2013-2015 Governing Board Strategic Plan
On November 6, 2013 the AFSA Governing Board approved its 2013-2015 strategic plan which identified five priority areas as outlined below: good governance, benefits – quality of work/life, career development, security, and image and profile.
1. Model good governance, democratic accountability, and performance management within the organization and through interaction with members
AFSA needs to operate from a strong base rooted in sound democratic governance, informed by best management practices, and taking advantage of the latest information technology. We will review and improve current policies and platforms within AFSA to modernize our operations and be able to better focus on members’ concerns.
2. Protect and expand benefits and improve Quality of Work/Life across Foreign Service
Our members serve on temporary, diplomatic assignments at more than 275 facilities around the world– sometime with their families and sometimes without. We have a unique personnel system with Foreign Service specific benefits such as Overseas Comparability Pay and our Foreign Service Retirement system. We support flexible working arrangements at our agencies and look forward to facilitating temporary and assignment-related travel and enhancing quality of work/life for our Foreign Service employees at all of our Foreign Service agencies.
3. Improve career development and professional capacity across the Foreign Service
The Foreign Service has grown substantially in the last decade through hiring initiatives at the Department of State and USAID. It is important that these new employees have rewarding career paths at their agencies, including adequate training and professional development opportunities. AFSA looks forward to partnering with the Foreign Service Institute on training and supporting our agencies diversity promotion efforts.
4. Better manage security risk while protecting employee ability to engage
The attack on our facility in Benghazi reminded us of the dangers of diplomacy. We recognize the importance of employee language and security awareness training to employee safety. We look forward to partnering with our agencies to ensure that the diplomatic risk/reward calculation is correct as it relates to employee safety and that all employees continue to be able to engage on behalf of their country.
5. Enhance organization’s image and profile amongst the membership, Congress, and other partners
AFSA recently celebrated 40 years as a union and next year will celebrate 90 years as a professional association. It looks forward to improving communications with members and better educating Congress and other stakeholders about its role as the exclusive representative for the Foreign Service.