It is wonderful to get a communication from someone who has walked the walk. My parents were in Peace Corps '96-'98. My father worked for the EPA his entire career. I appreciate the mention of the quagmire of paperwork. Not entirely rosy eyed about USAID, but noting the good FAR outweighs the frustrating. I do think government could be streamlined - red tape reduced, but never cutting whole programs that do invaluable work. I worked at Harvard in admin for many years and my job included making admin more efficient and effective. This does often reduces staff, but only where in makes sense. In my opinion, government reduction should be that.
Thanks, Kate! Nice to see you here :) And yes, we don't need a bulldozer to reduce red tape; we need a thoughtful, measured approach that reduces inefficiencies while continuing, and building upon, what is working well.
Thank you for this, and especially the links. When we're inundated with so many news sources & trying to keep up, your curated list is invaluable. I'm forever in awe of people who devote their lives to aiding others worldwide, in difficult places and at high personal cost. Like you, like Dom, like several other people where I live, now retired & watching I'm sure in distress at the undoing of their great work. Let's pray this nightmare passes…isn't it sad that that is my highest hope for this country in this moment?
Thanks for giving people an inside view of this important work. I worked on USAID contracts helping water and sewer agencies in Egypt, and it was some of the most rewarding work I ever got to do—for my American colleagues and me, as well as for the Egyptians. I think most Americans have no idea about all the good their tax dollars do in the world, and not just to help and support people in these countries, but to win friends and stabilize whole regions. Seems all that is going to hell in a hand-basket with the current regime and it’s so hard to watch.
Yes, exactly. It serves so many purposes. You've reminded me that I worked on some district-level water and sanitation plans in Malawi as well. That consultancy was officially an editing job, but it turned in to a whole lot more...
This is so good! You captured working and living abroad perfectly. I didn’t know USAID was 64 years old which means it was only 2 when my dad worked for them and we lived in Nepal. We called it the American Mission. Maybe that was more descriptive in its start. I’ve reposted widely😊
Thanks, Jill! Yes, USAID was established by JFK in 1961, combining several existing foreign assistance initiatives into one, dedicated agency that has done so much good work since then. That's interesting (and fitting) that you called it the American Mission!
Liz, my daughter was one of the people who lost their job in the USAID debacle, so this post really hit home for me. Thank you.
I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. It's so wrong on so many fronts.
It is wonderful to get a communication from someone who has walked the walk. My parents were in Peace Corps '96-'98. My father worked for the EPA his entire career. I appreciate the mention of the quagmire of paperwork. Not entirely rosy eyed about USAID, but noting the good FAR outweighs the frustrating. I do think government could be streamlined - red tape reduced, but never cutting whole programs that do invaluable work. I worked at Harvard in admin for many years and my job included making admin more efficient and effective. This does often reduces staff, but only where in makes sense. In my opinion, government reduction should be that.
Thanks, Kate! Nice to see you here :) And yes, we don't need a bulldozer to reduce red tape; we need a thoughtful, measured approach that reduces inefficiencies while continuing, and building upon, what is working well.
Thank you for this, and especially the links. When we're inundated with so many news sources & trying to keep up, your curated list is invaluable. I'm forever in awe of people who devote their lives to aiding others worldwide, in difficult places and at high personal cost. Like you, like Dom, like several other people where I live, now retired & watching I'm sure in distress at the undoing of their great work. Let's pray this nightmare passes…isn't it sad that that is my highest hope for this country in this moment?
Thanks, Brenda🩷 I hear you. It will pass, hopefully sooner rather than later!
Excellent write up Liz! I don’t know when DT will read it and rethink to open USA support for vulnerable communities.
Thank you, Pronob! That's funny to imagine, but I won't hold my breath!
Thanks for giving people an inside view of this important work. I worked on USAID contracts helping water and sewer agencies in Egypt, and it was some of the most rewarding work I ever got to do—for my American colleagues and me, as well as for the Egyptians. I think most Americans have no idea about all the good their tax dollars do in the world, and not just to help and support people in these countries, but to win friends and stabilize whole regions. Seems all that is going to hell in a hand-basket with the current regime and it’s so hard to watch.
Yes, exactly. It serves so many purposes. You've reminded me that I worked on some district-level water and sanitation plans in Malawi as well. That consultancy was officially an editing job, but it turned in to a whole lot more...
This is so good! You captured working and living abroad perfectly. I didn’t know USAID was 64 years old which means it was only 2 when my dad worked for them and we lived in Nepal. We called it the American Mission. Maybe that was more descriptive in its start. I’ve reposted widely😊
Thanks, Jill! Yes, USAID was established by JFK in 1961, combining several existing foreign assistance initiatives into one, dedicated agency that has done so much good work since then. That's interesting (and fitting) that you called it the American Mission!