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U.S. Foreign Assistance in Our National Interest

Feb 1, 2008

In her first major speech since being confirmed by Congress, USAID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance Henrietta Holsman Fore delivered a keynote speech on the importance of elevating global development and reforming U.S. foreign assistance to meet our foreign policy and national interest priorities. She reviewed progress made to date in modernizing our foreign assistance policies and practices and rolled out her ambitious reform agenda for the coming year.

Following her remarks, a panel of legislative, foreign policy, and foreign assistance experts--including Paul Clayman, General Counsel, Minority Staff, Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Rich Greene, Deputy Director, U.S. Foreign Assistance, U.S. State Department; and Nancy Lindborg, President, MercyCorps--discussed the challenges, opportunities and political realities of modernizing the fragmented U.S. assistance apparatus for the tasks of the 21st century. The discussion was moderated by Carol Lancaster, Visiting Fellow, Center for Global Development and Director, Mortara Center for International Studies, Georgetown University.

Read Henrietta Fore's keynote address

Read event transcript (pdf, 81K)