Over time, the system delivering the United States' foreign assistance has become outdated. Governed by legislation written in 1961, U.S. foreign assistance is managed and programmed by more than 20 agencies. Innovative and results-oriented programs introduced in the last few years have shown a new way forward for development assistance. But they need to be integrated into a more coordinated and cohesive program governed by a national strategy for global development.
With new leadership in Washington, there is an opportunity to prioritize and elevate development and to modernize the U.S. structure for delivering assistance. A new vision for U.S. foreign assistance should adhere to the guidelines on aid effectiveness put forward in the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action, and should include the following principles:
Consistent with many of these principles, Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA) and Mark Kirk (R-Il) have introduced legislation - the Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 2009, H.R. 2139 - taking the first step in modernizing and elevating U.S. development policies and programs. The bill requires the President to draft and implement a National Strategy on Global Development through an inter-agency process that improves mechanisms for coordination among all stakeholders, including partner governments, civil society, and affected communities. H.R. 2139 further strengthens U.S. capacity to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of foreign aid programs and requires greater transparency and accountability surrounding information regarding assistance activities. It is hoped that this initial effort will be followed in the coming months with a comprehensive package to replace out-dated foreign assistance legislation enacted nearly 50 years ago.
Major successes in fighting poverty show us that aid works. Well-designed efforts, administered in partnership with developing countries, with clear goals and strong accountability can make an enormous difference.
With a new Congress and a new Administration in place, there is an opportunity to prioritize development and modernize the U.S. structure for delivering assistance.
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On Tuesday, Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA), Chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL) introduced the ‘Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform’ Act of 2009 (HR 2139). The bipartisan bill represents a remarkable step forward in the effort to better organize and coordinate US foreign assistance ... More
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In late January, you heard from us about a group of global development-focused NGOs across the United States who have been advocating for the U.S. to update the way it administers its development programs. This group of organizations—collectively called the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network—has gone public once ... More
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For the last several months, a number of global development-focused NGOs across the United States have been advocating to update the way the U.S. administers its development programs. ONE is asking Congress and the Obama Administration to elevate development as a national priority and update the Foreign Assistance Act ... More
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Sarah Jane Staats from the Center for Global Development wrote this piece about Tuesday big foreign aid hearing on the Hill. A proposal calling for what amounts to a complete makeover of U.S. foreign assistance was launched Tuesday at a packed event on Capitol Hill featuring remarks from Congressman ... More
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Tomorrow the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) a network of global development experts from think tanks, humanitarian and development organizations, and advocacy groups, will launch a new report and initiative to bring U.S. foreign assistance into the 21st century.The launch will take place at the Rayburn House Office ... More
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In a speech today in Chicago, IL, Senator Barack Obama stated that if elected president in 2008, he would double the United States' annual investment toward fighting extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa to $50 billion by 2012. From his speech:"America cannot meet the threats of this century alone ... More
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MFAN, a coalition of which ONE is a part, commends Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA), Ranking Minority Member Dick Lugar (R-IN), and Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bob Corker (R-TN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Jim Risch (R-ID) for introducing the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act of 2009 (S.1524). The bill aims to start the process of foreign assistance reform, and we urge Members of both parties to support its final passage. MORE