The Hill: Five key principles for U.S. foreign assistance success
Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, and David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, both former co-chairs of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN)

“…[T]he president’s budget will have an enormous impact on our nation’s standing in the global community and its ability to uphold American humanitarian values. … [W]e join our MFAN colleagues in urging Congress to use its leadership and budget authority to ensure that the following core principles are reflected in the national budget and any proposed reforms of U.S. foreign assistance: Foreign assistance structures must uphold diplomacy and development as distinct and equal disciplines. Foreign assistance must help create the conditions under which it is no longer necessary. Foreign assistance should focus on countries where the need is greatest or where it can have the most impact. Foreign assistance must be transparent and accountable to American taxpayers, as well as local citizens in developing countries. Foreign assistance must utilize broadly accepted best practices such as strengthening local institutions and identifying and working with local stakeholders to address development constraints. … In the coming weeks, MFAN will lay out a coherent and principled approach to effective foreign aid based on the principles above. … With our MFAN colleagues, we look forward [to] joining the vigorous debate and exchange of ideas on these issues in the weeks and months ahead” (5/22).