Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance
Strong and effective U.S. foreign assistance programs are a crucial component of improved rich-world policies toward the developing world. They are also vital to U.S. national interests, enhancing global security, expanding economic opportunities and promoting American values. The past 40 years of U.S. foreign assistance have shown important successes. But the U.S. foreign assistance apparatus is badly out-of-date and inadequate to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The mission, mandate and organizational structure must be rebuilt and adequately funded.
Other CGD Work on U.S. Foreign Aid Reform:
CGD has been an active participant in a broad-based effort to elevate development and strengthen U.S. assistance, including through the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN). As part of this ongoing effort, CGD senior policy associate Sheila Herrling directs the Center’s Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance program.
This Program aims to:
- Create a one-stop-shop for information, dialogue and analysis on U.S. foreign assistance innovations and reform.
- Provide CGD expert opinion on how to reform the mission, mandate and organizational structure of U.S. foreign assistance.
- Contribute to the ongoing effort to elevate global development and U.S. foreign assistance as a critical national interest priority.
What’s New in U.S. Foreign Assistance Reform?
- New Aid Chief Lays Out Plans to Fix USAID – Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy (December 1, 2009)
- The Downside of 'Smart Power' – Jesse Zwick, The New Republic (November 30, 2009)
- What We Can Achieve in Afghanistan – Robert Zoellick, The Washington Post (October 30, 2009)
This initiative is funded in part by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.