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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Home and Abroad: Building U.S. Global Economic Leadership on Strong Domestic Foundations

In a new essay collection, CSIS experts on economics, trade, energy, technology, and development share their thoughts on how the United States can reaffirm its leadership through smart policies both at home and abroad.

Report by John J. Hamre , Matthew P. Goodman , William Alan Reinsch , Sarah Ladislaw , James Andrew Lewis , Daniel F. Runde , Romina Bandura , Stephanie Segal , and Dylan Gerstel — July 11, 2019

Sustainable Development Goal #16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Please join us on June 18th for a public event focused on Sustainable Development Goal #16 which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Event by Conor M. Savoy , Daniel F. Runde , Andrew Wilson , Valentina Saltane , and Matthew Murray — June 18, 2019

Building the Future: Freedom, Prosperity, and Foreign Policy with Dan Runde

Why do the SDGs Matter?

​In this episode of Building the Future, Dan is joined by Ulrika Modéer, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy.

Podcast Episode by Daniel F. Runde — April 26, 2019

CSIS Building the Future

2019 Global Development Forum

The fifth annual Global Development Forum, hosted by the CSIS Project on U.S. Leadership in Development, focuses on the future directions for development with panels on urbanization in Africa, development finance, youth, human rights, long-term trends in development, and water sustainability.

Event by Daniel F. Runde , Amy K. Lehr , Stephanie Segal , Romina Bandura , Kimberly Flowers , Judd Devermont , and Samuel Brannen — April 11, 2019

The U.S. Approach to Fragile States: A Conversation with Dr. Kiron Skinner

Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Kiron Skinner, Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State, to discuss the Trump Administration and State Department’s approach to fragile states and why it matters for diplomacy in the 21st century.

Event by Daniel F. Runde and Dr. Kiron Skinner — March 14, 2019

Sustainable Development Goal #17: Partnerships for the Goals

Please join us on March 7th for a discussion of Sustainable Development Goal#17 which aims to strengthen global partnerships to support and achieve the ambitious targets of the 2030 Agenda.

Event by Daniel F. Runde , Richard Crespin , Joel Harris , Jane Nelson , and Ulrika Modéer — March 7, 2019

Sustainable Development Goal#7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Please watch us for a public Chevron Forum focused on how the international development community, governments, and the private sector can work together to help developing countries provide affordable and clean energy (Sustainable Development Goal#7).

Event by Sarah Ladislaw , Daniel F. Runde , Robert Schwiers , Milagros Rivas Saiz , and Jeannelle Blanchard — December 4, 2018

Report Launch on "Time for a Third Wave of Enterprise Funds"

Please watch us as we had a discussion with Jim Harmon, Agnes Dasewicz, Bert van der Vaart, and John Simon on how we can leverage enterprise funds to supplement existing development tools.

Event by Daniel F. Runde , Romina Bandura , John Simon , Agnes Dasewicz , Jim Harmon , and Bert van der Vaart — October 31, 2018

An Economic Crisis in Pakistan Again: What’s Different This Time?

How Pakistan decides to handle its debt crisis could provide insight into how the U.S., IMF, and China will resolve development issues in the future, as Ambassador Richard Olson and Project on Prosperity and Development director Daniel Runde write in their commentary.

Critical Questions by Daniel F. Runde and Ambassador Richard Olson — October 31, 2018