Elissa Miolene

Elissa Miolene

Elissa Miolene covers U.S. foreign assistance from Washington, D.C. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for The Wall Street Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, and other news outlets across the world. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for aid agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.

Latest Articles

Special edition: Drawing the battle lines on women, girls, and gender at the UN

Special edition: Drawing the battle lines on women, girls, and gender at the UN

about 7 hours ago // Devex Newswire

Here’s what to watch at the world’s largest gathering on gender equality.

Exclusive: US seeks to scrap UN efforts to expand women's rights

Exclusive: US seeks to scrap UN efforts to expand women's rights

3 days ago // Gender Equality

Trump administration seeks to undo decades of U.N. efforts to build a protective platform for women, girls, and other disadvantaged groups.

Somalia faces 'food crisis' after lifesaving US grants hit their end

Somalia faces 'food crisis' after lifesaving US grants hit their end

5 days ago // Food Systems

Organizations have begun to receive notice that once their awards run out, there will be no more U.S. funds coming their way.

Sheryl Sandberg pushes a $175 billion case for ending child marriage

Sheryl Sandberg pushes a $175 billion case for ending child marriage

5 days ago // Inclusive Development

“This is not just a social issue or a human rights issue, but an economic issue,” philanthropist Sheryl Sandberg told Devex.

State Department eyes tuberculosis breakthroughs

State Department eyes tuberculosis breakthroughs

5 days ago // Global Health

Jeffrey Graham, the head of the State Department's Global Health Security and Diplomacy Bureau, emphasized how the "America First" approach is refocusing U.S. efforts on tuberculosis and beyond.

Aid groups win court reprieve from Gaza ban

Aid groups win court reprieve from Gaza ban

10 days ago // Humanitarian Aid

The decision comes days after 19 organizations petitioned Israel's High Court over new registration rules, which would have required the groups to provide detailed staff information to the Israeli government.

Aid groups petition Israel High Court to halt Gaza aid shutdown

Aid groups petition Israel High Court to halt Gaza aid shutdown

12 days ago // Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian organizations are warning that Israel’s registration rules threaten to hollow out Gaza’s humanitarian system, with dozens of NGOs facing expulsion by the start of next month.

Money Matters: Who are the world’s biggest foundations?

Money Matters: Who are the world’s biggest foundations?

14 days ago // Devex Money Matters

How the world's 10 largest philanthropic providers elevated their giving by 16.4% amid declining aid. Plus, a chat with Germany’s development agency colead, and the latest funding news on U.S. foreign assistance.

Exclusive: US State Department proposes humanitarian overhaul

Exclusive: US State Department proposes humanitarian overhaul

18 days ago // The Future of US Aid

The Trump administration is planning a major overhaul of the State Department's international disaster response system, proposing a new Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response to separate international relief from politically charged migration programs.

USAID El Salvador closed with $1.1M in assets donated, disposed

USAID El Salvador closed with $1.1M in assets donated, disposed

20 days ago // The Trump Effect

One of the donated assets includes a Ford Explorer, which was transferred to El Salvador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.