District of Columbia | August 13, 2021
Passing the Baton on Data and Evidence
District of Columbia | August 13, 2021
Since the founding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1961, scholars, practitioners, and politicians have debated how much, if any, foreign assistance the United States should provide in low- and middle-income countries. While we do not claim to have a definitive answer, we do believe there is a straightforward, bipartisan consensus that the foreign aid the United States provides should be spent in the most effective way possible. Regardless of political stripe, everyone can agree that, for the good of the taxpayer— and the world’s most vulnerable people the Agency strives to help— USAID should focus on maximizing the impact per dollar of its funding.[1]
We firmly believe that better use of data and evidence, in every sector, is the key to making foreign aid as effective as possible. We were pleased, therefore, to hear Administrator Samantha Power emphasize this idea in her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate, “I will work tirelessly with Members on both sides of the aisle to ensure that taxpayer dollars are well spent. Guided by evidence, I will work with you to adapt or replace programs that are not delivering.” This clear commitment to evidence and effectiveness echoes similar statements from former USAID Administrators on both sides of the aisle: Mark Green[2], Gayle Smith[3], and Raj Shah[4]. The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, the result of a bipartisan commission on the use of evidence, and the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 put wind in the sails of efforts to use data and evidence to improve the value for money of U.S. foreign-assistance spending. While it is clear therefore that maximizing the value for money of foreign assistance is a bipartisan, even a non-partisan aim, it is also clear that much work remains to translate these pledges into reality. .. (Excerpts from the Wilson Center)
Tennessee | July 6, 2021
Nashville Mayor Offering $150,000 to Nonprofits for Violence Reduction
Tennessee | July 6, 2021
Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced last week that $150,000 would be going to nonprofits that offered violence reduction strategies. A nonprofit could receive up to $5,000 for their work; the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Advisory Board will issue recommendations for who receives the grant awards throughout this month and August.
In a press release, Cooper asserted that this would allow communities to achieve safety solutions tailored to their local needs, particularly for gun violence.
“Community safety requires a community effort,” said Cooper. “This work takes all of us, supporting one another and learning from each other. And it takes Metro government, championing that response and investing in the strategies that work best for our neighborhoods.”
Metro Nashville City Councilwoman and CSP board member Jennifer Gamble asserted that this approach would make communities safer.
“Investing in and supporting the groups on the front lines of creating community-based solutions for violence reduction will make our city safer,” said Gamble.
A leader on the advisory board and previous committee vice-chair for the mayor’s Policing Policy Commission, Sharon Roberson, explained that this would be an initial round of funding open to grassroots organizations.
“This first round of funding is intended to support grassroots organizations working to enhance community safety and reduce violence,” said Roberson….
(Excerpts from the Tennesse Star)
District of Columbia | July 6, 2021
Four Trump Cabinet Members Now Call Heritage Home
District of Columbia | July 6, 2021
The Heritage Foundation has bolstered its ranks in recent months with the addition of four members from former President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. The four leaders bring significant policy experience and a deep knowledge of government to Heritage’s first-class team.
The new visiting fellows include former Vice President Mike Pence, former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, former Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert L. Wilkie, and former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
Since joining Heritage, they’ve already had a major impact—raising the profile of several policy issues, shaping the narrative in media interviews and op-eds, and connecting with other conservative leaders to help solve some of America’s biggest issues.
As a distinguished visiting fellow, Pence has appeared at several Heritage events, sharing an optimistic message about American values and defending the accomplishments of the Trump administration. Additionally, the former vice president is contributing a column for The Daily Signal, Heritage’s multimedia news outlet…
(Excerpts from the Heritage Foundation)