The USAID I Know: A Story of Resilience in Côte d’Ivoire
The headlines scream about waste and inefficiency. Political rhetoric paints a picture of bloated bureaucracy. But the USAID I know is different. It's made up of dedicated individuals working tirelessly to build a better future, one community at a time. I've seen their impact firsthand, and it's a story that needs to be told.
The recent criticism leveled against USAID has deeply troubled me. News narratives often paint a broad stroke, but I've had the privilege of seeing USAID's work firsthand. My experience, though brief, in the development world has given me a counter-perspective, one I feel compelled to share.
My background is primarily in the corporate world, working with major American and international brands. However, a passion for public health led me to Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, where the motto "Saving lives, millions at a time" resonated deeply. It was there that I had the opportunity, along with a colleague, to contribute to a USAID-supported initiative in Côte d’Ivoire.
This project focused on evaluating the impact of a quality improvement collaborative on HIV care delivery during and immediately after a devastating civil war. USAID had introduced this collaborative, a system for rapid learning and adaptation across the healthcare system. What we witnessed was remarkable. Doctors and nurses, facing immense challenges, were able to learn from each other, improve their practices, and maintain vital services. We saw firsthand how this initiative fostered resilience in a shattered healthcare system. The stories we heard during our stakeholder interviews were powerful testaments to the program's success.
This experience crystallized for me the true value of USAID. It's not simply about dispensing aid; it's about empowering communities to build sustainable solutions to their own challenges. It's about fostering resilience, building capacity, and ultimately, creating a healthier and more secure world. And that world benefits us all. Investing in global health is not just an act of charity; it's an investment in our own security. It reduces the threat of disease outbreaks and promotes stability. As the wealthiest nation on the planet, we have a responsibility to lead in this effort. Let's not lose sight of the vital work USAID does.
Learn more about USAID's work and how you can help to save it. Visit www.usaidstopwork.com. Contact your representatives and let them know that you support funding for foreign aid.
