b'Conversations with LeadersProviding Development and Humanitarian Assistance: A Conversation with Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator, United States Agency for International Development By Michael J. KeeganThe United States Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks to deliver sustainable development solutions. As part of its mission, USAID advances U.S. national and economic prosperity, demonstrates American cooperation, and promotes a path to self-reliance and resilience of aid recipients. The purpose of foreign aid should be ending the need for its existence, and USAID provides development assistance to help partner countries on their own development journey to self-reliancelooking at ways to help lift lives, build communities, and establish self-sufficiency. Bonnie Glick, deputy administrator of USAID, joined me on The Business of Government Hour to discuss the agencies key priorities, its digital strategy, efforts to foster self-reliance, and how it engages the private sector to enhance development solutions. The following is an edited excerpt of our discussion, complemented with updated and additional research.On the History and Mission of USAIDfield for U.S. businesses around the world, particularly in In 1961, President Kennedy established USAID recognizingemerging market countries. We support stable, resilient that this countrys moral obligation, as a wealthy nation, is todemocratic societies. As the worlds preeminent humanitarian help countries that are much poorer. Over nearly 60 years,assistance provider, we support nations when disasters strike USAID has evolved to focus more on aid receiving countriesor when crises emerge.and their journeys to self-reliance. USAID is an independent agency of the U.S. government. What do we do at USAID? We reduce the reach of conflictWe are part of the presidents National Security Council. U.S. around the world, so that conflicts that are breaking out,foreign assistance budget is around $40 billion annually, of wherever those may be, impact the fewest number of peoplewhich USAID holds the largest portion. We are the largest possible. We work hard to prevent the spread of pandemicdevelopment agency in the world.diseases such as what is happening today with the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WeOn the Duties of the USAID Deputy Administrator work to counteract the drivers of violence around the worldI am the number two ranking person in the agencythe chief that can lead to instability and can lead to some terribleoperating officer of USAID. I was nominated by President transnational crimes, things like human trafficking. We workTrump and confirmed by the Senate to serve in this role. to promote American prosperity through market expansions toThere is a big management component of the agency. The enable the export of U.S. products. We create a level playingdeputy administrator manages the agencys budget, manages 14 www.businessofgovernment.org The Business of Government'