March 17, 2009
Businesses and NGOs call for foreign assistance reform
WaterAid America was among an influential and diverse group of more than 140 businesses, non-profits, and former leaders from the government and the US military who today sent President Obama and Congressional leaders a letter urging them to “make modernization of our foreign assistance programs a priority… [and] make global development a co-equal pillar of U.S. foreign policy alongside defense and diplomacy.”
The open letter was developed by the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) and published as an advertisement in the Politico newspaper. It was released today to show President Obama, his advisors, and Members of Congress that strong individual, institutional, and grassroots support exists for their unprecedented efforts to elevate global development.
The public is encouraged to sign on to the letter at
www.modernizingforeignassistance.net and download the “badge” above to post on their social networking profiles, blogs, and personal websites to show support and spread the word.
Patricia Dandonoli, President & CEO of WaterAid America, endorsed the letter alongside well-known organizations including the International Rescue Committee, the ONE Campaign, Save the Children, and World Wildlife Fund, and influential leaders including former Joint Chiefs Chairman John Shalikashvili, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, William H. Gates, Sr., former Goldman Sachs & Co. Chairman John C. Whitehead, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, and three former USAID Administrators.
WaterAid America believes in the need to strengthen US efforts to
alleviate poverty, fight disease, create opportunity, and foster
sustainable security in the developing world. A more effective aid
system will mean that taxpayer dollars can be used more effectively to
ensure that basic services like water and sanitation reach those people
that need them most.
Today, that system is not as coordinated and efficient as it could be because too many agencies oversee too many programs, and we lack both an overall global development strategy and up-to-date legislation to organize our efforts and maximize their impact.
Download the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network's Open Letter to President Obama and Congress (PDF 1.3MB)
