Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network • Blog

MFAN Partners responded in force to the nomination of Dr. Rajiv Shah as USAID Administrator on Tuesday.  See below for a sampling of excerpts from official statements:

Bread for the World

• Incoming USAID Chief Needs Clout
• “We are hopeful that Dr. Shah’s unique combination of knowledge about global health, agriculture, and other issues will allow him to provide a strong and indispensable development voice as major decisions are made about U.S. foreign policy,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president, Bread for the World. “Since he has lived in a developing country, he knows first-hand the importance of long-term, sustainable development – in contrast to the State Department’s typically short-term, political approaches.”

Center for Global Development

• CGD President Nancy Birdsall on Raj Shah Nomination as USAID Administrator
• “When pushed on the issue of sufficient stature to carry out the massive reform agenda at the agency, Birdsall responded, “While a year ago, we all may have been focusing on the issue of high-profile stature, at this point the question should be: what does Raj need to succeed? And what he needs is the Administration to bolster his capacity and authorities to successfully elevate and empower a distinct development perspective and voice in the important interagency debates happening right now – the PSD, the QDDR, rethinking our approach to Afghanistan and Pakistan.” So, concretely, what does that mean? Says Birdsall, “that means the White House needs to give him a seat at the National Security Council and the State Department needs to give him back policy and budget authority of USAID operations.”

InterAction

• Historic Challenges and Opportunities Face USAID Nominee
• “The challenges are many, but USAID administrator‐nominee Shah has a historic opportunity to shape the way U.S. foreign assistance is done for at least the next 50 years. Rep. Howard Berman (D‐CA) and other congressional leaders are looking to the new administrator to help guide discussions around climate change, food security, a rewrite of the outdated 1961 Foreign Assistance Act and countless other issues.”

ONE Campaign

• ONE Welcomes USAID Administrator Nominee Rajiv Shah
• “Today’s nomination is a major step in the right direction. It is imperative that USAID has the resources and authority to deliver American investments abroad as efficiently and as effectively as possible. It’s also important they play a central role in the global development policy efforts currently underway at the White House, with the State Department and in Congress.”

Oxfam America

• Oxfam America on Dr. Rajiv Shah, Obama’s Nominee for USAID Administrator
• “Shah assumes responsibility over USAID at a crucial moment in history. For many years, USAID has been under-resourced and politically marginalized. But today’s international challenges – from the financial crisis to climate change — make it more important than ever to rebuild USAID from a compliance agency for NGOs and contractors to what it once was: the world’s most prestigious development agency…But there’s also growing momentum for a new era in US foreign aid, with a number of processes already underway that will reshape US global development policy. Additionally, bipartisan legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to initiate foreign aid reform, as well as strengthen and elevate USAID.”

Save the Children

• Save the Children Applauds the Nomination of Dr. Rajiv Shah for USAID Administrator; Urges U.S. Development Policy Reforms
• “Save the Children is very encouraged by the nomination of Rajiv Shah – a man clearly committed to improving the health and well-being of the world’s poor,” said Charles MacCormack, President and CEO of Save the Children. “Dr. Shah’s expertise and accomplishments in global health, agriculture and science will enable him to provide a strong and unique voice for development at our nation’s foreign policy table. That strong voice, especially if backed by significant reforms to U.S. development policy, is critical to addressing the urgent needs of the world’s sick, hungry, and vulnerable children,” MacCormack added.

U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

• USGLC Applauds Choice of Dr. Rajiv Shah as USAID Administrator
• “Rajiv Shah is a fresh and dynamic addition to President Obama’s foreign policy team. Dr. Shah will bring expertise and energy to a critical agency in need of strong, empowered leadership. His career in global development, global health and agricultural development give him real perspective to lead USAID. He is already an important player in the Administration’s food security initiative, and his additional background in fighting global poverty and promoting global health make him an ideal candidate for this important post.”