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May 10, 2012
Continuing budget concerns will put downward pressure on foreign affairs spending for a number of years to come. Facing this reality, our own Connie Veillette and CAP’s John Norris set up a bipartisan working group to think through how to reorient the international affairs budget to weather this period of fiscal uncertainty. Our data-informed analysis focused on eliminating inefficiencies while honing spending in areas of priority to maximize our return on international affairs. The resulting report, Engagement amid Austerity, is now available and lists four flagship reforms to make our assistance more selective, efficient, and effective. Read the report and register for our upcoming discussion on its recommendations featuring the co-authors and a distinguished panel of experts.
End of Year Budget Battle Spells Difficulty for Development |
House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that sets spending for international affairs at levels fourteen percent below the president’s request and five percent below last year’s appropriations. Advocates are worried, but they might save their hand wringing for the impending end-of-year train wreck set to ensue when the government tries to sort out differences between the White House, Senate, and House budgets. Connie Veillette explains how a lack of compromise could spell more than trouble for development efforts. |
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U.S. Applauded for Food Security Leadership |
Work on a new Farm Bill began last week that includes some promising fixes to the notoriously inefficient U.S. food aid system. This news comes following the release of a new report by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs that applauds U.S. government for its food security leadership. But while food aid reform may be on the rise amongst agencies and on the Hill, there are still areas of concern in this sector that could affect U.S. efforts in the future. |
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Mali Military Coup Prompts MCC to Terminate Compact |
The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s (MCC) board of directors terminated Mali’s five-year $460 million compact this week following a late-March military coup. The MCC expects to wind down all compact operations by August 2012 and has not yet released figures on how the closure will affect Mali’s intended compact results. Sarah Jane Staats explains that the termination will leave MCC projects unfinished and cost Mali upwards of $100 million in MCA money. |
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