Women Thrive Worldwide applauds President Obama’s FY2011 budget request that increases spending in the international affairs budget to $58.5 billion, $6.1 billion over FY2010 enacted spending. The majority of the increase is directed towards ‘Frontline States’-- operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq.  When spending for these three countries is removed, the increase for other international affairs spending becomes more modest, accounting for just under half, $2.8 billion, of the overall rise. Yet during a difficult budget year, given hard economic times, rising deficits, and budget freezes, this increase in critical international spending, including foreign assistance, is appreciated.

The 2010 budget request gives unprecedented attention to the importance of women to U.S. foreign affairs.  In the opening pages of the State Department’s budget justification, Secretary Clinton writes:

“Putting women front and center is at the core of all of these efforts.  Women are critical to advancing social, economic, and political progress.  They are also a terrific return on investment:  numerous studies have shown that when women receive schooling or the boost of a small loan, they flourish, their children flourish, and so does the greater community.”

For the first time, the Office of Management & Budget surveyed all agencies as part of the budget process to assess the breadth of programs that affect women, part of a strategic effort by the Administration to improve efficacy and monitor international and domestic programs’ impact on women and girls. 

There is also new language this year that strengthens and prioritizes the role of women within foreign assistance programs -- particularly in the global hunger and food security initiative, the global health initiative, and regional programs, including agricultural reconstruction and stabilization efforts abroad (USDA).

Many of the programs critical to creating economic opportunity and improving the quality of life for women worldwide have received modest increases in the FY11 budget request and are summarized over the next few pages.  Some highlights from the FY2011 Budget Request that affect women and girls include:

• Agricultural Development & Global Food Security:  The Administration’s continued emphasis on food security, achieved largely through agricultural development, received large gains in this year’s budget to $1.562 with an additional $200 million for nutrition.  Of this, $408 million is the U.S. contribution to the World Bank Global Food Security Fund.  Draft reports indicate that this program will include a strong focus on women farmers.
  
  
• Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC):  For FY11, the president’s budget request for the MCC is $1.28 billion. This amount reflects a $170 million increase over FY10 and is approximately $145 million less than the amount the President requested for FY10. The budget request for FY 2011 is based on projections of new compacts with Malawi, Indonesia, and Zambia, and a second Compact with Cape Verde.
  
  
• Gender-Based Violence: Although the President does not request a specific dollar amount to address gender-based violence globally, the Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ) for FY11 includes several references to the Administration’s commitment to address this issue through multilateral economic assistance and funding for International Organizations.
  
  
• Trade Capacity Building:  While no specific funding request for trade capacity building activities is in the FY11 request overall, positive language is included to ensure that State Department trade initiatives work for all people, particularly through the promotion of workforce development and entrepreneurial training for traditionally excluded groups, such as female entrepreneurs.
  
  
• Global Health: The budget request introduces a comprehensive plan to invest $63 billion over six years to help fight and prevent infectious disease, reduce child and maternal mortality, and increase family planning and nutrition services.
  

Additionally, many of the principles of foreign assistance reform are integrated throughout the FY11 budget request. There is a strong prioritization on helping countries become more self-sustaining and building institutions that can take the lead in their economic growth and development efforts.  The themes of country-led development, improved program coordination, and better leveraging of multilateral and other donor efforts are key shifts that Women Thrive welcomes.  

The budget request also calls for continuing to increase the capacity of the Department of State and USAID.  Progress in the Development Leadership Initiative (DLI), begun under the last administration, to double the number of Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) to 2,100 by FY11 still continues, though it has slowed. The FY11 budget request would fund an additional 200 FSOs, which remains 250 FSOs short of reaching the overall goal.  The budget request does note that it plans in the coming years to hire additional mid-career personnel that will hope bolster the expertise level at USAID.

Additionally, the FY2011 Budget Request contains some disappointing cuts, such as in support for International Organizations and Programs, which decreases by $43 million or nearly 11% compared to FY10, and in Basic Education, where there is a cut of $85 million from FY10.

Given the budget climate, even modest increases in poverty-focused development programs are to be lauded and the strong integration of women and girls throughout the budget will make existing levels of resources more effective. 

To read the full report click here.

For more information, please contact Danielle Mutone-Smith at dmutone-smith AT womenthrive DOT org.