Project on U.S. Leadership in Development

Exploring new thinking on development with a focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and market-driven economic growth

The Project on U.S. Leadership in Development is focused on leveraging all American assets—the private sector in particular—to promote economic development, improve livelihoods, and reduce poverty worldwide. The world faces incredible challenges at a time when donor country political environments are marked by protectionism and populism. Strong global engagement, promotion of the transformative potential of the private sector, and a leadership role in the liberal international order all provide significant opportunities for U.S. businesses, foreign policy priorities, and ultimately the American people. The urge to retrench and retreat in the face of crisis is strong; but this is precisely when the U.S. should double down as a global leader in development.

The project seeks to renew the discourse in Washington and to provide policymakers with fresh, actionable recommendations to maintain America’s leadership role in development.

Areas of Focus

This project aims to set a bipartisan policy agenda that will lead to a set of actionable recommendations.

CSIS has strong ongoing initiatives in global health, human rights, trade, food security, and economic development. The project is focused on generating new ideas and innovative approaches in a range of areas, including:

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50 Years of Bangladesh-U.S. Relations and Beyond

Join an event with Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and USAID Deputy Administrator Dr. Isobel Coleman on the role of U.S. foreign assistance in Bangladesh’s success, and the future U.S.-Bangladesh partnership for the next 50 years.

Event — April 5, 2022

Book Event: The Enduring Struggle: A Conversation with John Norris

Join us for a conversation with author John Norris as he talks about his book The Enduring Struggle, USAID's achievements that have saved billions of lives, setbacks that have threatened the agency’s very existence, and the importance of USAID today.

Event — September 9, 2021

Women and Statecraft History: A Compilation of Personal Essays by Women Historians

The Project on History and Strategy presents "Women and Statecraft History," a compilation of personal essays by women who have made careers out of studying and applying military and diplomatic history.

Report by Seth Center, Fiona Hill, Sara Bush Castro, Elizabeth C. Charles, Susan Colbourn, Sarah-Jane Corke, Michelle Grisé, Marybeth Peterson Ulrich, Stephanie Young, and Emma Bates — December 1, 2020

A Peaceful Democratic Transition in Venezuela

Nicolás Maduro’s party is likely to host and win unfree National Assembly elections later this year. CSIS’s Daniel F. Runde outlines three paths the next administration could take in its policy toward Venezuela.

Commentary by Daniel F. Runde — November 10, 2020