The Hunger Report

Global Development: Charting a New Course analyzes the inefficiencies in the current structure of U.S. foreign assistance and maps out a series of reforms needed to elevate development as a foreign policy priority.

The challenges of the 21st century argue for a fresh approach to U.S. foreign assistance. Comprehensive U.S. foreign assistance reform should embody the following principles:

• Global development and global poverty reduction must be elevated as specific goals in U.S. foreign policy, distinguished from political, military, and security goals, with distinct and secure funding.
• Poverty reduction should be a primary focus of U.S. foreign assistance, with substantially more povertyfocused funding provided to meet commitments related to the MDGs.
• Development assistance should be provided in partnership with recipient countries to meet their long-term development goals and focus on outcomes with measurable goals and objectives.
• Civilian leadership in development assistance must be maintained and strengthened, with the Department of Defense limited to its operational strengths in logistics and stabilization.
• An effective, streamlined agency is required to direct all development assistance, consolidating the plethora of U.S. development assistance programs currently spread across 12 cabinet departments and numerous agencies.
• Other U.S. policies (e.g. trade, investment, migration) need to be aligned with development assistance goals and objectives to maximize the impact of U.S. development programs.
• U.S. development assistance should be more closely coordinated with other international donors to reduce the burdens on recipient governments as well as costly duplication of programs.