Boom—@PowerUSAID announces at #DIA_ZCC she'll create a task force to elevate, strengthen & integrate anticorruption across @USAID, plus a $50 million rapid response effort.
Strong way to sustain last week's anticorruption momentum & stand by Ukraine before Biden-Putin next week.
Strong way to sustain last week's anticorruption momentum & stand by Ukraine before Biden-Putin next week.
https://twitter.com/PowerUSAID/status/1401861746374152196
"President Biden issued a presidential memorandum last week identifying corruption as a core national security priority. This is the first time a US president has ever elevated this issue in this way. whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…
"The President’s memo recognizes what everyone here knows: Corruption cripples societies, steals from the pockets of tax-paying citizens, breaks down public trust in governing institutions, and undercuts the world's decades-long investments to improve lives across human society.
“But make no mistake: The reason certain leaders and certain individuals are pursuing those that do anticorruption work ... is that corruption is their Achilles' heel. Autocrats and oligarchs cannot concentrate power without concentrating wealth through illicit means.
"So our ability together to identify and expose that behavior needs to be at the heart of our support for democracy around the world.
"That's why anticorruption is the core goal of @USAID’s work in Ukraine, whether that's through programs that support he digitization of public services, that support decentralization … or that supports civil society and media reformers ...
"But I’m pleased to announce today we're going further. In the coming weeks, @USAID will stand up an anticorruption task force that'll elevate, strengthen, & integrate anticorruption work throughout our whole agency, drawing on the knowledge of top internal & external experts ...
"This task force is going to shape our anticorruption commitments. We will conduct a comprehensive review of our programs to identify how our foreign assistance—whether it is for judicial reform or global health programs—can best be put to use to limit and prevent graft.
"And most importantly, this task force is going to establish a rapid response mechanism, so that we can quickly seize on crucial windows of opportunity for democratic and anticorruption reform, the way @HopkoHanna and @dkaleniuk did in 2014.
"President Biden's new budget commits $50 million for this new rapid response effort and we look forward to expanding on these commitments and encouraging other nations to make their own at an upcoming international democracy summit that President Biden himself is going to chair.
"I want everyone in this forum to know the United States stands with you as you bravely work to build a more honest, just, and democratic world.
"I want to thank you for your work. I can only imagine how demoralizing it can be sometimes for each of you, as for every two steps forward it can feel like there's another step back. But please know that you are making a profound difference.
"Your vision of zero corruption in Ukraine and what that will mean concretely for your loved ones, your neighbors, your countrymen, and the inspiration you will give the rest of us, that knowledge will sustain you in the toughest moments and will always win allies to your cause."
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