The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was created by President Kennedy in 1961 to further America's interests abroad while improving lives in the developing world. Today the Agency serves on the frontlines of America's efforts to address extreme poverty while responding to global conflict crises and natural disasters around the world. But is it keeping up with the times to leverage this assistance for better outcomes?

In her first major policy speech, USAID Administrator Gayle Smith will join AEI and the Brookings Institution to discuss her vision for USAID, the efforts of the Agency in the world's trouble spots, and the future of U.S. leadership in international development. Administrator Smith will join AEI's Danielle Pletka and Brookings’s George Ingram for a conversation following her remarks.

Senator David Perdue (R-GA), Chairman, United States Senate Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Member, United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and Committee on Appropriations

Gayle Smith, Administrator, United States Agency for International Development

George Ingram, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

Danielle Pletka, Senior Vice President for Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

Dirksen Senate Office Building
Room SD-G50
Washington, DC 20510

For more information, please contact Emily.Rapp@aei.org, 202.419.5212.

For more information in regards to media, please contact Paige.Tenkhoff@aei.org, 202.862.5904.