Dr. Rajiv Shah was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 24, 2009 as the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) . He will be sworn in the beginning of 2010.

Dr. Shah will lead an agency that is engaged in several critical domestic assessments and evaluations of its work. He will need to engage immediately in providing strong leadership and direction for the agency’s input and recommendations to the Presidential Study Directive managed by the National Security Council and National Economic Council which will enumerate, review, and assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the over 26 foreign assistance programs and funding sources within the U.S. government as well as actively engage and manage USAID’s leadership and participation in the Department of State’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Additionally, his active and immediate engagement on the Pakistan and Afghanistan humanitarian and development funding issues will be critical for the development community.

InterAction encourages Dr. Shah to assemble a strong team of development professionals to support him as he administers the Agency in this new and challenging environment. InterAction will meet with Dr. Shah and his new leadership to discuss and rethink the USG partnership or relationship with the NGO community moving into the second decade of the 21st century. InterAction and its 193 members welcome his confirmation by the U.S. Senate and look forward to an open and transparent relationship with him and his new leadership team.