SID-Washington 50th Anniversary Event: Foreign Assistance in the 21st Century

Featured Speakers: Henrietta H. Fore, USAID

Acting USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore was the featured speaker for SID-Washington’s 50^th Anniversary Event on September 6, 2007. Ms. Fore, designated to her post by President George W. Bush on May 7, 2007, discussed her current views and future intentions of US foreign aid. The key concept of her future plans is a “global development commons.” She said that through the global development commons, joining with the world, the US can create an equal platform on which all assistance would pass through. Through this equal platform it would be ensured that all assistance would be dispersed as efficiently as possible. Along with this equality would be a reassessment of USAID employees. They would be more diverse, both personally and technologically, in order to improve the value of the agency.

After Ms. Fore’s speech, a short question-and-answer session followed, with the main theme of the questions revolving around the issue of the upcoming budget. Despite USAID’s reduced allocation, Ms. Fore assured listeners that all funds would be spent efficiently. She added that with the future U.S. budget talks and the looming presidential elections, she will request that significantly large funds be given to USAID.

Sponsor: SID-Washington

Location: Chemonics International, Teele Auditorium

Date: Thursday, September 06, 2007

Time: 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Approximate Number of Attendees: 100

Intern Attending: Keely Foutch