Yesterday, the Brookings Institution hosted a panel discussion on the U.S. global development reform agenda, with participants noting opportunities and challenges for future reform efforts. The event, “The United States and Global Development: An Approach in Transition,” was moderated by MFAN co-chair and Brookings senior fellow George Ingram. Panelists included: Sheila Herrling, vice president in the Department of Policy and Evaluation at the Millennium Challenge Corporation; Steven Radelet, distinguished professor in the practice of development at Georgetown University; Susan Reichle, assistant to the administrator at the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Learning at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Connie Veillette, consultant and MFAN principal.
Watch a video or listen to audio of the event here.
In case you missed the event, take a look at MFAN’s live tweet stream (@ModernizeAid) in reverse chronological order:
- Great panel today — thanks to all who joined us! @BrookingsGlobal #USDevReform pic.twitter.com/Bt81CL7y
- Reichle @USAID hopes that we strengthen a constituency for US development over the next four years #USDevReform
- Connie Veillette’s 1 wish is a well-written foreign assistance authorization bill #USDevReform
- Reichle @USAID asks how do we connect youth around the world and help them to focus to achieve big results together #USDevReform
- Radelet: challenge is to move from model where traditional development funders are the risk-sharers. #USDevReform
- Connie Veillette makes call for coalition to support more effective & efficient food aid, and not give in to special interests #USDevReform
- Conversation switches gears briefly to address food aid reform #USDevReform
- Full house @BrookingsGlobal event on the future of US development #USDevReform pic.twitter.com/hPjFJfZc
- Herrling says President’s state of the union speech was huge moment for development #USDevReform
- Herrling @MCCtweets: evaluation without transparency is useless #USDevReform
- Reichle @USAID says the agency will move 11 missions into new engagement strategy in FY14 budget #USDevReform
- Veillette: unless experts make decisions about what should/should not be cut, the non-experts will make those decisions #USDevReform
- Connie Veillette: admin has not made great strides in being more selective with development programs #USDevReform
- Radelet: (2/2) and have these agencies, USAID & MCC, be seen as stronger, more effective in the eyes of taxpayers & the Hill #USDevReform
- Radelet: (1/2) model for change is to focus on a set of key reforms…#USDevReform
- Reichle @USAID says reform efforts are really taking hold in the field and they are institutionalizing core competencies #USDevReform
- . @GMIngramIV asks for a preview of the upcoming USAID Forward progress report — coming mid-March! #USDevReform
- Herrling: we see a real focus on monitoring and evaluation and being transparent about this, even when it comes with risks. #USDevReform
- Sheila Herrling @MCCtweets talks about partnership for growth initiative and figuring out “how” to implement reform #USDevReform
- Veillette: need more clarification about how development is distinct from diplomacy and defense, esp for Congress #USDevReform
- Connie Veillette: I don’t think reforms are spreading beyond USAID to other agencies #USDevReform
- Radelet @georgetownsfs says to stop calling for USAID admin to have seat on natl security council; have strong representation #USDevReform
- Radelet: final issue is transparency and openness #USDevReform
- Radelet: second issue is procurement reform. If done right, this could fundamentally help our partners in developing countries #USDevReform
- Radelet @georgetownsfs: first reform to focus on and support is monitoring and evaluation #USDevReform
- Steve Radelet: most important thing is to ensure strong implementation of reform agenda already in place #USDevReform
- Reichle @USAID: we elevated development by focusing on results, take Feed the Future for ex #USDevReform
- Susan Reichle @USAID says we need to strengthen core capacities incl budget and policy shops #USDevReform
- First question: what further can be achieved to elevate development in the US? #USDevReform
- George Ingram, MFAN cochair and @BrookingsGlobal senior fellow, kicks things off! #USDevReform