Update on the State Department’s QDDR
The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) Working Groups turned in their initial interim reports to the Core QDDR team on Dec. 4th. These reports focused on assessing the challenges, opportunities, current policies and policy gaps in each of the five working groups: (1) Building a Global Architecture of Cooperation, (2) Leading and Supporting Whole of Government Solutions, (3) Investing in the Building Blocks of Stronger Societies, (4) Preventing and Responding to Crises and Conflicts, and (5) Building Operational and Resource Platforms for Success. Each of these working groups is also considered from the perspective of the global context to ensure that foreign policy priorities are integrated with regional strategies.
Working from the interim reports, the QDDR Team is preparing a summary to be delivered to Secretary Clinton in late December. Consultations continue among the QDDR team, the NSC working on the PSD and with Congress. Issues they are exploring include (but are not limited to):
- Mainstreaming gender
- Leveraging new technology
- Where and when diplomacy and development should lead whole of government solutions and where they should support
- Capabilities required for conflict prevention
- Balancing needs to be both transparency and accountability while ensuring flexible, responsive operations
The next phase of their work will include more public and Congressional consultations before they move on to make recommendations for organizational changes to implement their findings. The final report is expected in May, 2010.
