Print
Share
A New Home at USAID
February 26, 2010
On Monday, I will join USAID as Director of Evaluation, Policy Analysis & Learning. In this position, I’ll be supporting initiatives that are already underway to apply the best available evidence to decisions at many levels, and to generate new knowledge as an integral part of the agency’s work. This reflects a major priority throughout the administration, and particularly for USAID Administrator Raj Shah, and it is a tremendous opportunity to extend work that I’ve done with others at the Center for Global Development. I know from my many interactions with USAID staff over many years that the agency is filled with dedicated, talented, and experienced professionals, and I’m looking forward to being able to contribute to their work.
And, yes, it is hard to leave CGD. The Center is a remarkable and rare place, and over the past eight years it has been the finest professional home I could ever have imagined. I am profoundly grateful for the chance to have been part of the start-up of the Center. I will take with me everything I’ve learned along the way from Nancy Birdsall, Ed Scott, my colleagues and our ever-expanding network of technical experts, members of the policy community and supporters.
CGD, and the Center’s global health policy program, will thrive over the years to come, and I look forward to being on the receiving end of research findings, advice, and the occasional polite but pointed critiques when we fall short—which is perhaps unavoidable in the complex world of development policy and practice. The value of an independent, thoughtful, empirically-grounded and pragmatic voice on development issues is profound, and will only increase in the future as the problems get harder, and the dance of policymaking calls for fewer timid steps and more brave leaps.
14 Responses to “A New Home at USAID”
Post a Comment
We value frank and constructive exchanges and encourage you to use your real name in your comments.
February 26th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Several of us had a good cry toasting Ruth this afternoon. I brought the huge pile of her CGD works (meanwhile there were non-CGD publications too):
1. The CGD best seller Millions Saved;
2. When Will We Ever Learn – the seed that grew with Ruth’s astute nurturing into the IIIE also known as the 3IE;
3. Making Markets for Vaccines, which led to the Advance Market Commitment for a pneumococcal vaccine;
4. Performance Incentives for Global Health;
5. Start with a Girl
. . . .and the list goes on .
Ruth created and fine-tuned the creature we call a CGD working group, which is about taking ideas to action. She has been a font of ideas (e.g. for how the Gates Foundation might spend the $10 billion it has promised for vaccines and immunization), and a constant and wise partner to me, bringing soul as well as smarts to CGD management.
I lift a glass to Raj Shah. He knows how lucky he is (OK he was smart too). Soon his colleagues throughout USAID will too. Meanwhile we will monitor whether Ruth has the space and the support to help make USAID again, as it was years ago, a place where innovation and learning thrive. That, as Ruth knows, is what can matter for the world’s poor whom USAID serves.
February 26th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Congrats! We’re all rooting for you at USAID. Go make some change!
February 27th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
This is a spectacular coup for USAID: no one on earth could better fill that position. If Ruth does to USAID one tenth of what she did to CGD, it will become known as the most effective agency in the government, the one that upcoming public servants compete to get into. All my admiration and best wishes to you, Ruth.
February 28th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Ruth has been an incredible inspiration and role model for me and the communications and outreach team at CGD. Michael Clemens said it exactly right.
March 1st, 2010 at 11:03 am
Congratulations to USAID, what encouraging news — and I do hope CGD does make sure Ruth has the space and resources to make the difference we all know she can! Very exciting news for the industry.
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am
Congratulations Ruth!! A huge windfall for USAID and there is so much for you to do there… This is great news.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Ruth, I am so pleased for you, but more for USAID, our international development community, and the world’s poorest–whose lives it’s all about. You are and will be a tremendous asset and inspiration, and I look forward to seeing great new things on the horizon!
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
As someone once lucky enough to work with Ruth, I want to congratulate all her USAID colleagues for gaining a new MVP. With the perfect combination of trust, insight, and honesty, Ruth nudges not only the organization but each of her colleagues within it into the best they can be.
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Congratulations Ruth and your future work in evaluation at USAID. Having been on evaluation assignments for USAID and 15+ years on evaluation research that I look forward to bringing reality to development evaluation. You have a challanging task as seen at W Bank evaluations for past 25+ years. Good Luck.
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Congratulations Ruth! This is wonderful. USAID is very lucky to have you.
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Congratulations, Ruth! What a great choice USAID has made. I wish you all the best.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Congratulations, Ruth, on your new position! I’m proud of my government for having the good judgement to bring you on board!
March 10th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Congratulations Ruth! This is very exciting news.
March 24th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Congratulations Ruth as you have big challenge at USAID especially evaluation. Having served as evaluation consultant on USAID and other international donor projects your bureaucratic barriers will be apparent in 3-6 months. For those who havent worked within bureaucracy the adjustments can be daunting.
The realization that evaluation consultants are like touching the 3rd rail of social security … no one wants to talk about it, evaluation results will be marginalized, and the projects/programs will continue irrespective of evaluation findings.
Good luck and if you can do it and make changes you will win the Nobel Prize for impact and outcome evaluation development.