Year in Review: Reform Takes Center Stage

By: George Ingram, Tessie San Martin, and Connie Veillette
December 14, 2017

As 2017 draws to a close, the Trump Administration is reviewing redesign proposals submitted by the State Department and USAID, Congress is completing its Fiscal Year 2018 funding negotiations and beginning the FY2019 process, and the MFAN community is actively engaging to ensure aid effectiveness priorities are reflected in both processes. Last year, with the … Continue reading Year in Review: Reform Takes Center Stage

Community Rallies Behind MFAN Effectiveness Principles

By: Jill MacArthur
December 13, 2017

Since the Trump Administration announced its intentions to reorganize the federal government – including the State Department and USAID – MFAN has garnered broad support from the development community to ensure that the redesign effort enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of U.S. foreign assistance. In May, MFAN put forth five Guiding Principles for Effective U.S. … Continue reading Community Rallies Behind MFAN Effectiveness Principles

New Study from MFAN and TLC Finds Evaluation Quality on the Rise, But Barriers to Use Remain

By: George Ingram, Tessie San Martin, and Connie Veillette
December 8, 2017

December 5, 2017 (WASHINGTON) – This statement is delivered on behalf of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) by Co-Chairs George Ingram, Tessie San Martin, and Connie Veillette. Today MFAN and The Lugar Center release a new study, From Evidence to Learning: Recommendations to Improve U.S. Foreign Assistance Evaluation, examining the evaluation policies and practices of the … Continue reading New Study from MFAN and TLC Finds Evaluation Quality on the Rise, But Barriers to Use Remain

Redesigning U.S. National Security Institutions

By: J. Brian Atwood and Andrew Natsios
December 4, 2017

In December 2016, we made a case in Foreign Affairs for consolidating development and humanitarian relief operations under a single U.S. Government roof.  We argued that growing instability in the developing world was complicating our capacity to manage the great power relationships with China and Russia and creating fertile ground for non-state terrorist organizations. We … Continue reading Redesigning U.S. National Security Institutions

Redesign Should Support an Independent USAID

By: Peter McPherson
November 13, 2017

I congratulate those who worked on the Redesign Consensus: A Plan for U.S. Assistance.  Though there will be some disagreement on the details within the development community, the document provides core concepts for the immediate and needed advocacy on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. These themes include a substantially independent USAID with authority and responsibility … Continue reading Redesign Should Support an Independent USAID

Redesign Consensus: Advancing the Conversation on Effective US Assistance

By: Cindy Huang and Jeremy Konyndyk
November 3, 2017

We are pleased to join 12 colleagues in signing the Redesign Consensus: A Plan for US Assistance that launched today. The four main recommendations are to empower USAID as the lead independent aid agency, to create a full-fledged development finance institution, to establish a global development and humanitarian strategy, and to upgrade systems to better manage personnel, procurement, … Continue reading Redesign Consensus: Advancing the Conversation on Effective US Assistance

MFAN Outlines Priorities for FY18 Appropriations Conference

By: George Ingram, Tessie San Martin, and Connie Veillette
November 2, 2017

Download a formatted version of the letter here. *** November 1, 2017 The Honorable Lindsey Graham Chairman Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy Ranking Member Senate Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs The Honorable Hal Rogers Chairman House Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related … Continue reading MFAN Outlines Priorities for FY18 Appropriations Conference

Getting Comfortable with the “T-word” at USAID, a Focus on Transitioning Countries

By: James Kunder
October 12, 2017

Amidst the general approbation that accompanied Ambassador Mark Green’s arrival at USAID to serve as Administrator, there appears to be one dark cloud on the horizon. Some in the development community are deeply concerned about Administrator Green’s endorsement of “strategic transitions,” in which USAID works its way out of job and, in one form or … Continue reading Getting Comfortable with the “T-word” at USAID, a Focus on Transitioning Countries

MFAN Evaluation Finds Focused, Effective Coalition Shaping Foreign Assistance Policy

By: George Ingran, Tessie San Martin, and Connie Veillette
October 6, 2017

MFAN’s advocacy efforts over the past eight years have helped mainstream reform principles in the foreign assistance policy debate.  This was the major finding from a recently completed evaluation of MFAN commissioned by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.  The assessment, conducted by BLE Solutions, examined MFAN’s results, adaptability, effectiveness as a coalition, and member … Continue reading MFAN Evaluation Finds Focused, Effective Coalition Shaping Foreign Assistance Policy

Redesign Reactions: What’s Next for the State Department and USAID?

By: Jill MacArthur
September 28, 2017

Since the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo on government reorganization in April, MFAN has helped foster a public conversation about how a redesign can and should enhance the effectiveness, accountability, and impact of our foreign assistance. MFAN recently re-released Guiding Principles for Effective U.S. Assistance, which assert that any … Continue reading Redesign Reactions: What’s Next for the State Department and USAID?