The Global Partnerships Act: Rep. Berman Proposes Root-And-Branch Reform Of U.S. Foreign Assistance

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) today unveiled the Global Partnerships Act of 2011 (GPA) at the American Enterprise Institute, his wholesale proposal for reforming U.S. foreign assistance to more effectively and efficiently meet 21st century challenges.

The GPA is a discussion draft of a bill to replace the 50-year-old Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, which serves as the foundation for U.S. international aid programs. Berman’s proposal seeks to address the many shortcomings of the current legislation by focusing on seven key reforms: increasing effectiveness; strengthening accountability and oversight; eliminating duplication and waste; slashing red tape; improving transparency; making aid more efficient; and leveraging private investments.  

In his speech, Rep. Berman discussed the way that present-day foreign assistance structures inevitably “straightjacket” the U.S. foreign development community. He emphasized that the resulting rigid and inflexible system does not enable decision-makers to respond quickly to windows of opportunity like the Arab Spring, and reforming these systematic hierarchies is one of the principal concerns of the act. This forms part of a broader theme of devolving authority from Washington, D.C., to the field, and of increased accountability and transparency, particularly of the executive branch.

In addition, the bill would improve interagency coordination in Washington by mandating a Development Policy Committee with the remit of overseeing and coordinating all U.S. budgets, policies, strategies and programs affecting developing countries. This would further serve to enhance the work and cooperation of all the U.S. agencies engaged in development assistance.

Finally, Rep. Berman once again reaffirmed the crucial role development assistance plays, not only to those focus countries in which we operate, but also to the United States. In an environment of cuts, the onus is on those who appreciate the fundamental importance of foreign assistance to disseminate the message to the general public and lawmakers alike.

By Tom O'Bryan