The Hill: Dear Administrator Green: A five-step vision for the future of USAID
Ann Vaughan, acting vice president and senior director of policy and advocacy for Mercy Corps

“Earlier this month, Mark Green began his tenure as the administrator of USAID. His proven leadership record and ability to navigate bipartisan waters will serve him well, yet he is walking into a hornet’s nest of redesign efforts, staffing freezes, and budget cuts. We have five recommendations as he faces challenges both internally and from an increasingly violent world: 1. Invest in fragile states and ending violence … 2. Strengthen USAID’s independence … 3. Double down on existing reforms … 4. Cut the red tape — not the staff … 5. Money matters … We wish Green good luck as he embarks on this next adventure. Confirmation was the easy part. Now comes the real test: to protect the mission, mandate, and resources of USAID in a particularly trying time, and to continue to promote bold reform that helps us build a safer world” (8/22).