Why Policies Matter in Achieving Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Outcomes

Have you heard? There is a new USAID Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Policy! You may be asking yourself, what is the purpose of policies, and what do they mean to me? USAID uses policies to communicate Agency priorities and ensure a cohesive approach to meeting its goals, with varying levels of detail. The USAID Policy Framework identifies DRG issues as one of five key challenges of our time, and the new DRG Policy addresses this by outlining a shared vision of USAID’s contributions to democratic development and countering democratic backsliding around the world. The DRG policy defines a set of pivots and principles for us to pursue this vision and provides a framework to ensure that activities are in line with and contribute to that mission. A policy is critical not only for USAID’s shared vision, but for communicating this vision to USAID’s government and non-governmental partners.

This Learning Digest discusses three key characteristics of effective policies, how they help us to meet our development objectives, and how they are embodied in the DRG Policy:

• Driving Positive Outcomes: Effective Evidence-based Policies
• Staying Agile: Adapting the DRG Policy for a Changing World
• Unlocking Synergies: A Whole-of-Agency Approach

Please see the DRG Evidence and Learning Team resources and events!