MISSION STATEMENTAdvance freedom for the benefit of the American people and the international community by helping to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world composed of well-governed states that respond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty, and act responsibly within the international system. |
American diplomacy and foreign assistance in the 21st century are based on three fundamental beliefs: our freedom is best protected by ensuring that others are free; our security relies on a global effort to secure the rights of all; and our prosperity depends on the prosperity of others. It is increasingly clear that, as stated in the National Security Strategy of 2006, "The fundamental character of regimes matters as much as the distribution of power among them." It is for these reasons that Secretary of State Rice's vision of "transformational diplomacy" requires that American diplomacy and foreign assistance function in an integrated fashion to advance our security interests, our development efforts, and our democratic ideals.
The joint Strategic Goals of the Department of State and USAID define this integrated vision and are anchored in the President's National Security Strategy and its two pillars: promoting freedom, justice, and human dignity; and confronting the challenges of our time by leading a growing community of democracies. The seven Strategic Goals represent the core of our transformational diplomacy efforts. The first five of these goals correspond to the five objectives of the Foreign Assistance Framework (see Appendix I), reflecting the integrated nature of the work of the two organizations. These joint Strategic Goals, and the key strategic priorities within them, are as follows:
Department of State/USAID Joint Strategic Goal Framework
Strategic Goal 1: Achieving Peace and Security
- Counterterrorism
- Weapons of mass destruction and destabilizing conventional weapons
- Security cooperation and security sector reform
- Conflict prevention, mitigation, and response
- Transnational crime
- Homeland security
Strategic Goal 2: Governing Justly and Democratically
- Rule of law and human rights
- Good governance
- Political competition and consensus building
- Civil society
Strategic Goal 3: Investing in People
- Health
- Education
- Social services and protection for especially vulnerable populations
Strategic Goal 4: Promoting Economic Growth and Prosperity
- Private markets
- Trade and investment
- Energy security
- Environment
- Agriculture
Strategic Goal 5: Providing Humanitarian Assistance
- Protection, assistance, and solutions
- Disaster prevention and mitigation
- Orderly and humane means for migration management
Strategic Goal 6: Promoting International Understanding
- Offer a positive vision
- Marginalize extremism
- Nurture common interests and values
Strategic Goal 7: Strengthening Consular and Management Capabilities
- Consular services (Visas, Passports, American Citizen Services)
- Major management functions
The following chart reflects how these seven Strategic Goals link most directly to the overarching tasks outlined in the National Security Strategy of 2006.
| National Security Strategy Tasks | State/USAID Strategic Goals (SG) |
|---|---|
| Champion Aspirations for Human Dignity | SG 2: Governing Justly and Democratically |
| SG 5: Providing Humanitarian Assistance | |
| SG 6: Promoting International Understanding | |
| Strengthen Alliances to Defeat Global Terrorism and Work to Prevent Attacks Against Us and Our Friends | SG 1: Achieving Peace and Security |
| SG 6: Promoting International Understanding | |
| Work with Others to Defuse Regional Conflicts | SG 1: Achieving Peace and Security |
| SG 5: Providing Humanitarian Assistance | |
| Prevent Our Enemies from Threatening Us, Our Allies, and Our Friends with Weapons of Mass Destruction | SG 1: Achieving Peace and Security |
| Ignite a New Era of Global Economic Growth through Free Markets and Free Trade | SG 4: Promoting Economic Growth and Prosperity |
| SG 6: Promoting International Understanding | |
| Expand the Circle of Development by Opening Societies and Building the Infrastructure of Democracy | SG 2: Governing Justly and Democratically |
| SG 4: Promoting Economic Growth and Prosperity | |
| SG 6: Promoting International Understanding | |
| Develop Agendas for Cooperative Action with the Other Main Centers of Global Power | SG 1: Achieving Peace and Security |
| SG 2: Governing Justly and Democratically | |
| SG 3: Investing In People | |
| SG 4: Promoting Economic Growth and Prosperity | |
| SG 5: Providing Humanitarian Assistance | |
| SG 6: Promoting International Understanding | |
| Transform America's National Security Institutions to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities of the 21st Century | SG 1: Achieving Peace and Security |
| SG 7: Strengthening Consular and Management Capabilities | |
| Engage the Opportunities and Confront the Challenges of Globalization | SG 1: Achieving Peace and Security |
| SG 2: Governing Justly and Democratically | |
| SG 3: Investing In People | |
| SG 4: Promoting Economic Growth and Prosperity | |
| SG 5: Providing Humanitarian Assistance |
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