IDEAS Annual Report 2010 - 2011

TO: ISPI Board of Directors

Committee Name: IDEAS Influencing Donor Effectiveness

Chair: M Mari Novak

Deputy Chair: James Ellsworth

Committee Members:

• Brown, Matt

• Carew, Kevin

• Carr, Wendy

• Chevalier, Roger

• Coughlin, Patrick

• Duffy, Andrew

• Fickling, Susan

• Held, Larry

• Hill, Jim

• Honeyman, Steven

• Kelly, Steven

• Mayerchak, Martin

• Morse, Jessica (intern)

• Schwartz, George

• Spilka, Samantha

• Watkins, Ryan

• West-Meier, Maurya

• Wittkuhn, Klaus

Mission/Charter:

The ISPI board is promoting growth and expansion in the

International arena. The focus of the committee is to develop focus society energies to educate and influence the use of HPT among the government and NGO agencies involved in transitioning society development. This will include:

1. Position PI as a preferred methodology for achieving improvement of multilevel results and sustainability in global international development efforts.

2. Research and publicize PI effectiveness and success in the international development context and environment.

3. Engage donor agencies HQ and field leadership in using ISPI member expertise in designing and implementing programs.

4. Increase numbers of aid/development professionals (worldwide) as ISPI members and CPTs.

5. Develop ISPI and member capabilities in delivering PI results in developing and transitioning societies.

6. Market ISPI services in donor organizations and clients in HPT/HICD projects.

Summary of Accomplishments:

• Transition of TF into standing committee
• Expansion of committee to 20 people from 5
• Formation and action within 4 task areas
• Donor Agency HPT Value White Paper drafted
• Research agenda and plan completed / started
• Intern assigned (grant through George Washington University) and started on research
• Analysis of value of specialized certification started (ongoing)
• List of primary donor agencies / contacts started
• Introductory meetings with USAID management held
• IDEAS blog created and maintained (60 posts and reference sources)

Future Challenges:

• Fulfilling the research agenda (interns and volunteers)
• Finding entry points to agencies and educating key decision-makers (further identifying key donor staff)
• Integrating the research findings into the overall ISPI research program and portal

New Congressional Research Report on US Foreign Aid

Foreign Aid: an Intro to US Programs & Policy (link here)

Summary Extract

Foreign assistance is a fundamental component of the international affairs budget and is viewed by many as an essential instrument of U.S. foreign policy. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, foreign aid has increasingly been associated with national security policy. U.S. foreign aid policy has developed around three primary rationales: national security, commercial interests, and humanitarian concerns. 

These broad rationales are the basis for the myriad objectives of U.S. assistance, including promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, improving governance, expanding access to health care and education, promoting stability in conflictive regions, promoting human rights, strengthening allies, and curbing illicit drug production and trafficking.

In FY2010, U.S. foreign assistance totaled $39.4 billion, or 1.1% of total budget authority. In real terms, this was the highest level of U.S. foreign assistance since 1985. The U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, the primary administrators of U.S. foreign assistance, provided $10.38 billion in security-related assistance; $10.93 billion for health, education, and social welfare programs; $3.64 billion for governance programs; $5.21 for economic growth activities; and $4.98 in humanitarian assistance. Assistance can take the form of cash transfers, equipment and commodities, infrastructure, or technical assistance, and, in recent decades, is provided almost exclusively on a grant rather than loan basis.

Key foreign assistance trends in the past decade include growth in development and humanitarian aid, particularly global health programs, and, in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, increased security assistance directed toward U.S. allies in the anti-terrorism effort. 

In FY2010, Afghanistan, Israel, Pakistan, Egypt, and Haiti were the top recipients of U.S. aid, reflecting long-standing aid commitments to Israel and Egypt, the strategic significance of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and emergency earthquake-related assistance to Haiti. Africa is the top recipient region of U.S. aid, at 29%, with the Near East and South and Central Asia each receiving 26%.

This is a significant shift from FY2000, when the Near East received 60% of U.S. aid, and reflects significant increases in HIV/AIDS-related programs concentrated in Africa and the expansion of security assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

Other notable trends since FY2000 include the increasing role of the Department of Defense in foreign assistance and aid targeted at countries that have demonstrated a commitment to good governance, exemplified by the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

This report provides an overview of the U.S. foreign assistance program by answering frequently asked questions on the subject. It is intended to provide a broad view of foreign assistance over time, and will be updated periodically. For more current information on foreign aid funding levels, see CRS reports on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs appropriations.