Strategic Plan

U.S. Department of State & U.S. Agency for International Development: JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2018 - 2022

Analysis

Competitive Environment

Competitors

Direction

Mission

Department of State Mission Statement: On behalf of the American people, we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. The U.S. Department of State leads America's foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. | USAID Mission Statement: On behalf of the American people, we promote and demonstrate democratic values abroad, and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. In support of America’s foreign policy, the U.S. Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.

Values

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Goals

Security

Goal Statement: Protect America's Security at Home and Abroad

Protecting the security of all Americans is the Administration’s highest priority. The United States will remain a global superpower that advances a stable and prosperous world built upon strong, sovereign, and resilient nations who respect each other’s independence and work together to uphold international norms. Today, the United States and our allies face many threats, including rogue states seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction; terrorists seeking to advance hateful ideologies; drug traffickers seeking to profit on weak borders; and cyber criminals seeking to exploit the openness of the Internet. We are committed to sustaining and strengthening America’s longstanding alliances while forging new ones to counter these and other threats. The Department of State and USAID will oppose state and nonstate rivals who seek to sow instability and uproot the security and prosperity of the United States and its allies. A stable and prosperous world depends upon strong, sovereign, and resilient nations who respect each other’s independence and work together to uphold international norms. The gravest threats to U.S. national security are the spread of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. The threat of nuclear war remains a grim reality and must be countered. North Korea’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs pose a direct threat to the foundations of international peace and security. Iran’s aggressive development and testing of sophisticated ballistic missiles is in defiance of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions. The Department will continue to marshal international efforts to isolate North Korea, Iran, and other states that seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) unlawfully. The Department and USAID will advance the overall U.S. strategy to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other transnational terrorist groups that threaten the American homeland. The Department and USAID must address the conditions that enable these threats to persist. Through diplomacy and development, the Department and USAID work to reduce poor governance and weak institutions, lack of economic opportunity, corruption, and persistent human rights abuses, which otherwise contribute to transnational crime, illegal immigration, and the spread of pandemic diseases. We work together with countries to address significant challenges and crises such as natural disasters, water scarcity, and land degradation, which can exacerbate political instability and social unrest. The United States alone cannot solve these problems. We will use American influence and selectively target our resources to address instability in regions vital to U.S. strategic interests. We will press America’s national and regional partners to take greater responsibility for directly addressing the underlying causes of violence, extremism, and fragility in their regions. While nations must chart their own paths, the United States will support those that seek to bolster the rights and democratic aspirations of their people and assist them along their journey to self-reliance, while recognizing that societies that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful. America has long been a force for good in the world and a champion of effective and accountable democratic governance, rule of law, economic freedom, and resilience. American leadership, diplomacy and development are indispensable to prevent and mitigate unforeseen crises and deliver sustainable security and prosperity for the American people and the homeland, and preserve the American way of life. At the same time, the Department will work to protect American citizens and interests overseas. Consular and infrastructure protection programs play a critical role in protecting American borders, transportation systems, and critical infrastructure. The Department will ensure robust consular policies and systems; strengthen borders to protect the homeland; and will work with partners to deny access to individuals who pose risks to U.S national security.

Objectives:

• Deterrence
• Stabilization
• Terrorism
• Leadership & Presence
• Missile Defense
• WMD
• Instability, Crime & Violence
• Interoperability
• Media
• Law Enforcement
• Governance
• Transportation
• Instability, Radicalization & Terrorism
• Civil Society
• Education & Training
• Proliferation
• Economic Diversification
• Relationships
• Freedom & Liberty
• Malicious Cyber Activities
• Partner Capabilities
• Terrorists & Threats
• Conflict, Atrocities & Violent Extremism
• ISIS
• Alliances & Partnerships
• Screening & Vetting
• Security Sector
• State Obligations & Commitments
• Conventions, Treaties & Regimes
• NATO
• Iran
• Crime
• Corruption & Rule of Law
• Sanctions
• Borders & Citizens Abroad
• Access & Legal Protections
• Financial & Trade Reform
• Civil Society & Democratic Institutions
• Energy Security

Competitive Advantage

Goal Statement: Renew America's Competitive Advantage for Sustained Economic Growth and Job Creation

American national security requires sustained economic prosperity. In an interconnected world, the Department of State and USAID must position the United States more advantageously to ensure the conditions for economic dynamism at home. As new challenges and opportunities emerge in a changing international landscape, our economic engagement with the world must be comprehensive, forward-looking, and flexible. The United States can advance its economic and security goals only through robust diplomacy, assertive trade and commercial policies, and broad-based engagement with governments and societies. Growth and economic security among U.S. allies and partners also build markets for U.S. goods and services and strengthens the ability to confront global challenges together. We must counter models promoted by other nations by offering a clear choice: The American approach is to help our partners prosper. Our economic diplomacy and development assistance are key tools in projecting this leadership to enhance security and prosperity at home. American technology is pre-eminent, our workers are the most productive in the world, and U.S. exporters thrive in global markets when given a truly fair playing field in which to compete. In close partnership with the full range of U.S. Government agencies, the Department will fight aggressively for fairer trade policies across the world and a global economy free from currency manipulation to support a strong U.S. manufacturing base and well-paying jobs, especially in cutting-edge industries. Our engagement will advance more open markets and sensible regulatory systems abroad that provide confidence without stifling innovation. We will vigorously defend U. S. intellectual property rights, uphold America’s position as the top destination for international investment, and develop new avenues for coordinating with countries and institutions to foster innovation and ensure that regulations on emerging industries do not create new barriers in areas of American strength. To further advance American leadership in international energy governance, the Department and USAID must leverage developments in the U.S. energy sector to pursue universal access to affordable and reliable energy and promote sustainable global energy markets.

Our economic diplomacy and development assistance are key tools in projecting this leadership to enhance security and prosperity at home. Development, transparency, and good governance in unstable regions are essential to fight poverty, isolate extremists, and improve humanitarian conditions. The Department and USAID will promote healthy, educated, and productive populations in developing countries to drive inclusive economic growth that opens markets for U.S. investments and counters violent extremism. Investing in women’s economic empowerment has transformational effects for families and communities, and will be a key component of our approach. Confronting international environmental challenges requires robust American diplomacy and a more comprehensive deployment of U.S. environmental goods and services throughout the world. We will stand against corruption abroad, which undermines security, enables TCOs and disadvantages U.S. companies.

Objectives:

• Economic Governance
• Sanctions
• Transparency
• Economic Growth
• Prosperity
• Risks & Reslience
• Corporate Governance
• Trade, Investment, Visitors & Students
• Integrity
• Unfair Trade Practices
• Business
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Investor & IP Rights
• Energy
• Education
• Policy & Legislation
• Private-Sector Entities
• Economic Security
• Health, Education & Productivity

Leadership

Goal Statement: Promote American Leadership through Balanced Engagement

America First does not mean America alone. The United States is a beacon of liberty, freedom, and opportunity. Since the conclusion of the Second World War, the United States has led the development of a rules-based international order that allows nations to compete peacefully and cooperate more effectively with one another. We worked together with allies and partners to build the institutions and structures to defend the sovereignty, self-governance, security, and prosperity of all nations and peoples. Yet past successes alone cannot ensure this system will continue indefinitely without being renewed, rejuvenated, and made to be truly reciprocal. As the President stated in his remarks at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, “We are guided by outcomes, not ideology. We have a policy of principled realism, rooted in shared goals, interests, and values.”9 The ability to ensure peace, security, and prosperity requires a more principled and balanced approach to our engagement with our allies and partners: balanced between opportunity and responsibility; between shared goals, interests, and values; and between assistance and enforcement. U.S. foreign policy must first serve Americans and our national interests, with the United States as a leader and integrated member of the global community. Through alliances and partnerships, the United States promotes mutual security and economic interests in cooperation with like-minded countries. The United States moreover continues to play a leading role in international and multilateral organizations, presenting opportunities to build consensus around American values, advancing American national security, economic, and development goals; and rallying collective action with American leadership. However, no one nation should have to bear a disproportionate share of the burden of responsibility to protect against common threats. The United States will continue to be the global leader in preventing the spread of disease, promoting protections for human dignity and rights, and facilitating humanitarian efforts around the world -- projecting American values as we stand shoulder to shoulder with people in their hour of need. It is who we are as Americans. The Department and USAID will continue to pay our fair share but will not commit to invest without returns. The Department of State and USAID must encourage, prepare, and support our allies and partners to meet their obligations. We are committed to maximizing the impact of American taxpayer dollars and ensuring that the foreign assistance the agencies invest in lead to sustainable results.

Objectives:

• Co-Investment
• Country Policies
• Self-Sufficiency
• Economic Growth
• Democracy
• Disease & Relief
• U.S. Leadership
• Child & Maternal Health
• Financial Burden Sharing
• Rule of Law
• Corruption
• Humanitarian Assistance
• Property Rights
• National Partners
• Common Challenges
• HIV/ AIDS
• Leadership & Leverage
• Governance & Security
• American Values
• Private & Civil Partners
• International Fora
• International Bodies
• Positive Change
• Training
• Country Strategies
• Foreign Investment

Effectiveness & Accountability

Goal Statement: Ensure Effectiveness and Accountability to the American Taxpayer

The Federal Government can and should operate more effectively, efficiently, and securely. As such, the Administration will set goals in areas that are critical to improving the Federal Government’s effectiveness, efficiency, cybersecurity, and accountability. This includes taking an evidence-based approach to improving programs and services; reducing the burden of compliance activities; delivering high performing program results and services to citizens and businesses through effective and efficient mission support services; and holding agencies accountable for improving performance. In support of these aims, this goal guides the management of our people, programs, information, and capital assets. It requires pursuing efficiencies at all levels, streamlining the Department of State and USAID’s organizations without undermining their effectiveness; using data-driven analysis for decisions; making risk-based investments in safety and security; diversifying and reorienting the foreign assistance portfolio toward innovation and sustainability; and developing a more flexible, highly skilled workforce. The Department and USAID will optimize operations and resource allocations to execute our diplomatic and development objectives in a secure, strategic, well-coordinated manner. To better serve the mission and employees, as well as achieve operational efficiencies, we will use a range of service delivery models, including outsourcing, shared services, local delivery, and globally managed centers of excellence. We will realize greater returns on investment by using public-private partnerships and more adaptive and flexible procurement mechanisms to complement more traditional models for implementing foreign assistance. The Department and USAID will maintain an agile workforce structure that ensures the agencies have the right people at the right time with the right expertise domestically and abroad. Flexible physical workplaces, stateof-the-art technology and use of cloud technologies will enable secure access to information technology anytime, anywhere. Integrated data platforms will improve knowledge sharing, collaboration and data-driven decision making by leaders and staff. To maintain safe and secure operations, we will continue to assess facilities and numbers of people at all overseas missions, adjusting where needed, and conduct annual reviews of high threat, high risk posts. The Department and USAID consistently seek to maximize taxpayers’ return on investment and improve operational efficiency; one important means is by addressing the management objectives cited in the JSP. Strategies contained in this goal’s management objectives address several of the management and performance challenges identified by the Department and USAID Offices of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department and USAID's recent Agency Financial Reports and by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The Department and USAID will track progress towards successful completion of strategic objective performance goals across this goal in the Annual Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report.

Objectives:

• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Program Evaluations
• Security & Safety
• Diplomacy & Development
• Strategic Planning
• Authorities, Protocols & Mechanisms
• Data, Web & Cloud
• Cooperation
• Shared Services
• Investments
• Procurement
• Risks & Responses
• Talent Management
• HR Functions & Staff
• Staff Security
• Expeditionary Platform Working Group
• Effectiveness, Efficiency & Sustainability
• Supply Chain
• Training & Guidance
• Infrastructure & Operations
• Performance, Leadership, Engagement & Accountability
• Goals
• Empowerment & Professional Development
• Human Capital