In reaction to today’s announcement of President Obama’s intention to nominate Gayle Smith to be Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Oxfam America’s president, Raymond C. Offenheiser, made the following statement:
“Oxfam America wholeheartedly welcomes today’s nomination of Gayle Smith as USAID Administrator. Ms. Smith is an unequivocal champion of those facing poverty and injustice, and has the firsthand experience needed to lead this crucial US agency.
“As a former board member of Oxfam America, Ms. Smith is known to us as a steadfast reformer who is poised to refine and redefine the relevance of the development sector in a new era.
“We are eager and ready to work with Ms. Smith to continue the modernization efforts afoot at USAID that will have a lasting impact on global poverty and that, over time, will enhance US moral standing and national interests and ultimately build a safer world for all.
“Ms. Smith will bring a powerful voice, vision and leadership to the agency. We urge the Senate to quickly confirm her to ensure American leadership in fighting poverty does not suffer.”