President's FY 2009 Budget Request Includes Increase for USAID Staffing Capacity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2008
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
Washington, D.C. - As part of the President's fiscal year (FY) 2009 International Affairs Budget request released by the White House on Monday, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be able to contribute even more substantially to the success of U.S. foreign policy through the revitalization of its workforce.
The President's FY 2009 International Budget Affairs request for the Department of State, USAID and other foreign affairs agencies totals approximately $39.5 billion. More than $92 million of this total goes toward the implementation of the 'Development Leadership Initiative' (DLI) which will strengthen the Agency's capacity to provide leadership overseas to develop, carry out and integrate programs that bring peace, prosperity and security to the world.
"We are at an historic turning point for USAID because we are rebuilding our operational capacity through DLI," said USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore.
The size of USAID's Foreign Service Officer (FSO) workforce has not kept pace with the significant increase in USAID program management responsibilities. As a result, this request will allow USAID to hire an additional 300 FSOs above attrition in FY 2009 - a 30 percent increase in its FSO workforce.
DLI will address critical staffing deficiencies in stewardship and technical areas, which will in turn also help to provide increased accountability in U.S. foreign aid programs.
Foreign assistance programs address foreign policy priorities by promoting stability in key countries and regions, confronting security challenges, advancing economic transformation, responding to humanitarian crises, and encouraging better governance, policies, and institutions.
As the principal U.S. agency extending assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms, USAID is at the forefront of in the support of U.S. national security goals.
For more about the FY 2009 International Affairs Budget Request, please visit www.state.gov/f/releases/iab/fy2009/.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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