing a foundation that donates roughly $200 million each year.
Trump Administration Puts the U.S. at a Crossroad for Global Health Aid (NY Times) – Health experts and government officials admit that they have no idea what direction the incoming Trump administration is going to take.
OECD-DAC Peer Review of US Development Efforts (OECD) – The principal findings of the report are highly favorable to USAID.
Examining Heritage’s Views on Aid as Foundation Plays Key Trump Transition Role (Devex) – This article looks at the Foundation’s records to see what policy recommendations it has made about foreign aid and development.
8 Possible picks for Trump’s USAID Administrator (Devex) – Pure speculation, but interesting nonetheless.
USAID is Ready, But Still Waiting, for the Trump Transition (Devex) – Agency leaders have made sure USAID is ready to change hands. The only problem is, they still have no one to share this information with.
5 Things the Trump Team Needs to Know About Foreign Aid (The Hill) – As Trump transition teams begin to do their work, here’s a quick list of what they need to know about foreign aid.
Why USAID’s New Approach to Development Assistance Is Stalled (AFSA) – Increasingly security isolated Agency staff, find themselves isolated from the host country and its people, creating imposing obstacles to the “local” focus of Raj Shah’s USAID Forward.
Rethinking U.S. National Security: A New Role for International Development (Foreign Affairs) – Andrew Natsios and Brian Atwood make the point that development, post-conflict-transition, and humanitarian-relief programs are among the most effective and least costly crisis-prevention tools. They propose a cabinet-level department for development to carry out an established, bipartisan strategy to support global and U.S. security.
Chemonics Disciplined Over ‘Racist’ Hiring Process (Alaraby – Chemonics International was ordered to pay $482,000 by the US Department of Labor in “back-pay, interest and benefits” to 124 African-American job applicants.
The international Project Management Institute (PMI) just published — on-line – alumnus Ken Smith’s article on monitoring the financial aspects of project performance, which has direct pertinence to USAID funded projects. The article can be found here.
5 Questions About Aid Under Trump (Devex) – Here are some of the biggest questions about the future of U.S. development cooperation as the Obama-Trump transition kicks off.
Foreign Aid Under Trump’s ‘America-First’ Doctrine (Devex) – While policy details are thin, President-elect Trump’s likely views on foreign aid and development assistance can be summed up in two words: America first.
Africa’s Great Hunger Handicap (American Diplomacy) – An article by alumnus Mark Wentling. As long as Africa remains the most undernourished region in the world, it will fail to graduate from the lower ranks of development.
Aid in Kind – Free Two Shoes (Economist) – New studies should cool the warm glow surrounding shoe donations.
The U.S. Spent Billions Building Roads in Afghanistan. Now Many of Them Are Beyond Repair. (Washington Post) – A report released S by a U.S. government oversight body paints a grim picture of the state of Afghanistan’s roads, including the roughly 10,000 miles constructed, paved, repaired or funded by the United States.
Four Recommendations from Four Generations of USAID Leadership (CGD Blog) – This CGD blog is based on the A/AID panel at the AGM which focused on what the participants wish they had known before they started the job and what advice they would give a new Agency lead. The blog also discusses parallels between CGD’s own agenda for USAID and what the administrators had to say.
Even in Era of Disillusionment, Many Around the World Say Ordinary Citizens Can Influence Government (Pew Research) – Health care, poverty, education are top motivators for political action.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the U.S. Foreign Assistance Budget (Washington Post) – An excellent article with superb graphics explains the U.S. government’s foreign assistance budget, which ranges from programs combating HIV/AIDS to those directly funding other nations’ armed forces.
How the Other Tenth Lives (Economist) – According to new World Bank data, the world should be both encouraged and embarrassed by the latest global poverty figures.
Food for Refugees (Economist) – Increasingly, hungry refugees receive aid not as food, but as cash.
New Bill Proposes to Lengthen State Dept. Assignments From 2-3 Years to 4-6 Years If passed, State assignment duration would better parallel those of USAID.
The Surprise Bipartisan Success Story of Congress: American Aid (Time) – There is one issue that has continuously broken through Congressional gridlock with bipartisan support: America’s foreign assistance programs. Five major pieces of bipartisan legislation on global development have been signed into law in less than two years.
Can the bipartisan consensus on aid survive Donald Trump? (Devex) – In recent months, development policymaking has stood out as lawmakers from both parties have found success reaching compromise and overcoming gridlock to pass development-related bills. But as the presidential election draws nearer, can that spirit of bipartisan cooperation hold together? Many in the aid community are holding their breath.
USG Still in Compensation Negotiations with Weinstein Family (Washington Post) – Hostages Weinstein and an Italian aid worker were killed in a CIA drone strike in Pakistan last year.
Ending World Poverty Costs Less Than People Think (WVTF.org) – The US plays a vital part in international economic development – at a cost that’s much lower than many people think. A program created fifty-five years ago succeeded in cutting world poverty in half since then. And it’s now looking to cut it by half again.
New USAID Program Aims to Protect Victims of Human Trafficking (VOA) – The United States on Thursday committed more money and a new plan to combat human trafficking in Southeast Asia, following the East Asia Summit. The USAID plan will commit $12 million in the first year to protect and compensate victims.
USAID Crowdsources 21 Ideas for Fighting Zika (FCW.com) – USAID/s crowdsourcing efforts to fight the Zika virus have produced some cutting-edge solutions from global innovators.
GOP National-Security Experts Are #ReadyForHer (The Daily Beast) – Some former USAID officials are mentioned.
Where They Stand: Democrats and Republicans on Global Development (Devex) – An examination of the official Democratic and Republican party platforms.
How USAID is Avoiding Greater Aid Worker Bunkerization (Devex) – The dangers are greater than ever. The answer, according to participants, isn’t to lock aid workers behind higher walls. But there are increased precautions to take and security measures to consider in order to keep those working overseas safe.
How Dangerous was 2015 for Aid Workers? (Geeska Afrika) – Attacks against aid workers fell in 2015 for a second year in a row as Afghanistan remained the most dangerous country for humanitarian workers.
Look Before You Leap — Drones in Rwanda (Economist) – Can entrepreneurs make up for a lack of roads? The notion of leapfrogging poor infrastructure in Africa needs to come back down to earth.
West Seeks Details as Israel Says Charity Worker Funded Hamas (Wall St. Journal) – The U.S., U.K. and Australia respond to allegations that a World Vision employee diverted money to Hamas.
Few American Women Have Broken the Glass Ceiling of Diplomacy (Pew Research) – Since the beginning of U.S. diplomatic relations with the rest of the world, American ambassadors have overwhelmingly been men, an imbalance that speaks to a persistent diversity challenge within the U.S. Foreign Service.
What Would Hillary Clinton’s US Aid Agenda Look Like? (Devex) – More than a dozen development professionals, Clinton supporters, advisers and skeptics share their expectations, hopes and anxieties about what Hillary Clinton’s U.S. aid agenda might look like if she becomes the next president.
USAID Reconstruction Contracts in Afghanistan and Iraq Bites Former Louis Berger Executives (Diplopundit) – In May 2015, the former president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board of USAID contractor Louis Berger Group Inc. was sentenced to 12 months of home confinement and fined $4.5 million for conspiring to defraud USAID.
Suspecting Fraud, U.S. Suspends Some Syrian Aid Programs (Washington Post) – USAID has frozen more than $200 million in contracts to Syria fearing significant fraud.
Three Takeaways on the White House Summit on Global Development (CGD) – Stated very concisely, these are things many of us knew but would like better understood at higher policy levels.
President Obama’s Development Legacy (Devex) – An informed analysis by John Norris based on interviews with more than a dozen development experts.
The Incalculable Value of Finding a Job You Love (NY Times) – Resist the soul-crushing job’s promise of extra money and savor the more satisfying conditions you’ll find in one that pays a little less. By and large, we USAID alumni already knew that.
Obama Will Ensure his Global Development Policy Outlasts his Presidency (Washington Post) – Obama signed the bipartisan Global Food Security Act before speaking at the White House Summit on Global Development, a look back at the administration’s efforts to address poverty, health, hunger and malnutrition in impoverished nations worldwide.
US Congress approves long-sought Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act (Devex) – The legislation will require U.S. government agencies to closely monitor and evaluate all foreign aid programs based on their outcomes and improve transparency by publicly sharing the data about what’s working and what’s not.
Helping Palestinians an Uphill Battle for USAID Chief (YNetNews) – After 11 years of helping oversee the US government’s aid efforts to lay the foundations for a future Palestinian state, the outgoing chief of the USAID mission in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is unsure whether that vision has inched any closer to reality.
Medical Drones in Africa (The Economist) – A new way around an old problem.
Asia’s New infrastructure Bank is Out to Prove It’s Not China’s Pawn (Washington Post) – The new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank holds its first annual meeting to finally prove to doubters that it is neither China’s pawn nor about to undercut and shoulder aside the World Bank.
USAID Should Become the Department of Nation-Building (Foreign Policy) – Washington’s top development agency needs to focus on building governments, not democracies, in chaotic foreign countries.
Foreign Aid: An Introduction to U.S. Programs and Policy (Congressional Research Service) This report provides an overview of the U.S. foreign assistance program by answering frequently asked questions on the subject. It is intended to provide a broad view of foreign assistance over time.
Foreign Aid – Misplaced (The Economist) – Aid is best spent in poor, well-governed countries. That isn’t always where it goes.
Contractors Sound Alarm Over New USAID Guidance (Devex) – A trade group for U.S. development companies has asked USAID to withdraw and revise its most recent guidance on acquisition and assistance, which, they believe, gives preference to grants over contracts.
Obama has written to the family members of slain LGBT rights activist and USAID FSN Xulhaz Manna (Dhaka Tribune) – Offers official condolences.
The U.S. Department of State recently launched the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC) “to more quickly mobilize family members to fill available positions in missions overseas.”
China becomes Global Leader in Development Finance (Financial Times)- China’s development lending eclipses loans from all six western-backed multilateral institutions.
As Humanitarian Needs Grow, USAID Chief Says the World Must Act (Reuters) – Gayle Smith describs a global humanitarian system stretched to the limit by the number of disasters and a growing funding gap compounded by emergency responses that cost more than traditional relief methods.
Thin on Influence, World Humanitarian Summit Will Tackle Aid Crisis (New York Times) – Where is the initiative on aid today? Comparing and contrasting the UN and bilateral aid agencies with philanthropy. Competitors? Collaborators?
How To Make Better Development Investment Choices (Economist) – An interesting example from Bangladesh.
Delivering Foreign Agricultural Aid to Africa—What Works? (Foreign Service Journal) The record of U.S. agricultural development assistance in Africa over the years is uneven. Here’s how involving agribusiness and trade associations can help.
Retirement Planning 101 (Foreign Service Journal) Life after the Foreign Service begins with planning. Here’s how to get started.
Is Jim Kim Destroying the World Bank — or Saving it From Itself? (Foreign Policy) The good doctor Kim is out to salvage the bank’s global relevance. But his radical reforms have critics calling for his head.
American Farm Subsidies Cause Damage at Home and Abroad (Washington Post) – The USDA has come under fire for planning to donate 500 metric tons of surplus U.S.-grown peanuts to Haiti. Such aid represents subsidized foreign competition for Haiti’s peanut growers, who are struggling to supply the local market.*
Death of USAID Bangladesh FSN Xulhaz Mannan (Slate) LGBTQ activist Xulhaz Mannan, a USAID FSN, and his friend Tanay Majumder, a policeman, were hacked to death in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. Read Administrator Smith’s comments here.
Making Africa Work (The Economist) – The continent’s future depends on people, not commodities.
USAID/OIG Highlights Challenges to the Management and Administration of Foreign Assistance (Diplopundit) –An overview of the testimony he new USAID Inspector General before the Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Don’t Shortchange Foreign Aid (Devex) – Two of America’s top retired Generals posit that the military can’t do it alone. Agencies like USAID and the Peace Corps are vital to keeping America safe.
Strengthening Evidence-Based Development: Five Years of Better Evaluation Practice at USAID, 2011-2015 (USAID) This five-year report that captures the progress USAID has made to improve the Agency’s evaluation practice and that lays out priority areas where greater attention is needed in the coming years.
Getting More Bang for our Foreign Assistance Bucks (The Hill) – Some thoughts from former Rep. Jim Kolbe on ways future legislation could make foreign aid more effective.
A Green Evolution (The Economist) – The farms of Africa are prospering at last thanks to persistence, technology and decent government.
An NPR Interview with Gayle Smith – When the newly installed USAID chief Gayle Smith was at a conference in Africa recently, the local leaders didn’t recognize the gender of her name. So they gave her a “Mr. Smith” tag.
Alan Gross: One Year After (CBS Miami) – An interview offering thoughts on his experience as a captive in Cuba.
Administrator Gayle Smith talks about her vision for USAID (C-Span Video), followed by a panel discussion on U.S. foreign aid efforts.
Innovating Partnerships: USAID’s Views on the Future of Partnership (Devex) – USAID has a long history of partnering and is constantly seeking to evolve its approach to partnerships to respond to the changing development landscape.
Gayle Smith’s Beginning of the End (Devex) – Smith will use her tenure as USAID administrator to “lock in” initiatives introduced by President Obama and to build a strengthened agency, capable of holding its own in Washington’s perennial turf battles.
Extending the American Revolution Overseas: Foreign Aid, 1789–1850 (AFSA.org – John Sanbrailo) – Foreign assistance is part of America’s cultural DNA, fostered by the country’s revolutionary heritage of a commitment to human rights and individual liberties.
Fear of Flying (The Economist) – Africa is ripe for air travel. A pity its governments are holding back.*
The Killing of Warren Weinstein (New York Times) – After he was abducted in Pakistan, his family undertook a delicate negotiation in hopes of securing his release. But then they got word that he had died — in a United States drone strike.
Top Recipients of USAID Grants in 2016 (Diplopundit) – Tables and graphs.
The Economics of Corruption (The Economist) – In theory, higher pay cuts corruption. In practice, the opposite happens
US Pledges $97M to Combat Ethiopia’s Drought (Washington Post) – The U.S. has boosted its emergency food aid to Ethiopia to combat one of the worst droughts in decades.
USAID Employee Criticizes Shah (Diplopundit) – From a recently released Hillary Clinton email.
Endangered Civil Society (Foreign Policy) – Around the world, governments are doing their best to strangle funding for the civilian groups that dare to challenge their power and hold them to account.
Reference Manual for New Entry Foreign Service Officers This provides detailed information on policies and procedures related to training, assignments, performance assessment and promotion.
U.S. Travelers Get Serious About Overseas Trip Security (Washington Post) – A litany of horrors has jolted frequent-flying foreign-aid workers, contractors and think tank researchers, including Friday’s attack on a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso.
Asia Infrastructure Development Bank (Washington Post) – China’s new initiative is not necessarily contrary to US interests.
Terrorist Attack on Burkina Faso Hotel (Washington Post) – No reported victims with USAID affiliation.
USAID in Afghanistan – Letter to the Editor of the New York Times.
The 2015 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey for USAID – This report provides employee feedback about work environment, leadership and many other aspects of the organization.
Another USAID Contractor Killed in Afghanistan (CBS News) – Lisa Marie Akbari was the victim of an apparent targeted terrorist attack.
Leaving It Behind (The Economist) –How to rescue people from deep poverty – and why the best methods work.
Senate Confirms Gayle Smith as Head of USAID (New York Times) – Despite bipartisan support for Ms. Smith in the Senate, her confirmation had been tied up in a partisan fight over nominations. A full Senate vote on her confirmation had been held up by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.
Alan Gross’ First Interview Since His Release By Cuba (CBS News) – Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who helped secure Gross’ release, told 60 Minutes that Gross’s work looked very much like the kind of thing the Cubans were accusing him of: spying.
Chinese Development Investment In Africa (The Economist) – Western worries about China’s burgeoning influence in Africa may be overblown.
Mia Beers: Helping in West Africa to Stop the Spread of Ebola (Washington Post) – On the ground coordination of the complex, high priority USG effort.
Achieving USAID’s Local Spending Goal (Devex) – One of USAID Forward’s most notable features was an objective to program 30 percent of development assistance directly to local governments and civil society organizations. How has that worked out?
USAID Contractor Killed in Mali (Washington Post): Anita Datar is the only known U.S. fatality from the Bamako hotel siege.
Cardin Calls for Confirmation of State Department, USAID Nominees (Senate Press Release) – Prominent among these is Gayle Smith, who is proposed to be USAID Administrator.
Africa’s Middle Class: Few and Far Between (The Economist) – Africans are mainly rich or poor, but not middle class. That should worry democrats.
World Hunger in Decline (Washington Post) – Nearly one in nine people worldwide are chronically undernourished, and 3.1 million children younger than 5 die of malnutrition each year. As terrible as that problem is, however, there are signs that things may be getting better.*
Aid Agency ex-Staff are a Huge Wasted Asset (Oxfam Blog) – Why don’t aid organizations do more with their alumni?
What Angus Deaton, the Latest Nobel Winner, Says About Foreign Aid (New York Times) The Prize winner argues that foreign aid is not a good answer to the needs of the poor in developing countries and says that, in fact, aid can grievously hurt the countries that receive it.
How the Quality of Mercy is Strained (The Economist) – Even if they have enough money, it is hard for aid agencies to be effective in conflict areas.
Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (The Economist) – China’s new infrastructure bank has gained wide support. Lending will be tougher.
Hard-Nosed Compassion (The Economist) – Cash transfers, rather than handouts in kind, would help aid to refugees go further.
How USAID’s Secret Think Tank Funding Hurts the Poor (Huffington Post) – Support by USAID and other donors has led to an explosion in the number of think tanks in developing countries. However, much of this money is being given and taken behind closed doors, threatening to hurt rather than help the world’s poor.
U.S. Global Development Policy and Agenda 2030 – This White House fact sheet lays out USG global development objectives for the next fifteen years.
USAID Vision for Ending Extreme Poverty – This document articulates how USAID defines extreme poverty, how we can achieve a world without extreme poverty and what USAID’s role in this global effort will be.
Partisan Tussle Keeps Top U.S. Aid Job Vacant (New York Times) – Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, announced this summer that he would object to considering any nominees for State Department posts because of his opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran.
Foreign Aid in Crisis (Huffington Post) – Written by USAID alumnus Ben Barber, this article focuses on comments by former Administrator Andrew Natsios concerning the counterproductivity of too much oversight of overseas development programs.
In Pakistan, U.S. Aid Agency’s Efforts Produce Dubious Results (New York Times) – Critics accuse the United States Agency for International Development of, among other things, taking on projects with little concern for local priorities.
Sowing self-sufficiency in Africa with ‘Hello Tractor’ (Washington Post) – With a little start-up money, a small Anacostia-based company has a plan to solve a big agriculture problem half a world away. A “Smart Tractor” can be delivered with the tap of a cellphone.
CIA May Have Missed Opportunity to Identify Weinstein (Washington Post) – Agency may have missed an opportunity to protect or possibly rescue the hostage.
A 100 Percent Effective AIDS Prevention Pill (Washington Post) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that PrEP (commercial name Truvada) has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 92 percent when taken consistently but is much less effective when taken inconsistently.
6 Leadership Lessons from USAID (Government Executive) – Though it has its problems, the author sees USAID as a laboratory for effectively getting meaningful work done. Who knew?
Making USAID Fit for Purpose — A Proposal for a Top-to-Bottom Program Review (Center for Global Development) – This paper offers a blueprint for an agency-wide review of USAID’s strengths and weaknesses.
U.S. Agency for International Development: Background, Operations, and Issues (Congressional Research Service) – This report provides background information on the institutional makeup and operations of USAID.*
Two USAID Employees Designated Among USG Top Workers (Washington Post) –Mia Beers (OFDA) and Natasha de Marcken (Office of Education) are highlighted in Washington Post feature.
Bid Protest Denied in Largest Ever USAID Award (Devex) – Chemonics wins $9.5 b Supply Chain Management procurement.
Judge: USAID Must Lift Contractor Suspension (Washington Post) – IRD had been accused of “serious misconduct.”
USAID Vision for Ending Extreme Poverty – This document articulates how USAID defines extreme poverty, how we can achieve a world without extreme poverty and what USAID’s role in this global effort will be.
Partisan Tussle Keeps Top U.S. Aid Job Vacant (New York Times) – Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, announced this summer that he would object to considering any nominees for State Department posts because of his opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran.
Foreign Aid in Crisis (Huffington Post) – Written by USAID alumnus Ben Barber, this article focuses on comments by former Administrator Andrew Natsios concerning the counterproductivity of too much oversight of overseas development programs.
Making USAID Fit for Purpose — A Proposal for a Top-to-Bottom Program Review (Center for Global Development): This paper offers a blueprint for an agency-wide review of USAID’s strengths and weaknesses. The proposal recognizes that a modernized USAID should position itself to better complement assistance from other countries and multilateral institutions, as well as private investment, remittances, and recipient countries’ domestic revenues.
Tax Them and They Will Grow (Economist) – To be able to grow, poor countries need to get better at raising tax, and multinational firms need to get better at paying it.
Gayle Smith’s Bid to Run USAID Hits a Snag (Devex): Republican senators object to her stance on the Helms amendment.
U.S. Never Asked Alan Gross About His Imprisonment in Cuba (The Daily Beast) – Alan Gross was locked up by the Castro regime for half a decade. When he got out, no one in the U.S. government debriefed him about his time in captivity.
Why Is the U.S. Letting Its Best Foreign Aid Tool Fall Apart? (Foreign Policy) – As America is blowing billions by using its military as a one-size-fits-all solution for emergencies around the world, USAID is understaffed, underfunded, and on the cusp of crisis.
Reflections on the U.S./African Leaders Summit (Wilson Center) – The Summit theme was “Investing in the Next Generation,” and provided an opportunity to discuss key issues and define a way forward for US-Africa relations.
Strengthening Africa’s Security Governance (Wilson Center) – A key theme of US-Africa Leader’s Conference was Africa’s role as a venue for economic growth, social development and rising democratic governance while also confronting the grueling realities of transnational terrorism, illicit trafficking and intra-state conflict that still grip parts of the continent.
GAO Review of Steps to Safeguard G2G Activities USAID has government-to-government (G2G) assistance activities policies that generally reflect federal accountability standards to help ensure funds are used as intended. However, GAO identified several steps in implementing these policies that could further strengthen accountability.
USAID Gets a New IG Nominee After a 1310 Day Vacancy (Diplopundit) – Ann Calvaresi Barr, the Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, is President Obama’s nominee to be the USAID IG.
The End of Extreme Poverty (Ted Talk) USAID’s Alex Thier shares the Agency’s view on how this goal might be achieved.
Howard W. French on the Gayle Smith Nomination (Diplopundit) – More concern expressed re. Smith’s past involvement with authoritarian regimes, but there is not a good field of options for the appointment.
Conspired to Defraud Uncle Sam? Be Very Afraid. We’re Gonna Put You in Home Confinement! (Diplopundit) The CEO of Louis Berger, the third largest USAID contractor, gets feather-slapped by the court.
Senate should not confirm Gayle Smith (TheHill.com) – President Obama has tapped Gayle Smith to run the U.S. Agency for International Development. African strongmen will be very pleased by the news; but she is the wrong choice for the job.
After Jail in Cuba, Alan Gross to Work for U.S.-Cuba Opening (Wall St. Journal) – Gross to help launch PAC backing candidates in favor of a U.S.-Cuba policy shift.
Making USAID Fit for Purpose — A Proposal for a Top-to-Bottom Program Review (Center for Global Development): This paper offers a blueprint for an agency-wide review of USAID’s strengths and weaknesses. The proposal recognizes that a modernized USAID should position itself to better complement assistance from other countries and multilateral institutions, as well as private investment, remittances, and recipient countries’ domestic revenues.
Gayle Smith’s Bid to Run USAID Hits a Snag (DEVEX): Republican senators object to her stance on the Helms amendment.
5 Questions to Ask About the QDDR (Devex) – The second U.S. Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review is finally poised to launch, but will the strategic document have a meaningful impact on the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs?
OECD Report on Fragile States – The challenges of the fragile states threaten achievement of the Millennium Development Goals set by the UN.
The Quiet Global Crisis that Scares the State Department (Vox) – The new QDDR views a slow breakdown in global governance. Many of the institutions that were created in the past century to deal with economic and security risks around the world, such as the UN and IMF, may no longer be adequate to the task of dealing with such issues as the Syrian civil war or ISIS.
Obama Nominates Gayle Smith to Lead USAID (New York Times) – Smith is a longtime development and Africa specialist with experience in both the Clinton and Obama administrations.
U.S. Remains Top Foreign Aid Donor (Sputnik News) – The United States is again the number one provider of foreign assistance among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development members at nearly $33 billion in 2014.
A Blurred Line Between Foreign Service Officers and Civil Service Employees? (Washington Post) – Are U.S. Foreign Service Officers an endangered species? They fear the State Department wants to define them away.
The 169 Commandments (The Economist) – The question is whether too many UN Sustainable Development Goals are the same as having virtually none at all.
A Glass Half Full (Foreign Service Journal) – A retired State FSO’s views on positive changes in the Foreign Service over the past 4+ decades.
Poverty’s Long Farewell (The Economist) – The UN goal of ending poverty by 2030 is worthy but increasingly out of reach.
The Illusion of Cotnrol (Devex) – This excellent assessment of the impact of too much control is the first of a seven-part series by Diana Ohlbaum, former OTI deputy director and Congressional staffer. Part 6, Country Ownership 3.0, contains links to four other elements of the series.
Rajiv Shah’s Legacy (The Lancet) – Of the several articles done on this topic, this one seems to offer the most thoughtful and balanced view.
Raj Shah’s USAID Legacy – Devex’s assessment of the departing Administrator’s impact from the Haiti earthquake through his multiple initiatives.
Obama on What Most Americans Get Wrong About Foreign Aid (Vox Video Interview) – President Obama explains why he thinks we need to look at our foreign aid as an important tool in our national security portfolio, as opposed to charity.
Which Countries are the Winners and Losers in Obama’s Proposed 2016 Aid Budget? (Devex) – Central American and Sub Saharan Africa are the big winners.
Aid in U.S. Foreign Policy – The direct USAID related development aspects of the new National Security Policy issued February 6.
Reagan Building Interiors Have ‘Reached the Anticipated End of Life’ (bizjournals.com) – A building that is only 15 years old is already obsolete! The cubicle layout is inefficient and the floor space could accommodate more people.
The Impact of Obama’s Proposed Budget on Foreign Assistance (Devex) Some new initiatives and other strategies are apparent.
The Economics of Optimism (The Economist) – As the UN discusses the establishment of new “Sustainable Development Goals,” the debate increases on the risks of having too many goals and on prioritizing those which offer greater returns on development investment.
In Defense of Britain’s Oveseas Aid Program (CGD) – Tim Lankester, a former senior British aid official, provides an informed view of the positive value of aid and results in UK assistance programs.
Who Will be the Next USAID Administrator? (DevEx) – This list includes ten names, including that of Aaron Williams!
CIDA and AusAID Folded into Foreign Affairs Ministries (DevEx) –This almost happened to USAID. For additional thoughts, click here.
Warren Weinstein Abductor Sentenced – USAID alumnus Weinstein is still missing, with no proof of life since late 2012.
USAID Pays $3.2m Settlement to Alan Gross/DAI (Washington Post) – Result was the product of pre-trial mediation.
Shortchanging Democracy Assistance (Washington Post) – Thomas Carothers discusses the harm recent DRG funding and program cutbacks have done to the cause of development that is sustainable.
The Senate’s Back Channel on the Cuba Deal (Politico) – The role of staffer Tim Rieser in the deal to free Alan Gross and advance the US/Cuban relationship.
Devex on Aid Plans in Cuba – There are some possibilities, but the involvement of USAID would appear to be unlikely.
How USAID’s Growing Relevance Could Destroy It – The U.S. government needs civilian tools to advance its short-term interests in difficult environments, but continuing to retrofit or cannibalize long-term USAID programs may do more harm than good.
Behavioral Economics Applied (New York Times) – New ways of getting people to send their kids to school, save money, etc.
Deputy IG to Retire Amid Flap at USAID (Washington Post) – Carroll says that decision has nothing to do with whistleblower allegations.
Stop Trying to Save the World (The New Republic) – A very comprehensive look at the conundrum of what works and what does not in international development.
UN: Most African Nations to Miss 2015 MDG Goals – A main issue is the gap between human development and economic progress.*
USAID Motivates Innovation in Ebola Fight (Washington Post) – New, effective and more economic materials are already available for testing.
Apply the Rigors of Investing to Foreign Aid (Foreign Policy) – A useful look on the real returns to foreign aid and how this might be applied in QDDR 2.
USAID’s Nancy Lindborg Select to Head U.S> Institute for Peace – Lindborg, who has devoted most of her career to issues of transition, democracy and civil society, conflict and humanitarian response, will be the fifth president in the organization’s 30-year history.
International Development Programs Are Hampered by Oversight (TheHill.com) – The views of a former ambassador.
Ebola – An Interview with Raj Shah (Washington Post) – The Ebola crisis has incited a global response. USAID is leading the U.S. effort.
A Prisoner Swap with Cuba? (New York Times): –An editorial explores the pros and cons of a prisoner exchange that potentially would free USAID contractor Alan Gross.
USAID “Poor” Morale Goes From 37% to 47%, Administrator Approval Rating Plummets From 78% to 58% (DiploPundit) – Based on a recent AFSA/USAID survey.
Whistleblowers Say USAID’s IG Removed Critical Details From Public Reports (Washington Post) – Report says that negative findings in USAID OIG’s reports were being stricken from audits between 2011 and 2013. The Acting IG has withdrawn his name from consideration for the position.
How the US Did on The Aid Transparency Index – Despite making several international transparency commitments, US donors still struggle to share useful information about their aid spending.
Who is Actually Leading the Ebola Crisis? (BuzzFeed) – USAID is currently in charge of the international effort. A key senator says that’s not enough — the White House should appoint a single, high-level official to lead the fight against Ebola.
Fifty Years of Global Health – In its 50-year history, USAID has had an important hand in numerous crucial advances in global health. USAID’s new book is a record of this work and a catalog of lessons.
Shaping the New Development Agenda (CIPE) – Thoughts from UAA Board Member Jim Michel.
Foreign Funding of NGOs – Donors: Keep Out (The Economist) – More and more autocrats are stifling criticism by barring non-governmental organisations from taking foreign cash.
Seven Ways to Make 2014 Safer for Aid Workers (Devex) – New research suggests that aid organizations could do much more to prevent violence against their staff. Implementing agencies, donors, governments and individuals involved all can take action.
How USAID is Responding to the Ebola Crisis in Africa (Devex) – USAID now has four DART teams (Ebola, South Sudan, Syria and Iraq) in the field responding to an onslaught of humanitarian crises.
How US Foreign Aid is Spent – An excellent – and brief – graphic presentation on aid economics.
Smart Aid for the World’s Poor (Wall Street Journal) – In September next year, the United Nations plans to choose a list of development goals for the world to meet by the year 2030. These goals will look beyond the UN’s Millennial Development Goals.
US Sent Latin Youth Undercover in Anti-Cuba Ploy – A spotlight on yet another USAID supported activity in Cuba.
USAID Innovator Nominated for Award (Washington Post) – Low cost water purification device was developed by an Agency team.
A History of USAID Administrators – USAID has been in business for more than 50 years and had 16 different administrators since its creation in 1961. DEVEX has taken a closer look at the track record of these administrators, and explored some of their greatest accomplishments and sharpest setbacks. You also can read comments on this piece by Andrew Natsios.
The BRICS Bank (The Economist) – The BRICS set up their own institutions to respond to needs akin to those addressed by the World Bank and IMF.
Top USAID Contract Awardees: A Primer (Devex) – USAID awarded more than $4.9 billion in contracts in fiscal 2012 – representing a 9% increase from fiscal 2011. While USAID awards the bulk of its contracts to for-profit groups, nongovernmental organizations also win a sizeable chunk of the agency’s funding.
New Deputy Administrator of USAID Nominated (Devex) – Alfonso Lenhardt, President Barack Obama’s choice to serve as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s deputy administrator, testified on his nomination before the U.S. Senate on June 26. For a vignette from his confirmation hearing, click here.
With Help of Private Industry, USAID Review Finds $2.9 Billion for Maternal, Child Health (Washington Post) – Faced with the daunting task of starting an ambitious program in global child and maternal health during a depressed funding climate in Washington, Rajiv Shah knew just where to turn for advice: private industry.
How to Keep Afghanistan on Track – Raj Shah Washington Post Op Ed – A review of what USAID assistance has accomplished and what is needed to ensure its sustainability.
Afghanistan After the Drawdown – Alumnus Jerry Hyman provides insights into US civilian engagement beyond 2014.
Will Pride 2014 Be the Time for Obama’s LGBT Workplace Non-Discrimination Order? (Huffington Post) – Alumnus Jeffrey Marburg-Goodman describes the implementation of LGBT policies and practices in USAID and its contractors and grantees.
Four Ways USAID Must Reform its Procurement Practices (Brookings) – An increasingly failing US procurement and contracting process derives from a growing amount of implementation of USG programs that is carried out by decreasingly effective contractors. This problem is fixable.
USAID Launching Fight Against Latin American Coffee Fungus (Washington Post) – The U.S. government is partnering with Texas researchers to drive out a coffee fungus that has caused $1 billion in damage to plants across Latin America and the Caribbean, which has helped to drive up prices for the commodity by 60 percent this year.
Innovation – A Second Green Revolution in Rice (The Economist) – Technological breakthroughs in rice will boost harvests and cut poverty. They deserve support. A second Green Revolution could save lives.
Bridging the Divide: How Can USAID and the DOD Integrate Security and Development More Effectively in Africa – From The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs by G. William Anderson.
Development Cooperation: A Key Partner of Diplomacy and Defense in Foreign Policy – Remarks given by Jim Michel at the April 2014 Santa Fe World Affairs Forum Symposium “Talking to the Enemy, Cultivating Friends: Diplomacy Revisited.”
Big Budgets, Little Oversight in War Zones (Washington Post) – How a tiny nonprofit grew into a giant that paid its top staffers millions. International Relief and Development (IRD) received more grants and cooperative agreements from USAID in recent years than any other nonprofit relief and development organization in the nation.For additional details, click here.
QDDR II Walks Into a Bar and Asks, What Happened to the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations? (Diplopundit) – How is the State Department going to fix QDDR I’s offspring, the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, an ill-conceived and executed USAID/OTI clone?
Linking Growth and Governance for Inclusive Development and Effective International Cooperation, written by UAA Board member Jim Michel and published by The Center for International Private Enterprise, explores the multiple and intimate connections between growth and governance.
QDDR 2.0: A Few ‘Big Ideas’ But No Complicated Working Groups (DevEx) – Speculation has focused on how the second review process may vary from the drawn-out and contentious internal debates of its predecessor. Key anticipated differences are that QDDR 2.0 is expected to push for more consultation with the foreign aid and NGO community and focus on fewer issues than its 2010 predecessor.
Alan Gross, USAID Contractor Held in Cuba, Goes on Hunger Strike (Washington Post ) – He is protesting his treatment by both the Cuban and U.S. governments. Update: At the request of his mother, Gross has decided to end his hunger strike.
In Switch, Development Agency Welcomes Business and Technology to Poverty Fight (NY Times) – Under Shah initiatives, rather than pouring billions of public dollars into programs to fight poverty, USAID is increasingly using loan guarantees to get local banks to finance big projects, giving its money directly to foreign development groups.
USAID Created Secret Cuba Twitter Program (Associated Press) – A USAID supported program developed a bare-bones “Cuban Twitter,” using text messaging to evade Cuba’s strict control of information and its stranglehold restrictions over the Internet. Read a Washington Post Editorial on the same topic.
Raj Shah to Become Ambassador to India? However, the rumor is denied by USAID.
State Department’s OTI-Redundant, Mission-less ‘Conflict’ Bureau, Criticized by State/IG – The Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations was formed in November 2011 as “the institutional locus for policy and operational solutions for crisis, conflict, and instability.” However, OIG considers it directionless and unstable.
African Demography – The Dividend is Delayed (The Economist) – Hopes that Africa’s dramatic population bulge may create prosperity seem to have been overdone.
Administrator Shah Speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast (video) – The Administrator eloquently describes how USAID is bringing diverse communities of business, science, government, and faith together to end extreme poverty in our lifetimes. His presentation begins about 47 minutes into the video.
USAID Looks Ahead to Uncertain Operating Budget (Devex) – USAID will “exhaust” this year any carryover funding it has to help offset operating expenses budget cuts included in the fiscal year 2014 omnibus bill, according to an agency official. That means things could get rocky in 2015.
USAID Cut Out of Cuba Programs – USAID has been left out of the $17.5 million appropriated for Cuba democracy programs this fiscal year, amid complaints over partisan political fighting and agency mishandling of the programs.
Ending Extreme Poverty in Fragile Contexts is a USAID discussion paper that looks at how to achieve sustainable development outcomes in fragile states, recognizing the difficult hurdles these states face.
Poverty and the Safety of the Poor (Washington Post) – As elites abandon the public security system, their impoverished neighbors are left relying on underpaid, under-trained, undisciplined and frequently corrupt police forces for protection and all-but-paralyzed courts for justice.
The Case for Aid (Foreign Policy) – Piling onto the Bill/Melinda Gates statement, Jeffrey Sachs tells us all why he thinks foreign aid does a lot of good.
US Pushes for Outside Oversight of World Bank, Opposes Push Toward ‘Big Hydro’ (Washington Post) – The United States is demanding stricter oversight of World Bank projects amid concern that the bank has slipped in how closely it guards against violence, forced resettlement and other conflict associated with the works that it funds.
Mythbusters: Misconceptions About the U.S. and the Word (Politico) – A group of globally minded people—from diplomats and senators to economists and entrepreneurs—are asked: What myth about America’s role in the world most drives them crazy?
Three Myths on the World’s Poor (Wall St. Journal) – Bill and Melinda Gates call foreign aid a phenomenal investment that’s transforming the world. Extreme poverty has been cut in half over the past 25 years, child mortality is plunging, and many countries that had long relied on foreign aid are now self-sufficient. Once you have read this, you may interested in this related interview with Gates.
US Congress Sending Mixed Messages on Aid ‘Localization’ (Devex) – Conflicting language reflects what has been a clear partisan divide over a central pillar of the USAID Forward reforms. Senate Democrats generally support the “localization” effort, while House Republicans’ have sought to curtail the process.
US Aid Reform in 2014: 8 Issues Congress May Tackle (Devex) – Congress has long avoided comprehensive reform of U.S. development cooperation, and 2014 will likely be no different. But there’s a good chance lawmakers will consider a number of issues that could affect international development.
Kidnapped USAID Alum Pleas For Help – Held in Pakistan for more than two years by al-Qaeda militants, Warren Weinstein recorded a video message calling on the Obama Administration to negotiate with his captors. Also, read the response of Warren’s Family.
USAID to Leave Ecuador (Christian Science Monitor) – USAID expects to close its doors in Ecuador by September 2014 due to an increasingly acrimonious relationship with President Rafael Correa. This comes six months after it was kicked out of Bolivia.
Africa’s Aid Mess (Baron’s) – Author Paul Theroux discusses why the philanthropy of Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Bono, and Jeffrey Sachs largely fails. Here’s what works.
The Charitable Industrial Complex – Warren Buffett’s son re-thinks the impact of foundation-based aid efforts.
Senator Raises Questions About USAID Inspector General’s Independence – Managers in USAID’s inspector general’s office “routinely” pressure auditors to drop findings that would reflect poorly on their programs and punish those who don’t go along, according to whistleblower allegations cited in a recent letter to Sen. Tom Coburn.
USAID Contractor Jailed in Cuba, Appeals to Obama to Intervene – On the fourth anniversary of his imprisonment in Cuba, former U.S. government contractor Alan Gross said he fears his country has “abandoned” him and appealed to President Obama to personally intervene in his case.
The Crucible: Iraq, Afghanistan and the Future of USAID –The evolution of USAID over the past 15 years and how the post 9/11 experience may have changed that.
Philippine Typhoon Revives Debate on U.S. Food Aid Methods – Aid workers and antipoverty groups say that current laws governing American food aid could delay or hurt recovery efforts in the Philippines.
Why Are Development Agencies Giving up on Development? – The World Bank has announced that their goal is to “eradicate extreme poverty.”This is a shift from an organization that supports national development agendas towards an organization that just promotes cost-effective charity work.
The Battle for Hearts and Minds: The Role of Aid in Foreign Policy – Humanitarian aid would seem to have no place in hard power geopolitics. But that, as it turns out, is far too simplistic.
No Need to Dig (The Economist) – Many of Africa’s fastest-growing economies have not relied on oil or mining.
The Economics of Sexual Inequality (The Economist) – New research hints at a better method to ensure girls in Africa stay in school.
Perceptions of Democracy in Latin America(The Economist) – A new Latinobarometro report shows that, despite an economic slowdown, Latin Americans feel pretty satisfied with their lives, but they don’t give much credit for that to their democratic institutions.
Pennies From Heaven(The Economist)– Giving money directly to poor people works surprisingly well. But it cannot deal with the deeper causes of poverty.
Trends in the Practice of Development Cooperation – Strengthening Governance and the Rule of Law – In recent decades, development economists have argued that good governance and the rule of law are essential for sustained economic growth, sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger. Alumnus (and UAA Board Member) Jim Michel reviews what has been done in response to this conclusion.
The Controversy Over Procurement Reform: Is Local Spending Better? – Efforts at USAID, to utilize other countries’ local governments and organizations to carry out its programs on the ground have triggered a debate that will ultimately affect millions of lives in the years to come.
USAID Looks to Business for Funding (MSNBC) – With budgets being squeezed across the board in Washington, funds for international development overseas are facing challenges–something USAID is trying to circumvent by seeking corporate partnerships.
Eliminating Extreme Poverty is No Longer a Dream (The Economist) – The record is there to prove it. But is the best approach through growth or safety nets?
GAO Report on Global Food Security – Under the Feed The Future initiative, GAO found that USAID leads the whole-of-government approach by better coordinating and integrating partner agencies’ knowledge and expertise.
The Delivery Man – USAID’s Mark Ward is the State Department’s senior advisor on assistance to Syria, and from his perch across the border in Gaziantep, Turkey, he oversees a growing American assistance package. Much of it is humanitarian aid provided to Syrians in need of help during the civil war.
A Death In the Family (Foreign Policy) –USAID’s first known war-zone-related suicide raises troubling questions about whether America is doing enough to assist its relief workers.
Former USAID Senior Official to Pay Civil Penalty for Alleged Conflict of Interest Violation – David Ostermeyer, who retired from USAID in 2012, will pay the government a $30,000 penalty to settle allegations that he participated in a matter in which he had a financial interest that conflicted with his duties when he was Chief Financial Officer of the agency.
Is it Nuts to Give to the Poor Without Strings Attached? (New York Times) – NGO GiveDirectly provides Kenyan poor with $1,000 in return for — nothing. What does it do to alleviate their poverty?
USAID: Destined to Disappoint –There is a fundamental mismatch between the United States’ foreign aid architecture, resources, and objectives. Aid is often expected to compensate for other US policy decisions. If we just provide the money and the expertise, policymakers reason, then capacity, development, and governance will follow.Any development professional will tell you that this is simply not the case.
Can Silicon Valley Save the World? (Foreign Policy) – Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are taking their can-do, failure-conquering, technology-enabled tactics to the challenge of global poverty. But is their really an app for that?
U.S. has spotty record on law requiring it to cut aid after coups (Washington Post) – The Foreign Assistance Act, a U.S. law first enacted in 1961 says that the United States must cut aid to any country “whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.” Past cases suggests that, while the U.S. often does follow this law, it tends to ignore or bypass it when it sees key national security interests at stake – which may well apply in Egypt.
Egyptian Court Sentences 43 NGO Workers (Wall Street Journal) – An Egyptian court convicted 43 nongovernmental-organization employees, including at least 16 Americans, of using unregistered foreign funding, worrying some Egyptian groups who fear the precedent could hinder their own efforts.
Smart Power Agenda for Advancing America’s Global Interests – Since the September 11th attacks, a growing and broadening consensus has emerged that global development and diplomacy, alongside defense, are essential components of American national security. The question no longer is whether to strengthen diplomacy and development, but how to best shape, elevate, and reform U.S. civilian agencies to advance America’s global interests.
World Poverty Cut (Economist) – In September 2000, the heads of 147 governments pledged that they would halve the proportion of people on the Earth living in the direst poverty by 2015. It was the first of a litany of worthy aims enshrined in the United Nations “millennium development goals.” Many of these aims have not been met. But the goal of halving poverty has been. Indeed, it was achieved five years early.
Post-2015 UN Millennium Goals Report – Download a copy here.
Agriculture, Structural Change and the Urban Imperative in African Development – Read a recent blog post by alumnus Owen Cylke.
Putin’s War on NGOs (Washington Post) – Vladimir Putin has methodically removed challenges to his authority since he returned to the presidency a year ago. Now, his critics say, he has taken aim at a wide swath of civic organizations in an attack that could hamper democracy-building efforts for years to come.
Give Sam Walton the Nobel Prize (Foreign Policy) – There is much to dislike about Walmart. But for all its manifold offenses, Walmart may have done more for poor consumers in the United States and around the world than any other business in American history.
The Deliverologist (Washington Post) – If a narrow monopoly interferes with service delivery, break it; then track the performance relentlessly and ride whoever is responsible until it does. A new philosophy guides the conduct of World Bank programming.
DAI Settles with the Family of Alan Gross (Miami Herald), who continues to be held captive in a Cuban jail.
FY 2014 Development and Humanitarian Assistance Budget – USAID fact sheet.
Food and Flexibility (Washington Post) – Michael Gerson OpEd piece on the reasoning for changes to to food aid programs. For The Economist’s reporting on the subject, click here.
UAA in the FSJ – The April issue of the Foreign Service Journal includes an interesting piece on the USAID Alumni Association. You can also take a look at the related UAA ad directed at potential new members. In the same issue is an interesting letter to the editor supporting the unification of all the USG development programs (e.g. MCC, OPIC, TDA) under USAID.
What Went Right? (Foreign Policy) – Critics of the war are missing the big picture: Afghanistan is much better off today. USAID has had a hand in much of it.
A Political War Brews Over ‘Food For Peace’ Aid Program (NPR) -Washington is awash in rumors that the White House is planning major changes in the way that the U.S. donates food to fight hunger in some of the world’s poorest countries.It’s set off an emotional debate. Both sides say that they are trying to save lives.
Is It a Phone, Is It a Bank? (The Economist) – M-PESA is a thriving money-transfer system run by Safaricom, a Kenyan mobile-phone operato. rHaving persuaded millions of Kenyans to send cash through an SMS network, Safaricom is now trying to tempt them into a savings-and-loans service.
The European Endowment for Democracy is a new EU foundation that aims to get funding quickly to democracy struggles so as to maximize impact. The endowment will focus on giving grants to democracy activists and groups with fewer strings attached than the more rigid requirements of established EU programs.
On March 20, USAID released its first ever USAID Forward Progress Report . The report focuses on the Agency’s work to deliver measurable results, promote sustainable development through partnerships, and scale up innovation.
Conditional Aid: Carrots All Around (The Economist) – A controversial approach to helping poor countries seems to work after all: the MCC dispenses aid based on merit.
Global Development’s Star Player Hangs Up Her Jersey (Devex) – Hillary Clinton surprised many by eschewing the usual path for this country’s top diplomat. Instead, she focused much of her attention and energy on international development. For Clinton, these weren’t “soft” issues but part of a “smart power” agenda crucial to U.S. economic and national security interests.
The Hidden Costs of Outsourcing Diplomacy and Development (Foreign Service Journal) – Outsourcing State and USAID’s engagement with the world has become the new normal, but should it be?
Want to speak fluent USAID? You can now with an up to date USAID Acronym List.
Can You Fight Poverty With a Five-Star Hotel? (Foreign Policy) – A story of how the IFC, The World Bank’s investment arm, hands out billions in loans to wealthy tycoons and giant multinationals in some of the world’s poorest places.
DEVEX on Hillary Clinton’s Development Legacy – Clinton helped to write the script for a new type of U.S. engagement abroad, one in which international development is a central pillar. But has a higher profile for development led to better results? On this point, her record is mixed.
Top Priorities for Africa in 2013 On January 9, the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings hosted a discussion with leading African experts on what the most pressing issues and challenges are for the continent in 2013. The panel included: Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University; Laura Seay, assistant professor at Morehouse College; Steve Radelet, distinguished professor at Georgetown University; and Senior Fellow Mwangi Kimenyi, director of the Africa Growth Initiative at Brookings.
$10 Million Bounty for Sudanese Killers of USAID Employees Killed in 2008 Almost five years to the day a USAID officer and FSN were killed in Khartoum, the U.S. Government announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of two of their killers.
Alumnus Kiert Toh writes occasional columns for a Thai newspaper. See an interesting example here.
USAID: America, the Mensch relates the success stories of USAID and the Agency’s modesty in telling them.
Alumnus Jerry Zarr recently published an article on the Marshall Plan in History Magazine. The post-World War II reconstruction of Europe still stands as one of the major achievements of U.S. foreign assistance.
Top 10 Rethinking US Foreign Assistance Blogs in 2012 – What were the most popular Rethinking US Foreign Assistance blog posts in 2012? White House development initiatives get a lot of attention. Major evaluation and learning efforts do too.
The Politics of Corruption (The Economist) – Global anti-corruption efforts are growing in scope and clout. A culture of denial has given way or at least lip-service to the cause.
Aid Reaches Far to Buck Global Warming (Washington Post) – The U.S. spends nearly $1.4 billion over 3 years to gird poor nations for climate change, but some wonder if it is enough.
It Doesn’t Take a Village (The Economist) – Channeling development aid directly to local decision-makers sounds like a good plan. However, a new report by the World Bank warns against relying on decisions made at the most local level of government.
Possible Replacements Should A/AID Shah Depart – The article is from Devex. The relevant portion begins at the first sub-heading, about 14 lines down.
The Future of British Aid (The Economist) – Britain’s ambitious overseas development policy needs to be savvier if it is to survive.
USAID in Russia: A Celebration of Partnership (The Huffington Post) – Carol Peasley provides an overview of the outstanding sustainable partnerships developed by the soon to be closed USAID/Russia Mission.
Corporate Transparency – Measuring Mud (The Economist) – How transparent are the world’s biggest companies? The results of a recent Transparency International Survey indicate that the response is not always clear cut.
Please Don’t Send Food (Foreign Policy) – A new study suggests that food aid could actually prolong conflict rather than resolve it.
5 World Events That Could Swing the U.S. Presidential Election (Foreign Policy) – Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are slugging it out over the economy, but the world may have a trick or two up its sleeve. Every politician lives in fear of that 3 a.m. phone call that can upend the best-laid campaign plans. This article weighs five global events that could send the U.S. election careening along a very different path than the one it’s traveling down today.
African Child Mortality: The Best Story in Development (The Economist) – The huge decline in child mortality now gathering pace across Africa. Sixteen of the twenty African countries which have had detailed surveys of living conditions since 2005 reported falls in their child-mortality rates.
USAID plan to double direct aid to overseas groups could hurt American contractors (Washington Post 5/21/12)– American contractors risk losing business under a U.S. plan to double the share of international aid awards given to overseas entrepreneurs and governments.
Hope Springs a Trap (The Economist) – An absence of optimism plays a large role in keeping people trapped in poverty. Esther Duflo, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology argues that the effects of some anti-poverty programs go beyond the direct impact of the resources they provide. These programs also make it possible for the very poor to hope for more than mere survival.
Why Nations Fail (Washington Post Book Review) – Why are some countries rich and others poor? Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson make the case that it is man-made political and economic institutions that underlie economic success (or lack of it).
Africa and the Need for a New Development Discourse – USAID Alumnus Owen Cylke offers a concise analysis of the current crossroads of development efforts in Africa and provides some suggestions.
USAID Administrator’s Annual Letter – In his second annual letter, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah outlines his vision for how the Agency is striving to respond tocalls from the President and Secretary of State to elevate development as an integral part of the nation’s foreign policy arsenal.
How to Rig an Election – The only poll that counts, supposedly, is election day. But for the sophisticated vote-rigger that is terrible advice.The Economist provides a simple guide for you, the aspiring autocrat.
On February 15, along with USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton led a town hall event for Agency staff. They spoke about the progress and challenges in implementing two major development reform initiatives: the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review and USAID Forward. To see the town hall meeting, click here
The FY ’13 State and USAID Budget Fact Sheet offers a summary of the details. Click here for written and video (including Administrator Shah) briefings on the budget. Finally, for an assessment of the budget by the the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, click here .
President Obama Makes the Case for Foreign Aid – Video clip. During a Google+ “hangout,” President Obama explains the strategic role of American foreign assistance, calling out the national security, economic, and humanitarian importance of U.S. international affairs programs.
Foreign Aid – It’s What We Americans Do – This is a pro-foreign aid public service message. Its source is not attributed. You’ll love it anyway.
The Big Push Back (The Economist Dec 12, 2011) Could Jeff Sachs possibly be wrong?! What heresy! Read all about it!
Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation-This declaration for the first time establishes an agreed framework for development cooperation that embraces traditional donors, South-South cooperators, the BRICs, CSOs and private funders. This marks a turning point for international development cooperation.
America Really Was That Great – (Foreign Policy Nov. 2011) Thomas Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum ask: Is America still exceptional? The question not only has become a contentious issue in American politics, it also affects the stability and prosperity of the entire world.
USAID Is Foreign Policy’s Best Dollar Value – From Politico, four former USAID administrators explore the many benefits that have resulted from the United States’ relatively low investment in international development.
Bill Gates’ Plan to Assist the World’s Poor – A Washington Post op ed piece by the Microsoft board chair makes the strategic case for the importance of foreign aid. To read Gates’ full report to the G20, click here.
The Shape of U.S. Global Development Reforms – This Brookings policy brief highlights those reforms that are under way, those that are not and those that are still missing from the agenda. It also offers specific recommendations to the Obama administration
MFAN Statement: Gutting USAID’s Operating Budget Would Repeat Painful Mistakes of the Past – The House of Representatives has proposed to cut nearly 27% from USAID’s operating budget for fiscal year 2012. Such a drastic cut would cripple the Agency’s ongoing and aggressive internal reform effort.
New Sources of Aid – Charity begins abroad. Big developing countries, such as India and Brazil, are becoming donors. (The Economist, August 11, 2011)
Aid and Extremism – Giving aid to poor people is good in and of itself. But if we’ve been doing that to prevent them from becoming Islamic fundamentalists, then a new study suggests we’ve been aiming at the wrong target.
Fortress Embassies – Designing buildings for America’s diplomats is getting ever trickier. (The Economist, July 30, 2011)
The War on Soft Power – Joseph Nye, Foreign Policy, April 12, 2011. Even the U.S military does not want to cut the State Department and foreign aid budgets.

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