IGD urges business principles for foreign aid reform: Start with a clear strategy, emphasize results, invest for success.

Start with a clear strategy

• Formulate a comprehensive national strategy for global development that outlines clear objectives and encompasses all relevant trade, aid and investment programs
• Put someone in charge: one individual responsible for coordinating all U.S. development policies and programs, who is accountable for delivering results and who serves as a unique development voice – distinct from diplomacy and defense – in interagency discussions
• Know your customers: design assistance efforts so that they respond to local needs and priorities
  

Emphasize results

• Evaluate development outcomes rather than dollars disbursed
• Emphasize local management: give U.S. government development staff in country the flexibility and authority to allocate resources based on their knowledge of needs on the ground
• Find more strategic ways to collaborate with the private sector to leverage impact
  

Invest for success

• Put the right team in place: rebuild the government’s core development expertise
• Support the strategy with adequate resources: increase funding for U.S. development programs over time
• Leverage the investments made by U.S. development agencies with private sector commitments to catalyze greater development gains
  

Download the complete publication: The Business Case for Foreign Aid Reform