One year after releasing a new acquisition and assistance strategy, the U.S. Agency for International Development has said it is making progress toward the goals, strengthening its workforce while obligating a record $38.1 billion across the globe.
Still, some warn that these are just incremental changes — and far from a silver bullet.
“I’m still not seeing the needle move, and this is what I do for a living: help people get resources from [USAID],” said Charles Pope, a former senior contracting officer for USAID who now leads Pope International, which focuses on international development contracting.