Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance
The Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance is charged with directing the transformation of the U.S. Government approach to foreign assistance and with ensuring that foreign assistance is used as effectively as possible to meet broad foreign policy objectives.
Vision Statement Ensure the strategic and effective use of foreign assistance resources to respond to global needs, make the world safer, and help people better their own lives by supporting programs that:
- Advance human rights and freedoms;
- Promote sustainable economic growth and reduce widespread poverty;
- Promote and support democratic, well-governed states;
- Increase access to quality education, combat disease, and improve public health;
- Respond to urgent humanitarian needs;
- Prevent and respond to conflict; and
- Address transnational threats.
Mission Statement On behalf of the Secretary of State and the DFA, the Office of the Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance:
- Provides leadership, coordination and strategic direction within the U.S. Government and with external stakeholders to enhance foreign assistance effectiveness and integrates foreign assistance planning and resource management across State and USAID;
- Leads strategic, operational, and performance planning of U.S. foreign assistance with a focus on aligning resources with policy priorities;
- Develops and defends foreign assistance budget requests and allocates State and USAID foreign assistance funding to meet urgent needs and new opportunities and to ensure long-term sustainable investments; and
- Promotes good stewardship of foreign assistance funds by strengthening oversight, accountability, and transparency.
Operating Principles In order to achieve our vision and mission, our work will be driven by the following operating principles:
- As public servants, we will be accountable to the American people for ensuring the effective use of foreign assistance resources by:
- Prioritizing the allocation of resources to ensure that U.S. policy objectives are achieved;
- Emphasizing a country-based focus for planning and programming resources that incorporates functional and transcendent needs and priorities;
- Ensuring that resource allocations are informed by analysis of country and program performance;
- Working with others in State and USAID to align program and operational resources; and
- Carrying out our work with integrity in a transparent and coordinated manner.
- We will be constructive and cooperative partners with our stakeholders by:
- Respecting and calling upon the expertise of our colleagues;
- Engaging where F has unique capacity or perspective;
- Using our convening authority to bring stakeholders together to develop coordinated approaches to issues and challenges;
- Continually working with our interagency partners to identify and act upon opportunities to improve integration and coordination of foreign assistance; and
- Being reasonable and balanced in carrying out our work and in our interactions with others.
- We will value our employees as our most important resource by:
- Recognizing and rewarding collaboration, teamwork, and excellent performance;
- Encouraging the positive exchange of ideas and perspectives; and
- Fostering professional development through mentoring, training, and career advancement opportunities.
