The business case for foreign aid reform | Administration update | Legislative update
The Business Case for Foreign Aid Reform
IGD has written a new paper that demonstrates why aid reform is a critical concern to U.S. business. The Business Case for Foreign Aid Reform argues that one of the best ways to boost growth and expand opportunity around the world is to improve the impact of U.S. foreign assistance.
Read more and download the complete publication.
Administration Update
President Obama reaffirmed his commitment to global development when he released his first budget on February 1. The requested levels continue the trajectory toward fulfilling his campaign pledge to double foreign assistance.
On January 6, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton started off the year with a major speech on the administration’s commitment to global development as a pillar of foreign policy.
Nearly one year into the Obama administration, Raj Shah was sworn in January 7 as Administrator of USAID, and was immediately called upon to coordinate the U.S. relief effort in Haiti.
Legislative Update
In a speech to the Society for International Development, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) called for foreign assistance reform, USAID leadership of development policy and a renewed unity of purpose among all foreign policy agencies.
Congress extended the Generalized System of Preferences for one year at the end of December. Leaders of the trade committees in both the House and the Senate have expressed their hope to undertake comprehensive trade preference reform later this year.
IGD and ONE recently submitted a letter to General Jim Jones and Dr. Larry Summers, co-chairs of the Presidential Study Directive on U.S. global development policy, recommending greater coherence between our trade and aid programs.
