New Principles Guide USAID's Work

 

The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, is reorienting its development work around two very simple principles. “First, the purpose of our foreign assistance must be ending its need to exist,” said USAID Administrator¹ Mark Green. That's “not because we don't wish to help our friends, but because we believe in the inherent desire of every individual, every community, and every country to lead their own bright future.”

The second principle stems from our belief that private enterprise is the single most powerful force for lifting lives, strengthening communities, and accelerating that self-reliance.

“The combination of these two principles is reshaping every aspect of our work, especially in the Indo-Pacific,” said Administrator Green. “In order to accelerate their progress towards self-reliance, we're prioritizing programs that incentivize reforms, strengthen in-country capacity, remove barriers to private investment, and help those countries mobilize their own domestic resources.”

The Trump² Administration is serious about this new approach. That is why Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in late July introduced several new initiatives. First among these is Asia Edge, or Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy.

Energy is one of Asia's greatest needs. India, for example, will see its energy needs grow by over 250 percent by 2050. “Meeting that kind of demand will require all of us to tackle some serious challenges,” said Administrator Green.

This is where USAID comes in. It can help combat corruption³ and unfair market practices, build host country capacity for sophisticated transactions and help them develop effective legal and regulatory frameworks. USAID is also working with American businesses to help partner countries leapfrog over decades-old infrastructure⁴ and modernize⁵ their energy sectors⁶ by investing in smart grids⁷, efficient technologies, and mobile apps for electricity payments.

“Our approach is to build around principles that sound a lot like the classic definition of the American Dream,” said Administrator Green. “It turns out it's not just the American Dream. It is the dream of so many other countries and so many other peoples. And when they achieve it, they not only help their own people rise, but they create stronger strategic partners and allies for American foreign policy and, yes, stronger economic partners and customers for American companies.”

1 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

6 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 grids   

n.格子( grid的名词复数 )；地图上的坐标方格；（输电线路、天然气管道等的）系统网络；（汽车比赛）赛车起跑线

参考例句：

• Typical framed structures are beams, grids, plane and space frames or trusses. 典型构架结构为梁、格栅、平面的和空间的框架或桁架。 来自辞典例句
• The machines deliver trimmed grids for use or stock. 这种机器铸出修整过的板栅，以供使用或储存。 来自辞典例句