Development and Diplomacy Reviews Still Underway
By Jordan Smith at 12 February, 2010, 9:43 am
The USGLC continues to actively monitor the administration’s efforts to examine U.S. development and diplomacy operations and articulate a government-wide global development policy approach.
The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), led by Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew and co-chair USAID Administrator Raj Shah, is seeking to create a long-term blueprint for State, USAID and other relevant federal players. Since the USGLC hosted the QDDR’s first public event in October, the State Department and USAID have been working to complete the QDDR’s Interim Report, which is expected to be released this month. It’s anticipated the report will identify a set of themes for each of the five working groups and shape the focus for the final report in May.
The Presidential Study Directive on Global Development (PSD-7) which was ordered by President Obama to assess U.S. development efforts being carried out across the government and make recommendations on they can be more effective and coordinated. The PSD-7 is being led jointly by General Jim Jones, the National Security Advisor, and Larry Summers, chair of the National Economic Council. The release of the PSD-7 is expected to be in March, having been delayed from its original release date to allow for coordination with the interim report of the QDDR.
A few other review processes across the government are examining the roles of diplomacy and development in foreign policy and national security. The National Security Council’s Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) on Security Sector Assistance is exploring the most effective ways to divide responsibility for international security assistance between State, Defense, and USAID, recognizing that all three are necessary for achieving security assistance goals. Some decisions about funding were taken into account in this year’s International Affairs Budget, with the so-called “1207 funding” transferred to the State Department as a new “Complex Crises Fund” located at USAID. Congressional authorities for the “1206 funding” for security assistance is due to expire at the end of the year, and the IPC is expected to address this issue over the coming year.
The recently completed Quadrennial Defense Review released by the Pentagon concluded that, “Years of war have proven how important it is for America’s civilian agencies to possess the resources and authorities needed to operate alongside the U.S. Armed Forces during complex contingencies at home and abroad,” and that, “…civilian leadership of humanitarian assistance, development, and governance is essential.” Finally, the Department of Homeland Security’s first Quadrennial Review included in its list of global challenges and threats traditionally non-military issues like global violent extremism, pandemics, and natural hazards. This demonstrates a growing consensus that today’s national security challenges will require the U.S. to take a “smart power” approach to defeat them.
On Capitol Hill, Congress continues its work to elevate development and diplomacy. Just last week, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Kerry and Ranking Member Richard Lugar introduced a bill to provide additional resources for the State Department, USAID and MCC to strengthen their civilian capacity. While not a complete overhaul, it would provide the State Department with the authority to support some key priorities.
This bill complements pending legislation introduced last summer to begin a comprehensive reform process that would overhaul and modernize our foreign assistance structure (S. 1524, “Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act” and H.R. 2139, “Initiating Foreign Assistance Reform Act”). Congress is also consulting with the Administration on the review processes mentioned above.
Sen. Lugar continues to be a vocal advocate for development. Recently he addressed the challenges facing U.S. development efforts in a speech to the Society for International Development. He emphasized his commitment to making U.S. development stronger, more effective and more prominent alongside diplomacy and defense in foreign policy.
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