Thursday, June 3, 2010 6:30 PM

USAID Hoping To 'Think For Itself'

By Tom Risen

The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development announced Wednesday that his
group will begin seeking a greater voice for humanitarian aid with the launch of a new policy
arm.

In a speech at the InterAction Forum in Washington, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah

announced the creation of the agency's own "bureau of policy, planning and learning" as it
attempts to "move towards five or even 10-year country strategies." The official announcement
of the bureau by USAID had not been made as of press time, and USAID officials would not go
on record.

"The reform agenda starts with building out real policy and budget capability at the agency,"
Shah said to the convention of humanitarian aid groups. "We absolutely have to have the ability
to speak with one voice and communicate a strong development perspective not just in the
interagency... but, frankly, all around the world where development partners and development
practitioners look to this agency and this community of leaders to offer thoughts and insights."

Todd Shelton, senior director of policy for the nongovernmental aid coalition InterAction, said
that the State Department would still "exert primacy, but if USAID proves itself well it could
establish some autonomy."

"Development and humanitarian relief should be seen as a distinct discipline with its own
thinking and budgeting capacity," Shelton said. "For our policy decisions regarding developing
countries to be effective, there has to be a stronger, clearer empowered voice at the interagency
table than there currently is or has been in recent years."

Shelton criticized the "weakness" of USAID's former policy-making panel, which was shut down
by the Bush administration, and said he hoped USAID's efforts to "think for itself" would lead to
better results from its programs and inspire State to give the agency more autonomy over its own
budget and management.

"They're starting with what they can do," Shelton said.

Shah in his speech cited the need to seize a window of opportunity he expected to last "12 to 18
months" while the Obama administration continues to approach foreign aid as "a strategic,
economic and moral imperative."

"When the economy is rough and deficit reduction rises to the top of the agenda, more money for
foreign assistance is going to be a tough sell," Shah said.
President Obama requested a 10 percent increase for fiscal 2011 to fund diplomatic operations
and foreign assistance programs. Budgets for the State Department and USAID would total
$52.8 billion in fiscal 2011, up from $47.9 billion for fiscal 2010, including funds to improve
USAID infrastructure and to recruit an additional 200 Foreign Service officers.

Shah also outlined the need to "modernize foreign assistance" by working better with the private
sector, improving transparency with measures such as web outreach and concise reports, and
encouraging "greater competition in our work" among the staff of 8,000.