3: Investing in People

Help nations achieve sustainable improvements in the well-being and productivity of their populations, while advancing American interests, through diplomatic and assistance initiatives that promote effective and accountable health, education, and other social services.

Other Information:

In his 2006 State of the Union Address, President Bush said, “For people everywhere, the United States is a partner for a better life. Short-changing these efforts would increase the suffering and chaos of our world, undercut our long-term security and dull the conscience of our country.” Ensuring good health, improving access to education, and protecting vulnerable populations are critical to transformational diplomacy. By building the capacity of partner countries to invest in their people, our diplomatic and assistance initiatives benefit developing nations and strengthen international respect for the United States. These efforts support U.S. national interests and lay the foundation for the success of transformational diplomacy. The Strategic Goal of “Investing in People” is to help nations achieve sustainable improvements in the well-being and productivity of their populations, while advancing American interests, through diplomatic and assistance initiatives that promote effective and accountable health, education, and other social services. The strategic approach builds sustainable capacity in recipient countries to meet the needs of their populations in these areas. These efforts also improve the capabilities of individuals to contribute to economic development and participate in democratic decision-making, while ameliorating the root causes of poverty and conflict.

Stakeholder(s):

• Department of Health and Human Services: Health and Human Services and its constituent agencies (e.g., Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) are major partners in meeting the U.S. objectives for health.


• Environmental Protection Agency: EPA supports health-related projects such as improving water quality and reducing indoor air pollution.


• Department of Homeland Security: Homeland Security cooperates on programs to prevent the spread of avian influenza.


• Department of Defense: Defense coordinates on health programs in post-conflict situations and provides military to-military assistance to fight HIV/AIDS in military populations.


• Department of Agriculture: Agriculture coordinates with USAID on child nutrition, avian influenza, and providing incentives for school attendance.


• Department of Education: Education represents the U.S. Government in many international fora.


• Peace Corps: Peace Corps supports Investing in People programs at the community level.


• Millennium Challenge Corporation: MCC supports all the Investing in People objectives.


• Other Stakeholders: Departments of Commerce, Labor, and Justice.

Objective(s):

3.1: Health

3.2: Education

3.1: Social Services and Protection for Vulnerable Populations

Content