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Michael Igoe

@alterigoe.bsky.social

Senior reporter @Devex, focused on politics and foreign assistance.

458 Followers  |  117 Following  |  18 Posts  |  Joined: 18.11.2024  |  2.0125

Latest posts by alterigoe.bsky.social on Bluesky

Peace Corps Shuffles Senior Leadership Team

Missed this yesterday. The leadership team at the Peace Corps have all just stepped down to "to pave the way for a new leadership team to step in." www.peacecorps.gov/about-the-ag...

13.08.2025 18:55 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: USAID director alleges 'malfeasance' since Trump aid freeze Andrea CapellΓ‘n, a director in USAID’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance, said over the last six months, the agency's leadership has addressed serious issues through a pattern of "ignore, ignore, i...

Exclusive from @elissamio.bsky.social: USAID director alleges 'malfeasance' since Trump aid freeze www.devex.com/news/exclusi...

29.07.2025 18:40 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Devex Pro Insider: What we talk about when we talk about foreign aid Devex Pro Insider: What we talk about when we talk about foreign aid

The war on U.S. foreign aid was a war of information β€” good, bad, and untethered from reality. Can the development community reclaim its story?

28.07.2025 14:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

History rarely mourns the loss of institutions. Many fade away, having lost their purpose or value. But, someday we'll look back at the destruction of USAID like the burning of the library of Alexandria. A good piece by @alterigoe.bsky.social: "The race to salvage USAID's institutional memory"

24.06.2025 14:16 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: The Trump administration takes war on DEI and gender global The U.S. seeks to gut UNICEF work plans of references promoting β€œgender ideology,” and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trump administration takes its war on DEI and 'gender ideology' global. Votes against several #UNICEF programs approving aid for several development countries #dexex

www.devex.com/news/exclusi...

08.02.2025 20:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
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US lawmakers urge Secretary of State Marco Rubio to unfreeze aid Two top Democrats on congressional committees overseeing U.S. foreign aid spending expressed "deep concern over the lives placed at risk because of the Administration’s freeze on foreign assistance fu...

New: Dem lawmakers urge Rubio to unfreeze U.S. aid www.devex.com/news/us-lawm...

25.01.2025 03:12 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside the global anti-abortion coalition preparing for Trump’s return During the Trump administration, Valerie Huber built an international coalition to reject abortion rights and stand up for "traditional values." On the eve of the U.S. election, her sights are set on ...

Here is my piece about Huber and her efforts to make this happen: www.devex.com/news/inside-...

24.01.2025 23:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Statement by Valerie Huber, President & CEO of the Institute for Women’s Health, on Trump Rejoining the U.S. to the Geneva Consensus Declaration - The Institute For Women's Health The Institute for Women’s Health (IWH) this week announced the recent appointment of Dr. Alma Golden as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

BREAKING: The U.S. government has rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration, and international coalition rejecting international abortion rights, according to Valerie Huber, the architect of the effort during Trump's 1st term: www.theiwh.org/statement-by...

24.01.2025 23:34 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

H/T to @alterigoe.bsky.social who scooped the order first.

24.01.2025 20:39 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

As written, this doesn't just apply to new obligations or disbursements, as the EO instructs - it applies to EXISTING awards. This is a much bigger impact, stopping existing efforts (including services) that are being provided in the field.

24.01.2025 19:37 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: State Department issues stop-work order on US aid The memo puts a pause on new foreign aid spending, as well as a stop-work order for existing grants and contracts.

This will cause great devastation to many people around the world, and to U.S. interests.

State Department memo: "For existing foreign assistance awards, contracting officers and grant officers shall immediately issue stop-work orders."

via @alterigoe.bsky.social
www.devex.com/news/exclusi...

24.01.2025 20:27 β€” πŸ‘ 454    πŸ” 230    πŸ’¬ 47    πŸ“Œ 25
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Exclusive: State Department issues stop-work order on US aid The executive order puts a pause on new foreign aid spending, as well as a stop-work order for existing grants and contracts.

News: www.devex.com/news/exclusi...

24.01.2025 18:29 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 2
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OPM's guidance for implementing Trump's executive order on ending diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs in the US government includes a hotline for reporting efforts to conceal these programs...

22.01.2025 16:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Sounds like you've arrived at a real...

14.01.2025 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oh boy... One of the most controversial appointees to USAID during Trump 1.0 (married to one of the other most controversial appointees to USAID) reportedly involved in State Dept transition and Jan. 6. Lots to unpack here from @politico.com

09.12.2024 18:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Lobito corridor: A flagship Biden project’s progress and future Can the railway and planned economic corridor connecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Angola deliver a new model of U.S. infrastructure development, go beyond extractives, and compete...

The Lobito corridor is more than just a railroad that will connect Angola, Zambia, and the DRC. It represents the United States' investment in Africa’s future, a dig at Chinese influence on the continent, and outgoing US President Joe Biden’s infrastructure swan song.

www.devex.com/news/the-lob...

09.12.2024 12:16 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Far better for the World Bank’s president to declare that donors have failed the institution and the world’s poorest countries than to try to engineer a trainwreck to look like a triumph, we suggested.

Today there’s bunting atop the carriages strewn across the tracks.

Ho hum.

06.12.2024 13:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Return to Trumpworld: Who will shape US aid policy? As U.S. President-elect Trump returns to office for a second term, we have a handy guide to all the possible picks to lead USAID and other U.S. foreign assistance agencies.

From @devex.com: the πŸ«– on potential aid policy decisionmakers within the next Trump administration

devex.shorthandstories.com/return-to-tr...

04.12.2024 16:37 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Will RFK Jr. β€˜go wild’ on global health? Much of the concern with Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the U.S. Health Department centers on how his views might affect U.S. health policy. Many HHS agencies work globally, so there’...

An HHS Secretary has influence over key US global health programs-starting with CDC & NIH and health diplomacy with international organizations like WHO. What could RFK, Trump's likely nominee for HHS, do in that position?

Some thoughts from me and others:
www.devex.com/news/will-rf...

04.12.2024 16:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Republican plan to β€˜rightsize’ US foreign aid in a Trump presidency If Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election in November, his supporters say they will be ready to enact sweeping changes to U.S. foreign aid. Here's what they have planned.

This piece we published back in June might be worth folks revisiting: www.devex.com/news/the-rep...

05.12.2024 18:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Don't everybody speak at once!

03.12.2024 19:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Return to Trumpworld: Who will shape US aid policy? As U.S. President-elect Trump returns to office for a second term, we have a handy guide to all the possible picks to lead USAID and other U.S. foreign assistance agencies.

Good overview from @alterigoe.bsky.social on who are the contenders to be Trump’s USAID Administrator and their backgrounds and beliefs
devex.shorthandstories.com/return-to-tr...

30.11.2024 18:57 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

There’s some scary names on this list, but also some who could protect and improve US Foreign Assistance.

30.11.2024 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Return to Trumpworld: Who will shape US aid policy? As U.S. President-elect Trump returns to office for a second term, we have a handy guide to all the possible picks to lead USAID and other U.S. foreign assistance agencies.

Everyone in the U.S. aid community is wondering who Trump will pick to lead U.S. foreign assistance agencies. We put together a list of those who could be in the running: devex.shorthandstories.com/return-to-tr...

26.11.2024 15:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Return to Trumpworld: Who will shape US aid policy? As U.S. President-elect Trump returns to office for a second term, we have a handy guide to all the possible picks to lead USAID and other U.S. foreign assistance agencies.

Everyone in the U.S. aid community is wondering who Trump will pick to lead U.S. foreign assistance agencies. We put together a list of those who could be in the running: devex.shorthandstories.com/return-to-tr...

26.11.2024 15:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to office for a second term, we have a handy guide to all the possible picks to lead USAID and other U.S. foreign assistance agencies.

Check out our full list of who's who ⬇️
www.devex.com/news/return-...

26.11.2024 14:34 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm looking for #globaldev success stories for an end-of-year round-up - e.g. replenishment targets that were hit, aid budgets raised, solid progress made toward an SDG target etc etc.

What made you smile this year? Let me know πŸ‘‡

#internationaldevelopment #sustainabledevelopment #SDGs

25.11.2024 13:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

CC: USAID localization agenda?

22.11.2024 18:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Check out our Bluesky Starter Pack and follow our reporters and editors to keep up to date with the latest news in global development!

22.11.2024 15:52 β€” πŸ‘ 35    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1

@alterigoe is following 20 prominent accounts