QDDR Questions

Members should send their comments to fhailemichael@interaction.org by

COB Wednesday, January 20. InterAction will submit compiled comments to
the QDDR Team on Friday, January 22.

All WGs

1. What are the distinct differences between development and diplomacy? What are the
skill sets necessary to be successful? How are they different and how are they similar?
What skills, education and technical knowledge are needed to be a development
professional?

2. What is the model for the relationship between USG development professionals,
diplomats and NGO actors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each actor and
their relationship? What can be leveraged? What can be supported? How are decisions
made and how should they be made in a new paradigm in this relationship?

3. What is the overarching strategic goal that directs and binds all development and
diplomatic actions? How should long term sustainable development goals be compared
to and assessed next to short term political and security goals which could have direct
bearing and impact on the long term goals?

4. Some have remarked that diplomacy and development initiatives have become risk-
averse which can be counterproductive, especially in failing states or post-conflict
environments.
a. How can the need to take responsible risks in development and humanitarian
responses programming be balanced with the need to be accountable for
resources?
b. What level of flexibility regarding risk is needed to facilitate innovative
approaches to opportunities in stable and unstable environments?
c. Who should make such manageable risk decision - the field or headquarters and
why?

5. What steps do we need to take to mainstream gender and integrate gender equity at
every level of our planning, including policy, budget, interagency coordination, program
design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation?

WG I: Building a Global Architecture of Cooperation

 1. How can new technology and communication be better leveraged for diplomacy and
development which have traditionally been geared toward gathering information rather
than sharing information. What mechanisms would need to be in place to be more
active in sharing information with bilaterals, multilaterals, regional bodies, non-profits
and the private sector?

2. The principle of universality holds that the US should have posts everywhere in the
world. Is it sustainable to have a post everywhere in the world, and if not, are there
consequences for reducing our physical overseas presence? What are some of the
challenges we would have in re-orienting our overseas presence from capitals to rural
areas in-country? What are the consequences to limiting ourselves to a few priority
regions and letting others handle the rest? Where should the U.S. prioritize having a
physical post presence overseas?

WG II: Leading and Supporting Whole of Government Solutions

1. Where should diplomacy and development lead whole-of-government solutions to

foreign affairs issues and where should they support? What are the capabilities these
organizations need to both lead and support? What cultural, management or structural
changes are needed so both organizations can be more effective with existing
authorities and resources? How to assert our leadership? i.e., what is needed for
State/USAID to be more proactive in leading the global dialogue and finding solutions to
today’s challenges?

2. What is needed in terms of structure, authorities, resources and strategic planning

processes for diplomacy and development to meet today’s challenges and the current
global environment which is dynamic, complex, and interrelated? (e.g., the convergence
of domestic and foreign policy issues). (WG II)

3. Are critical cross-cutting issues such as climate change, countering illicit

economies/trafficking, food security or security sector being appropriately addressed
through a whole-of-government approach? What could be further promulgated as best
practices in these efforts? How could diplomacy and development be better
contributors and or be better leaders to a USG “smart power” approach on these and
other cross-cutting foreign affairs issues?

WG III: Investing in the Building Blocks of Stronger Societies

1. Security assistance usually involves rule of law, police training, and other initiatives
focused on stability. Development assistance generally involves economic growth,
democracy and governance, health, and education. What models have successfully
integrated security and development progress in a comprehensive, unified approach?
 What has worked? What kinds of interventions are necessary/appropriate for different
country contexts, and how should they be sequenced?

2. What are best practices for integrating gender into security and development strategy
and activity level processes?

WG IV: Preventing and Responding to Countries in Crisis and Conflicts

1. What are required USG capabilities in terms of conflict prevention, civilian response,
and coordination with military? What are currently perceived areas of deficiency and
weakness with existing USG capabilities? What capabilities can be fulfilled from outside
actors – international organizations, NGOs, private sector, other bilateral?

2. In crisis prevention & management and post conflict stabilization and response, what is
the nature of the problem we are trying to address? What are the types of crises and
conflicts to which we will need a response, both from the USG and outside actors?

3. Some have remarked that diplomacy and development initiatives have become risk-
averse which can be counterproductive, especially in failing states or post-conflict
environments.
a. How can the need to take responsible risks in development and humanitarian
responses programming be balanced with the need to be accountable for
resources?
b. What level of flexibility regarding risk is needed to facilitate innovative
approaches to opportunities in stable and unstable environments?
c. Who should make such manageable risk decision - the field or headquarters and
why?

WG V: Building Operational and Resource Platforms for Success

1. Diplomacy and development can have many competing requirements concerning the
use of foreign assistance. How can the needs to be both transparent and accountable
while also ensuring flexible, responsive operations and the effective use of resources be
balanced to achieve foreign policy objectives, foreign assistance objectives and
development objectives?

2. What best practices and performance indicators can facilitate assessing the impact of
gender in developing the people, processes, and systems for advancing diplomacy and
development goals? How should we mainstream gender and integrate gender equity in
conducting government business?