Week 2
In my second week at USAID, I finally have computer access which means the real work has begun. Again, I am unable to share the details of my work, but it has been fascinating. Working with the Ethics and Administration (EA) attorneys has provided an insight to global operations, as the General Counsel’s office supports all of USAID’s Foreign Service Attorneys abroad. Next week, I will actually get to meet all of the Foreign Service Attorneys, or “Resident Legal Advisors (RLOs)”. The General Counsel’s Office has an RLO Conference once every four years where all USAID lawyers meet in D.C. I am fortunate enough to be with the agency on a conference year, which means I will have the chance to learn from the attorneys who are actively supporting development missions overseas. So stay tuned for updates on that next week.
This week I also had the privilege to meet Administrator Mark Green. Administrator Green was extremely kind, and took the time to speak with the GC interns about his illustrious career serving the United States of America. Administrator Green served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives where he helped craft key policy initiatives including the Millennium Challenge Act and President George W. Bush’s history making AIDS program and served as the U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania from mid-2007 to early 2009. Needless to say, it was an honor to shake his hand.
Additionally, the office has allowed me to pursue work and conversations on specific issues that I am interested in. One of these topics is the Better Utilization of Investment Leading to Development (BUILD) Act, which Congress passed in October 2018. The Act creates the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC), which will merge the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and USAID’s Development Credit Authority (DCA). The Act also expands the USIDFC budget well above that of OPIC and DCA. This is of major importance to the U.S. and global development communities, and I have been able to learn first hand about the transition from DCA attorneys.
Also, if you thought I was joking about the use of acronyms in my Week 1 post, see the last paragraph for reference.