Noting how his childhood experiences visiting his parents’ home country of India, as well as his time volunteering during medical school in rural South India, shaped his worldview and his desire to pursue a career in global health and development, Dr. Rajiv Shah outlined the principles by which he would guide the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as administrator during his Senate confirmation hearing this morning.

Citing President Obama’s proposed approach to development that “begins with the view that the purpose of our aid must be to create the conditions where it is no longer needed,” Shah noted that the five principles by which he would guide USAID all would “require significant changes in the way the Agency does business.” Those principles include: working in strategic partnership with nations; narrowing USAID’s strategic focus to key areas; better coordinating with stakeholders and donors; leveraging the resources and reach of multilateral organizations; and fostering a “focus-for-decades,” long term approach.