The Foreign Service Journal, May 2010

M A Y 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 9 agreements negotiated between the host government and the U.S. govern- ment in Washington, D.C., and the local American embassy. Today, it is safe to surmise that fu- ture USAID activities will include fewer poultry or crop rotation pro- grams, and probably will not include low-interest loans as a funding source. Funding may even be reimbursable or based partly on grants. Programs will be directed more at mid-level institu- tional and urban objectives. Political vectors will be different, as well, in keeping with a major change in American foreign policy ob- jectives. USAID programs will be less heartwarming or technical and di- rected more to the growth of civil functions. As a result, the skills re- quired of USAID personnel will be completely changed from those of 30 years ago. But no matter how U.S. govern- ment organization planners rearrange the personnel charts and lines of com- mand, USAID programs and efforts will be much more effective and bet- ter received if they are seen by host governments as run by, and coming from, non-military or diplomatic mono- liths. Accordingly, USAID should be re- constituted as a separate agency with a dedicated career field of international development advisers. (The Depart- ment of State could provide adminis- trative support.) And all programs should be under the aegis of the perti- nent American ambassador. International development advisers should not be competing with, or su- pervised by, political officers, spooks or military officers. ■ John Wellington Macdonald USAID FSO, retired Austin, Texas L E T T E R S A time of service…a time of need Help for Seniors May Be Just a Phone Call Away— Home Health Care Adult Day Care & Respite Care Prescription Drug Copayments Transportation to Medical Appointments Durable Medical Equipment For more information, please contact the SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 Fax: (202) 872-9320 E-Mail: info@SLFoundation.org Web Site: www.SLFoundation.org The Senior Living Foundation may be able to help you or someone you know. Some examples of assistance are: SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION