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U.S. Foreign Assistance for the 21st Century

This White House and the World Brief presents the key facts and recommendations drawn from chapters of The White House and the World: A Global Development Agenda for the Next U.S. President. Meeting today's foreign policy challenges requires a new vision of American global leadership based on the strength of our core values, ideas, and ingenuity. It calls for an integrated foreign policy that promotes our ideals, enhances our security, helps create economic and political opportunities for people around the world, and restores America's image abroad. We cannot rely exclusively or even primarily on defense and security to meet these goals. CGD senior policy analyst Sheila Herrling and senior fellow Steve Radelet argue instead that we must make greater use of all the tools of statecraft, including diplomacy, trade, investment, intelligence, and a strong and effective foreign assistance strategy.(Sheila Herrling and Steve Radelet, Center for Global Development, 22 August 2008)

http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/16559

(Added: Tue Sep 02 2008   Hits: 18)

U.S. and Chinese Engagement in Africa

This report is the result of a Conference exploring how the US and China can improve cooperation in development practices and projects in Africa (CSIS, July 2008)

http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/080711_cooke_us_chineseengagement_web.pdf

(Added: Mon Jul 21 2008   Hits: 16)

GLOBAL: US farm bill "too little, too late" for developing world

This Article examines discusses the pros and cons of the new US farm bill - a bill which regulates how the worlds largest provider of food aid, distributes that aid.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79036

(Added: Mon Jul 07 2008   Hits: 44)

US and Foreign Aid Assistance

Webpage containing extensive information on foreign aid, particularly US ODA levels

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp

(Added: Tue May 06 2008   Hits: 45)

Transitioning US Food Aid toward Local and Regional Purchase [pdf]

Each year millions of tons of food are shipped from the United States as food aid to respond to crises resulting from droughts, conflicts and severe poverty. While there is little doubt that this aid has saved countless lives, it is also clear that the US program, designed over 50 years ago when the US had abundant food surpluses to dispose of, is enormously inefficient (ActionAid International, September 2007).

http://www.actionaidusa.org/assets/pdfs/food_rights/foodaid_policysummary_final1.pdf

(Added: Fri May 02 2008   Hits: 21)

Women and Food Crises: How US Food Aid Policies Can Better Support their Struggles [pdf]

Over the last few decades, food crises have become distressingly common phenomena. Women are often at the center of these emergencies, though the disproportionate impact of hunger on women is too often hidden within the dire aggregate statistics. But the role of women in providing solutions to these crises is also too often overlooked. This discussion paper lays out some of the key issues in modern food crises and explores some opportunities for engaging women more actively in the quest for more effective answers (ActionAid International, March 20 2007).

http://www.actionaidusa.org/assets/pdfs/food_rights/report_women_and_food_crisis_paper300.pdf

(Added: Fri May 02 2008   Hits: 42)

How America is betraying the hungry children of Africa

This article from the Observer newspaper looks at the practice of donor countries tying emergency food aid to purchases of donor country produce. The article shows how this leads not only to aid being inefficient but how can also actively hinder producers in recipient countries.

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/food/story/0,,2086467,00.html

(Added: Mon May 28 2007   Hits: 165)

Review of the Development Co-operation Policies and Programmes of United States

United States (2006), DAC Peer Review: Main Findings and Recommendations. The United States is a leader in international development co operation because of the large size of its economy, its ability to influence global action and its presence within the international donor community. It is the largest donor in the DAC. Historically, the US has justified its development assistance policies in terms of both recipient country needs and its own foreign policy objectives. The events of 11 September 2001 and the "War on Terror" which grew from them have provided the starting point for a renewed American interest in development co operation. Since that time, the government has used the logic of national security to resuscitate the image of development co operation with Congress and the American public. A variety of policy statements has helped to define the role of development in relation to this national security perspective. Prominent among them, the National Security Strategies of 2002 and 2006 have moved the United States in significant new directions since the 2002 DAC Peer Review. (Development Co-operation Directorate (DAC), 2006)

http://www.oecd.org/document/27/0,2340,en_2649_34603_37829787_1_1_1_1,00.html

(Added: Thu Mar 08 2007   Hits: 77)

"I am not ashamed!": HIV/AIDS and human rights in the Dominican Republic and Guyana

This report is based on the findings of research into the connection between human rights violations and HIV/AIDS in two countries in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic and Guyana. It shows how abuses of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights increase people's risk of HIV infection. It also shows how those affected by HIV/AIDS are denied their human rights. AI recommends a comprehensive rights-based approaches to HIV/AIDS in all areas of prevention, treatment, care and support. One of its findings is that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean could be combated more effectively if the U.S. removed restrictions on how its aid funding is used. (Amnesty International, 11 July 2006)

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGAMR010022006

(Added: Thu Jul 13 2006   Modified: Thu Jan 18 2007   Hits: 175)

Playing Politics With Aid: The Unholy Trinity of Defense, Diplomacy and Development in the War on Terrorism (pdf)

This report examines the Bush administration's efforts to bring the administration of aid under the control of the State Department and tie foreign assistance to U.S. strategic military interests. At a time when the U.S. foreign aid has been made a central team member of the Bush administration's war on terrorism, the policy brief advocates that it is in the interest of the United States to ensure that each dollar of development aid is invested in building self-reliant societies abroad instead of subjecting them to its short-term foreign and military policy goals. Development assistance constitutes only 30 percent of the U.S. foreign aid budget, while military and economic aid for strategic allies constitutes more than half of the same budget. The 2007 foreign operations budget further reduces poverty-focused development assistance programs, including cuts in Child Survival and Health Fund, Development Assistance, Disaster and Famine Assistance, by over $400 million. (Anuradha Mittal, The Oakland Institute, 27 April 2006)

http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/pdfs/anu_web.pdf

(Added: Wed May 17 2006   Hits: 317)

Christian Groups Find New Allies At USAID

The AIDS pandemic in Africa has provided an entry point for U.S.-based Christian evangelical organisations that view some of the small countries in that continent as an opportunity for religious, political and social transformation. Working in concert with these groups is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It is believed that "there's a huge role", for Christian groups because AIDS is an issue that fits with the Christian message. And the prevention of AIDS fits with the righteous living and moral standpoint of Christianity. (Bill Berkowitz, IPS News Agency, Jan 17, 2006)

http://ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=31801

(Added: Tue May 16 2006   Modified: Mon Jun 26 2006   Hits: 296)

New Direction for U.S. Foreign Assistance

Secretary Rice has announced a major change in the way the US government directs foreign assistance. In a time of transformational diplomacy-as America works with our partners to build and sustain democratic well-governed states-changes are necessary to meet new challenges. USAID Fact Sheet, January 2006.

http://www.usaid.gov/press/factsheets/2006/fs060119.html

(Added: Tue Feb 07 2006   Hits: 92)

USAID primer : what we do and how we do it [PDF 2,936 KB]

The primer has been developed to inform a variety of audiences such as USAID partner organizations, congressional staff, employees of other agencies, and new USAID employees. Topics covered by the primer include: · USAID's five core goals · The evolution of USAID from the Marshall Plan · Foreign assistance legislation · A discussion of how USAID manages its budget · How USAID interacts with partner organizations · How USAID responds to natural disasters and complex emergencies · USAID's organizational and force structure

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PDACD100.pdf

(Added: Tue Mar 29 2005   Hits: 92)

Foreign Aid: An Introductory Overview of U.S. Programs and Policy (pdf)

CRS Report for Congress, April 15, 2004. This report, generally using a question-and-answer format, addresses a number of the more frequently asked queries regarding the U.S. foreign aid program, its objectives, costs, organization, the role of Congress, and how it compares to those of other aid donors. In particular, the discussion attempts to not only present a current "snap-shot" of American foreign assistance, but also to illustrate the extent to which this instrument of U.S. foreign policy has changed from past practices, especially since the end of the Cold War and during the period following September 11, 2001.

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PCAAB191.pdf

(Added: Thu Jun 03 2004   Modified: Thu Aug 25 2005   Hits: 137)

Guidance for Developing Proposals for MCA Assistance in FY 2004 (pdf)

Following the May 2004 announcement of countries eligible to receive Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) assistance in FY 2004, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors will invite eligible countries to submit proposals requesting funding from MCC. The following guidance is intended to help eligible countries develop their proposals.

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PCAAB193.pdf

(Added: Thu Jun 03 2004   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 235)

Millennium Challenge Account FAQs (pdf)

When he announced the Millennium Challenge Account in March 2002, President Bush proposed a new "global development compact" in which "greater contributions from developed nations must be linked to greater responsibility from developing nations." This FAQ sheet answers questions about the account and its administration.

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PCAAB189.pdf

(Added: Thu Jun 03 2004   Modified: Thu Aug 25 2005   Hits: 155)

Millennium Challenge Corporation: Reducing Poverty Through Growth (pdf)

Two years ago in Monterrey, Mexico, President Bush called for a "new compact for global development", which links greater contributions from developed nations to greater responsibility from developing nations. The President proposed a concrete mechanism to implement this compact -- the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) - in which development assistance would be provided to those countries that rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom. With strong bipartisan support, Congress authorized the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to administer the MCA and provided $1 billion in initial funding for FY04. President Bush has pledged to increase funding for the MCA to $5 billion a year starting in FY06, roughly a 50% increase over current U.S. core development assistance.

http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PCAAB184.pdf

(Added: Thu Jun 03 2004   Hits: 188)

USAID: Bolivia

Bolivia's commitment to economic stability and growth, democratic political reforms, and increased social welfare make it a strong development partner. Nevertheless, the country is far from ready to graduate from development assistance. The provision of greater economic opportunities for the poor, the strengthening of democratic values, the improved health of poor Bolivians, and the conservation of natural resources still need to be sustainably developed. Additionally, with the remarkable strides in illegal coca eradication over the past year, there is a strong need to continue with significant levels of alternative development assistance. USAID's strategy addresses all of these concerns, and at the same time supports several of the principal U.S. foreign policy goals as well as the Government of Bolivia's (GOB) National Plan of Action, including the GOB's target to eliminate all illegal coca from Bolivia by 2005.

http://www.usaid.gov/pubs/cbj2002/lac/bo/

(Added: Fri Oct 17 2003   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 95)

Millennium Challenge Account: USAID

On February 5, 2003, President George W. Bush submitted to Congress his plan for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). President Bush joined Presidents Truman and Kennedy before him to unveil an historic new vision for development based on the shared interests of developed and developing nations alike.

http://www.mca.gov/

(Added: Thu Jun 12 2003   Hits: 180)

USAID: Development Experience Clearing House

The Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) is the largest online resource for USAID funded, international development documentation. The purpose of the DEC is to strengthen USAID's development projects, activities, and programs by making these development experience documents available to USAID offices and mission staff, PVO's, NGO's, universities and research institutions, developing countries, and the public worldwide.

http://www.dec.org/

(Added: Tue Sep 24 2002   Modified: Wed Jan 17 2007   Hits: 312)

OFDA (Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance) (USAID)  pop

OFDA is the office within USAID responsible for providing non-food humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. The USAID Administrator is designated as the President's Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance and USAID/OFDA assists in the coordination of this assistance. OFDA is part of the Bureau for Humanitarian Response (DCHA).

http://www.globalcorps.com/jobseek.html

(Added: Fri May 14 1999   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 1185)

USAID Employment Opportunities  pop

The U.S Agency for International Development is the U.S. federal government agency that implements America's foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs.

http://www.usaid.gov/about/employment/

(Added: Thu Apr 29 1999   Modified: Tue Jan 10 2006   Hits: 2578)

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

The U.S Agency for International Development is the U.S. federal government agency that implements America's foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs.

http://www.usaid.gov/

(Added: Mon Mar 01 1999   Hits: 335)