Hillary Clinton’s development credentials are literally written on the wall inside the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Ronald Reagan Building headquarters in Washington, D.C.
An 800-pound bronze plaque commemorating Clinton’s “invaluable contribution to worldwide development” as first lady of the United States was installed in 1999, removed and warehoused in 2000 for the duration of George W. Bush’s presidency, and hoisted into place again after Clinton took over as secretary of state in 2009. The plaque commemorates Clinton’s commitment, in her own words, to “expanding the circle of human dignity.”
After last week’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Clinton — whom Devex once dubbed “global development’s star player” — is now the Democratic nominee for the presidency. And while the general election race is tight, Clinton is favored to win. In the meantime, development professionals, partners, experts, and advocates wonder what her presidency would mean for their organizations and missions, for the allocation of limited U.S. foreign assistance dollars, and for development’s place in American foreign policy.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
