U.S. Department of State

"The State Department is ready and eager to take the lead in carrying out the President’s foreign policy agenda, including the strategic use of development assistance. We are focusing on results -- measuring the impact of our efforts -- to ensure that we achieve lasting change around the world."
                                                                                                --Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton

In April 2010, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the Joint Summary of Performance and Financial Information for Fiscal Year 2009 (Summary) and A Citizen’s Guide to Foreign Affairs (Citizen’s Guide). The Summary describes State and USAID’s performance and accomplishments achieved towards the highest U.S. diplomatic and development objectives. The Citizen's Guide, a companion reference brochure to the Summary, outlines recent performance and resource highlights, and presents current priorities and a look ahead.

Highlights
Last fiscal year, State and USAID:

• Trained over 92,000 people in Conflict Mitigation/ Resolution skills
• Distributed over 172,690 loans worth in excess of $397 million to small and medium enterprises in Iraq
• Trained 54,835 justice sector personnel worldwide
• Supported HIV counseling and testing for nearly 29 million people around the world
• Resumed negotiations with Russia to replace the expired Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that culminated with a new agreement in March 2010
• Launched a global initiative to fight hunger and promote sustainable agricultural development
• Responded to 57 life-threatening disasters in 46 countries
• Led the UN Security Council to adopt a unanimous resolution to end sexual violence against women and children in conflict situations.

Overall, of 130 performance indicators State and USAID used to measure progress, 39% met or exceeded targets, 19% did not, and 42% had no rating because the indicators were either new or rating data was not yet available.

Meeting Global Challenges
The United States foreign policy agenda is ambitious but our times demand nothing less: two wars, conflict in the Middle East, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, economic recession, climate change, hunger, pandemic disease, and transnational criminal networks all threaten global stability and progress.

To meet these challenges, the State Department and USAID must use resources smartly and strategically to get the best possible results while maximizing the impact of every dollar spent. Both the Summary and the Citizen’s Guide reflect our commitment to responsible, results-oriented stewardship over the resources entrusted to us.

Strategic Direction for the Future
In the coming years, State and USAID will:

• Continue to strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan and Pakistan to provide services to citizens and enhance the long-term sustainability of their development efforts.
• Support the establishment of at least 20 work programs to develop Low-Carbon Development Strategies.
• Provide training assistance to 120,000 rule-of-law professionals, civil society leaders, democratically elected officials, journalists, and election leaders.
• Develop a short-, medium-, and long-term blueprint for U.S. diplomatic efforts through the completion of the ongoing Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review.
• Continue to use Smart Power to pursue foreign policy priorities by reaching out to friends and foes; elevating development as a core pillar of American power; further integrating civilian and military efforts; and leveraging U.S. economic strength and the power of our democratic example.

For more information, or to view the reports, please visit: http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/c6113.htm.