On Monday, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof used a blog posting to lament that the Obama Administration’s vetting process led global health pioneer Dr. Paul Farmer to drop out of the running to be nominated as Administrator for United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Note to political watchers: Farmer was yesterday hired by former President Bill Clinton as Deputy UN Special Envoy for Haiti.
In the piece, Kristof writes, “if a saint like Farmer can’t get through, who can?” That’s a good question. We’re back at square one in the search for an Administrator, despite the fact that momentum for foreign assistance reform is growing. A strong leader for USAID is needed now to be the lead voice for development in major foreign policy discussions by the Obama Administration.
Who should the next Administrator nominee be? Kristof asks individuals to write in with their thoughts, and some of the suggestions are worth considering:
Dambisa Moyo, author of the bestseller Dead Aid
Anil Soni, CEO, Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI)
George Rupp, President, International Rescue Committee
Daniel Pellegrom, President, Pathfinder International
Dick Celeste, former Ohio Governor, former Peace Corps Director, and former U.S. Ambassador to India
Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO, Acumen Fund
Who do you think should be the next nominee for USAID Administrator, and why?
Tags: developing world, development, foreign aid reform, foreign assistance reform, modernizing foreign aid, modernizing foreign assistance, United States Agency for International Development
[...] of State Clinton’s constant drumbeat about strengthening development capabilities. Aside from growing concerns about why an administration so committed to development has not nominated its development leaders, [...]
George Rupp, President of the IRC. I work for him now as the Country Director of the IRC in Georgia. I have also worked 10 years for USAID. Mr. Rupp will make an excellent Administrator. He is a polished development professional, an excellent leader and manager who listens well to his staff and has first-hand knowledge of the places in the world where USAID needs to devote the majority of its attention. I will personally be unhappy to lose him as IRC’s President, but USAID and the world will be a better place if he is hired as USAID’s administrator.