With the impending closure of USAID and potential merger into the U.S. State Department, what is the future of U.S. development assistance? In this event, Harvard GSAS Alum '13 Dr. Rachel George will discuss her research (and forthcoming book) that examines the mergers of international aid agencies with foreign policy agencies around the world. Announcements of a merger in the U.S. follow similar mergers that have unfolded in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, cementing the move towards delivering development and diplomacy under a single agency. Considering new global developments, what is driving the race for bureaucratic reform to merge aid with foreign policy? What have been the lessons learned for the United States, and how can countries innovate their bureaucratic approaches to truly respond to complex and connected global challenges? This event will feature a discussion of experiences from the UK, Canada, and Australia, raising lessons learned from their efforts to merge foreign aid and diplomacy.
Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Time: 5-6 PM ET
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