Power focuses on negotiating small but impactful changes, such as food distribution and shelter for civilians, despite the scale of suffering. She emphasizes her role in advocating for policies within the administration and working with aid responders in Gaza, where aid workers face significant risks.
Power respects those who choose to leave their roles to protest, but she believes her position at USAID allows her to exercise significant leverage to push for changes. She considers the cost-benefit analysis of staying in power versus leaving to agitate from the outside.
American aid in Ukraine has had a significant positive impact, particularly in agriculture, where every dollar invested by USAID has turned into $6 of benefit. Ukraine has restored its position as a major exporter of wheat, sunflower oil, and corn despite Russian attacks. Additionally, aid has supported Ukraine's path toward EU membership and economic resilience.
Power acknowledges the challenge in humanitarian assistance but has doubled development assistance to local partners, increasing the direct aid percentage from 5.6% to 11%. She highlights efforts to simplify compliance requirements and leverage AI for translation to make it easier for local organizations to access U.S. grants.
Power defends the Biden administration's foreign policy by emphasizing the desire for more partnership from global leaders. She notes the indispensability of U.S. leadership in diplomacy, particularly in crises like Gaza and Sudan, and highlights the administration's efforts to expand the U.S. development toolkit to compete with China and support global recovery.
Power cannot predict specific outcomes but notes that many of Trump's potential cabinet nominees align with USAID's long-term objectives, such as standing up for human rights and combating corruption. She hopes the incoming administration will recognize USAID's expanded toolkit and its relevance to U.S. foreign policy interests.
Power considers her legacy to be the expansion of USAID's toolkit, which has become more central to American foreign policy interests. She highlights the agency's relevance and the inspired workforce that continues to push for global development and humanitarian efforts despite challenges.
Top humanitarian aid official and longtime diplomat Samantha Power discusses lessons learned from her post at USAID and what she’d like to share with the next administration in this bonus episode.
This conversation was taped before the passage of last week's Continuing Resolution.
Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free):
Walter Kerr and Amanda Arch: U.S. Foreign Aid Is Broken but Fixable)
Agathe Demarais: Aid Is the Next Battleground Between China and the West)
Laura Thornton: How a Second Trump Term Will Redefine Foreign Aid)
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