The Foreign Service Journal, December 2019

20 DECEMBER 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL T he world was quite different when I joined the U.S. Agency for International Development in 1990. The Cold War was ending; cell phones and email were novelties; and Nelson Mandela had just been released from prison. Moving from a bipolar world and then, later, to a post-9/11 one, the threats to our national security and prosperity also changed. Growing the ranks of prosperous, capable and democratic states that can partner with the United States is in our national interest. Nevertheless, the 21st century is being defined by resurgent authoritarianism and a competition for ideas. At question are the values and standards that have governed international institutions, protected U.S. interests and promoted global stability since the end of World War II. Authoritarian governments need a world that looks like them, and they are strategically investing in creating one, using their growing influence to reduce international criticism of their internal policies while expanding their clout in international US AID Chris Milligan is the Counselor to the U.S. Agency for International Development. Amember of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Career Minister, he has a deep wealth of development experience, having led and contributed to high-priority initiatives to advance U.S. government foreign policy both inWashington and overseas. (To learn more about USAID’s Transformation, visit www.usaid.gov/ what-we-do/transformation-at-usaid.) Here are the highlights of USAID’s ongoing Transformation initiative, undertaken to better meet the development challenges of the 21st century. BY CHR I S M I L L I GAN COVER STORY organizations. They are advancing an alternative to democracy, increasing support for illegitimate elections, exporting new tools of censorship and repression, and pressuring other governments to compromise on core democratic principles. The Economist reports, for instance, that China spends $10 billion a year on soft power initiatives that complement its economic and military strength. Despite significant development gains, many countries are vulnerable to crises and instability that can derail progress. Today, the majority of USAID’s programming is in states that are fragile, suffering from active conflict or recovering from it. Our work is increasingly focused on the root causes of instability and extremism. Underscoring the changing global context is the stark fact that fully 80 percent of our humanitarian assistance helps those suffering from violent conflict—conflicts that are increasingly complex and entrenched. As the world continues to evolve, development has become even more central to U.S. security and economic goals. The events of 9/11 brought greater awareness of the fact that terrorism and international crime thrive in fragile states, and that good development is essential for national security. Terrorism and violent extremism have grown since September 2001, and extremism cannot be curbed through military force alone. Our continued economic prosperity depends on maintaining and expanding access to global markets where 95 percent of the world’s consumers live. In response to Executive Order 13781, A Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch , USAID established a Transformation Team in June 2017 to lead the agency’s reform efforts. The resulting Transformation initiative positions USAID