Devex 11d ago

In our landmark 150th episode, we discuss a common theme in global development over the past 18 months: the state of U.S. foreign aid. We’re seeing the State Department steadily replenish its workforce, with dozens of open roles across the agency’s global health, international aid, and disaster response bureaus. On the topic of U.S. foreign assistance, last week Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the U.S. remains the world's top aid provider "by far" despite the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development. While provisional figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicate that Germany has officially overtaken the U.S. for the top spot, we find that the reality is more complex as the validity of the claim hinges entirely on how "aid" is defined. We break down the data and the nuance behind the figures. To discuss these stories, and others, Senior Editor Rumbi Chakamba sits down with Business Editor David Ainsworth and Global Development Reporter Elissa Miolene for episode number 150 of our weekly podcast series. Register for Devex Impact House @ London Climate Action Week here: https://pages.devex.com/devex-at-london-climate-action-week.html 00:00 Celebrating 150 Episodes of Insightful Conversations 03:01 Navigating Changes in USAID and State Department Hiring 05:55 The Complexity of Foreign Assistance and Staffing Needs 08:51 Political Dynamics in Hiring Practices at USAID 11:48 The Shift Towards Non-Traditional Candidates in Foreign Service 15:00 Fact-Checking Claims on US Foreign Aid Contributions 18:00 Exploring Macro Grants and Humanitarian Funding 21:04 Anticipating Climate Action and Future Developments