The Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS)

Speeches Shim

The proposed Bureau for Resilience and Food Security will strengthen support to the field, in order to build resilient communities and countries, and improve water security to reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition.

Bureau Front Office [Assistant to the Administrator, three DAAs, Resilience Coordinator, includes AMS] - Center for Water Security, Sanitation and Hygeine; Program Office (includes COMMS); Office of Policy and Analysis; Office of Country Support; Center for Nutrition; Center for Agricultural-Led Growth; Center for Resilience
Proposed org chart for review - August 2018

WHY ARE WE MAKING THESE CHANGES?

USAID’s current food security efforts reduce global poverty, hunger and malnutrition and help countries drive the inclusive economic growth that enables self-reliance.

Shocks and stresses, as well as conflict, frequently lead to backsliding on development gains and perpetuate a cycle of chronic vulnerability, poverty, hunger, and water insecurity.

Increased focus on building resilience is needed to break this cycle, reduce recurrent need for humanitarian assistance, and accelerate progress on the journey to self-reliance.

WHAT WILL THESE CHANGES DO?

The proposed Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) would strengthen support to the field in order to build resilient communities and countries, enhance their well-being, and improve water security to reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition.

The proposed Resilience and Food Security Bureau would:

  • Strengthen the link between resilience, food, water and sanitation, and USAID’s humanitarian and stabilization efforts
  • Elevate resilience, water and sanitation, and nutrition programming, and expand technical expertise for the Agency
  • Strengthen multi-sectoral coordination in support of agricultural-led growth, resilience, nutrition, and water and sanitation objectives
  • Align technical resources with the need to elevate resilience, and achieve the three objectives of the Global Food Security Strategy and Agency’s Water and Development Plan in support of the U.S. Global Water Strategy
  • Elevate and integrate humanitarian and development assistance through the Office of the Associate Administrator for Relief, Resilience and Response (R3)
  • Contribute to multiple Agency-wide goals and objectives including those in public health, education, governance, natural resources management, and women’s and girls’ empowerment

HOW WILL WE MAKE THESE CHANGES?

USAID’s proposed new Bureau for Resilience and Food Security (RFS) would consolidate the following OUs:

  • Bureau for Food Security (BFS)
  • Office of Water within the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and the Environment (E3/W)
  • E3 Climate Adaptation (E3/AD) team

Four Centers in RFS (Resilience, Agriculture, Water, and Nutrition) would serve as strategic, research and technical-assistance resources to Washington OUs and field Missions. Three Leadership Councils would be established and chaired by RFS to coordinate nutrition, resilience and water security, sanitation and hygiene across USAID.

The Assistant to the Administrator for RFS would report directly to the Associate Administrator for Relief, Response and Resilience (AA R3/AID).