Washington, DC – With the backdrop of Indian American community celebrating the elevation of members of the community to higher levels in the US administration, one of the star performers Raj Shah, the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Wednesday he would be stepping down beginning of the next year.
“It was with mixed emotions that I informed President (Barack) Obama and Secretary (John) Kerry that I will step down as Administrator in mid-February 2015,” said Shah in a statement
On the announcement from Shah, President Obama said in a statement, “For the past five years, Raj Shah has been at the center of my Administration’s efforts to advance our global development agenda as the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). To be sure, his tasks have never been easy—responding to natural disasters, epidemics, and famine, to name just a few examples.”
Noting his Indian heritage, Obama said, “But Raj, the son of proud Indian immigrants, has embodied America’s finest values by proactively advancing our development priorities, including ending global poverty, championing food security, promoting health and nutrition, expanding access to energy sources, and supporting political and economic reform in closed societies.”
On the resignation of Shah, his immediate boss John Kerry, the US Secretary of State showered praise on Shah’s tenure at the USAID saying, “Raj has been an outstanding Administrator, a creative innovator, and a dynamic leader. After five years, he absolutely deserves this transition, and he leaves USAID after making a dramatic mark — transforming this institution into one that’s more entrepreneurial, more modern, and more nimble, while promoting resilient democracies and battling extreme poverty across the globe.”
“Raj will be known not just as USAID’s 16th Administrator, but as the Administrator who reached up, and reached out, bringing a whole new set of stakeholders to the table, enlisting the help of non-governmental difference makers including corporations, foundations, advocacy groups, and faith-based communities.”
In his announcement, Shah said, “I want to thank President Obama for the honor of serving our country these past five years as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development,” adding, “President Obama’s call to end extreme poverty—made in two State of the Union addresses — reenergized our Agency and elevated our work in the national security agenda.”
Shah was full of praise for bipartisan efforts of the US lawmakers saying, “Last week, the US House of Representatives passed Feed the Future legislation — a powerful statement of bipartisan support for this new model. We have also achieved the most significant reforms in food aid in 60 years thanks to bipartisan leadership, giving us the flexibility to reach 800,000 more hungry children this year at times of crisis.”
On the USAID efforts, Shah listed them under four headings: Fighting Hunger; Ensuring Children Survive and Thrive; Expanding Access to Energy; Responding to Disasters; and Advancing National Security Priorities.
Thanking his team, Shah noted, “I have been privileged to work with a talented team of extraordinary colleagues over the last five years … I am grateful to each and every one of them.”
Shah on November 4-5, visited India and announced USAID support for three priority areas of partnership as identified in the recent summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Barack Obama in Washington: “USAID will support the Government of India’s efforts to strengthen water and sanitation, expand access to clean energy, and increase access to banking services for Indians.” The announcements totaled up to $71 million in initial support for the initiatives. The Administrator announced the efforts after meeting with officials from the Government of India.
“The relationship we have with India – the world’s largest democracy – is among the most lasting, effective, and vital partnerships that America currently enjoys,” said Shah. “Together, we are working to unlock opportunity for India’s most vulnerable people and pioneer solutions that will help end extreme poverty across the globe.”
Shah joined the Obama administration in April 2009, working first in the Department of Agriculture before President Obama nominated him to head USAID at the end of 2009. Before that, he worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rajiv “Raj” Shah, the USAID czar and the top level Indian American in the Obama Administration escaped being replaced when President Obama made changes in 2012 for the second term. There is no confirmed report on the next moves of Shah although sources point to a political career or a private sector leadership role.