As USAID “is going to have to do more with less as it faces serious budget cuts,” NPR’s Morning Edition spoke with USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah “about what the troop drawdown in Afghanistan will mean for U.S. assistance for Afghanistan.”

Shah said that significant gains in security, development and governance have been made and are allowing for the drawdown. He added that “big gains” have been achieved in human health, with 64 percent of the population with access to health services, up from only 9 percent 10 years ago. When asked about the future of USAID in Afghanistan, Shah said, “I think our biggest challenge is going to be continuing the path of making the gains that have been achieved really sustainable and durable” (Montagne, 6/24).