SID-Washington Presents:
2017 in Transition Discussion Series
In response to the U.S. Presidential Transition, SID-Washington is pleased to launch its new series of informational and policy-based programs to support the Transition in Washington and elsewhere. During 2017, SID-Washington and its leadership team are committed to hosting events, providing networking sessions, partnering in briefings, conducting social media discussions and actively informing our wider development community about the changes our community might expect to see, innovations we would like to implement and the policy changes we think will make international development and humanitarian assistance more effective and sustainable.
The peaceful transfer of power from one Administration to the next is one of the hallmarks of American democracy in action. After such a polarizing and long Presidential election cycle, the Presidential transition period is a time for taking stock, defining a way forward for our nation and working to bring communities and people together around our common heritage.
As the leading convener of organizations and communities involved in international development, SID-Washington takes special pride in its responsibility as a principled thought leader and platform for the exchange of ideas and information at this critical time. Just as it does in so many ways throughout each program year, SID-Washington helps inform and engage its members in response to the global development agenda and the transitions inherent within it.
Past Events
We kicked off the 2017 in Transition Discussion Series with a moderated discussion in January with former USAID Administrators J. Brian Atwood, Andrew Natsios, and former Acting Deputy Administrator James Kunder on Weathering Change in International Development. Another event, titled Transition in Cuba: Change or Continuity, took place in February.
On May 3rd, we hosted an interactive, high-level discussion with leaders from key advocacy organizations working to support a vibrant, strategic and innovative international assistance engagement by the United States on the US foreign assistance budget for our institutional members.
On May 9th, the United States Institute of Peace and the Society for International Development - Washington Chapter (SID-Washington) hosted a dynamic discussion about The Evolving Role of Transition Assistance as an Instrument of U.S. Foreign Policy.
On May 19th, we hosted a CEO Breakfast with with Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA, 11th), who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) and the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, to discuss foreign policy and foreign assistance.
On July 13th, we hosted an event for our institutional members with Rep Ed Royce (R-CA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, on the successful implementation of the Electrify Africa Act through the USAID-led Power Africa initiative at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. Through a keynote address by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Royce and a panel of leaders from different sectors, we looked at the early success of this initiative and discuss future implementation planning as well as challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors going forward.
We are planning other events to take place throughout the year as part of this series and we welcome your input. If you have ideas for our 2017 in Transition Discussion Series, please send email to [email protected].