After 30 Months Vacant, Is There Even Any Point in Naming an Africa Lead at USAID?

Despite the apparent burst of White House attention to Africa from the First Lady’s tourism-heavy visit to South Africa and Botswana last week, there are still plenty of reasons that many (including me) remain disappointed by the administration’s efforts so far.  Exhibit A:  Nearly 30 months into the term, the White House has yet to name a USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa, the top government official responsible for US development efforts on the continent.  (See the pathetic vacancy record on our USAID Staff Tracker.)Followers of this blog may remember that I complained about this problem more than four months ago. There’s been some spotty additions such as the belated nomination of a Global Health AA, but absolutely zippo for Africa.   The signal the vacancy sends to the outside world about priorities are patently clear -- and interpreted as such in Africa.But at this late stage, I can’t help but wonder if there is really any point.  Might it be better to just write-off the whole term and just wait for 2013?  Seems like we are going to find out.