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Cooler temperatures have finally reached Washington, but the election season (er, silly season?) is heating up. In the waning days before the election, the Obama administration has finally nominated a USAID assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs. CGD’s Todd Moss has a quick-win proposal for how this administration (or the next) could help OPIC improve energy access for the world’s poorest. And we’re delighted to welcome three new visiting fellows—Kate Almquist, Clay Lowery, and Franck Wiebe—to help us think through what the elections will mean for US foreign assistance. Meanwhile, we bid a fond farewell to Casey Dunning. We already miss her contributions to the Rethink team but wish her well in her new role at the Center for American Progress.
Best regards,
Sarah Jane Staats
Director, Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance
USAID Nominee: Better Late than Never? |
The White House just nominated Charles Cooper to be USAID’s assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs. The position was vacant for 44 months. As elections approach and Congress heads out on recess at the end of the week, two questions remain: will the nominee be confirmed and will he have time to make an impact? Sarah Jane Staats unpacks the nomination and asks what might have been if the position had been filled four years ago. |
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Unleash OPIC to Fight Energy Poverty |
The US Overseas Private Investment Corp’s portfolio emissions cap bars it from investing in nearly all fossil fuel projects—even in countries with extreme energy poverty and tiny emissions. Todd Moss proposes a simple policy tweak that could help bring lights to 700 million people stuck in the dark. The idea is simple: exempt projects from OPIC’s emissions cap in countries where poverty is greatest and emissions are lowest. |
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Three New Rethink Voices |
CGD is proud to introduce three new visiting fellows—Kate Almquist, Clay Lowery, and Franck Wiebe—to the Rethinking US Foreign Assistance program. The trio brings a mix experience, including from USAID, the Treasury Department and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, to the Rethink program. Check out the latest from Kate Almquist on DOD’s development programs in Africa. |
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Additional Resources
- Nancy Birdsall responds to Dr. Anjum Altaf’s critique of CGD’s report on the US development approach to Pakistan.
- Sarah Jane Staats on what next for aid to Ethiopia.
- The Office of Management and Budget’s report to Congress on what mandatory budget cuts (aka sequestration) would look like for more than 1,200 federal agencies in 2013.
- Senators Kerry, Rubio, and Cardin release the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act without mentioning a role for USAID’s administrator.
- USAID to close operations in Russia after the Kremlin demands the aid organization leave the country.
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