Leveraging Humanitarian Assistance (HA) in Support of the National Security Strategy

Abstract

One means available for the United States to shape a future environment to its advantage, and assist the stabilization of many countries and regions, is through the use of developmental humanitarian assistance. This kind of humanitarian assistance is vital to U.S. national security and is a strategic, economic, and moral imperative. Through developmental assistance, the United States can advance democracies, improve human rights, strengthen international partnerships, increase global economic growth and maintain the United States as a world leader. Effective support of development is essential to advancing U.S. security objectives to promote security, prosperity, respect for universal values, and a just and sustainable international order. This Strategy Research Project (SRP) examines current U.S. humanitarian assistance (HA) policies and proposes ways to align HA efforts with the National Security Strategy. The global environment with rapid population growth, competition for resources, and ethnic conflicts all threaten to undermine the political and economic stability in many countries and regions. International development is a means available to the United States to promote stability in the world and vital U.S. strategic security interests. Both Congress and President Obama find international development vitally important to the United States, but do not have a comprehensive strategic plan to accomplish this endeavor. President Obama has issued and implemented his PPD but the following changes are required for it to be effective: Designate USAID as the lead agency for development; resource USAID properly to meet strategic developmental goals; incorporate USAID under DOS; require integrated strategic planning between agencies on development; leverage the United Nations to support U.S. developmental initiatives; and require strategic leader training programs for all senior USAID officials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 13, 2011
Accession Number
ADA560332

Entities

People

  • Elmer R. Mason

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • International Organizations
  • Markets
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Science
  • Public Policy
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Strategic Security Studies