Redefining U.S. Foreign Assistance Strategy for Middle-Income Countries

Redefining U.S. Foreign Assistance Strategy for Middle-Income Countries

Panelists:

Heather Conley, Senior Fellow and Director of Europe Program, CSIS

Ivan Vejvoda, Senior Vice President, German Marshall Fund and Former Executive Director, Balkan Trust for Democracy

Carol Peasley, President and CEO, Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) and Former Career Minister, USAID

Steven Feldstein, Professional Staff Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Moderated by Daniel Runde, Director of the Project on Prosperity and Development and Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis, CSIS

With the climate of austerity in Washington, the U.S. foreign aid budget is coming under pressure.  USAID has just announced the closure of up to seven programs between now and 2015.  The United States has closed countries for decades, redefining its development and economic cooperation relationships. As part of maintaining engagement, the United States and its partners have created a variety of joint institutions and mechanisms that allows both the U.S and its partner countries to cooperate in new ways. In many cases, the result has been a more effective and deepened relationship.  There are lessons to be learned about how to close programs and use close outs as an opportunity to reorient our relationships.      

Please RSVP to Nikki Collins at ncollins@csis.org