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  Better Inform Policy-Making »

  Forum for Citizen Suggested Aid Projects

  The United States should create an online forum where citizens of different countries can submit proposals for small, targeted aid projects based on their experience on the ground. By involving locals in the aid process, the U.S. would make clear that we are actively listening to publics abroad. Competition for such resources could be based on a similar model to that used by Google in their "Project 10^100." Winners of ...more »

  The United States should create an online forum where citizens of different countries can submit proposals for small, targeted aid projects based on their experience on the ground. By involving locals in the aid process, the U.S. would make clear that we are actively listening to publics abroad. Competition for such resources could be based on a similar model to that used by Google in their "Project 10^100." Winners of significant grants were chosen based on which ideas would help the most people to the greatest extent.

  USAID might pilot this initiative with a small fraction of the budget at first, and subsequently increase funding if it is found to be effective.

  Furthermore, by documenting a few such projects from start to finish, the government could create a variety of compelling multimedia products which could be used to promote the particular program, but also the U.S. image in general.

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  Submitted by maxentman 2 years ago

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  Improve Workforce Knowledge and Skills »

  Realize the Full Potential of Students and Young Professionals

  The United States is fortunate to possess a wealth of talented graduate students and young professionals who are pursuing careers in public diplomacy. However, it is often difficult for these students to find careers in government service related to public diplomacy. This is due to a number of reasons, including the decentralization of public diplomacy roles throughout the Federal Government following the demise of the ...more »

  The United States is fortunate to possess a wealth of talented graduate students and young professionals who are pursuing careers in public diplomacy. However, it is often difficult for these students to find careers in government service related to public diplomacy. This is due to a number of reasons, including the decentralization of public diplomacy roles throughout the Federal Government following the demise of the USIA.

  The U.S. Government's public diplomacy community therefore must do a better job of introducing young talent to career opportunities within the civilian workforce. This includes investing in targeted educational outreach and new inter-agency recruitment sites.

  However, better matchmaking is not enough. The U.S. Government also must acknowledge that the evolving needs of the public diplomacy community require a greater diversity of talent. Rather than pushing all young professionals with an interest in public diplomacy to roles related to tactical public diplomacy/strategic communications (i.e. foreign or military service officers), the U.S. Government must promote new roles for young professionals with nontraditional skill sets. This can be achieved by expanding the types of roles being explicitly recruited for public diplomacy - to include open source technologists, digital communications strategists, and place branding specialists.

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  Submitted by walshtechnet 2 years ago

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  Shape the Narrative »

  Send Public Diplomacy Officers Out Among the Locals

  My friend who worked for British Petroleum told me the story of an ambassador he knew when he lived in Trinidad. The ambassador made a point to get out among the locals--he knew store owners by name, could recommend the best place to get fish tacos, learned local lingo, and performed volunteer service in local homeless shelters. Because he gained a reputation for knowing the people and knowing their culture, local officials ...more »

  My friend who worked for British Petroleum told me the story of an ambassador he knew when he lived in Trinidad. The ambassador made a point to get out among the locals--he knew store owners by name, could recommend the best place to get fish tacos, learned local lingo, and performed volunteer service in local homeless shelters. Because he gained a reputation for knowing the people and knowing their culture, local officials listened to him and were open to relationships with other State Department personnel in the area. When public diplomacy officers are relegated only to their desks within U.S. compounds, they lack the opportunities to network within their host country and shape the American narrative. There is a reason for public diplomacy officers to physically reside in countries with which Americans have diplomatic relationships, namely, to be the face (literally and figuratively) of the United States.

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  Submitted by lindsey.douthit 2 years ago

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  Leverage Technology to Advance Objectives »

  Cultural Exchange Web 2.0 Site

  The Department of State should develop a vibrant cultural exchange site that enables Americans to introduce their culture to foreigners on a personal level. The site should be supported by rich media (ex. interactive timeline) and user profiles, enable submission of user-generated stories by individual users as well as polished stories on historical figures by government web managers, provide functionality for user content ...more »

  The Department of State should develop a vibrant cultural exchange site that enables Americans to introduce their culture to foreigners on a personal level. The site should be supported by rich media (ex. interactive timeline) and user profiles, enable submission of user-generated stories by individual users as well as polished stories on historical figures by government web managers, provide functionality for user content rating, sharing, and commenting, and be fully integrated with third party social media sites (ex. YouTube; Flickr). [See: http://www.forloveofliberty.net]

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  Submitted by walshtechnet 2 years ago

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  Confront the Domestic Challenge »

  Mitigate Foreign Influence Within U.S. Borders

  The U.S. public diplomacy community needs to address the evolving threat the United States (U.S.) faces on its own soil. "The world we face: Competing influences" should take account of the rising potential for external state and non-state to seek influence within the United States, particularly using new media as a platform. In the 21st century, U.S. public diplomacy must not be constrained by artificial geographic boundaries. ...more »

  The U.S. public diplomacy community needs to address the evolving threat the United States (U.S.) faces on its own soil. "The world we face: Competing influences" should take account of the rising potential for external state and non-state to seek influence within the United States, particularly using new media as a platform. In the 21st century, U.S. public diplomacy must not be constrained by artificial geographic boundaries. The U.S. needs to engage foreigners living in the United States as well as mitigate foreign actors seeking to influence our citizens from abroad. The strategy and tactics to be leveraged are up for debate (including whether DHS should be empowered with the mandate for mitigating the public diplomacy threat within our borders) but this is an extremely serious matter that needs to be better addressed within the the U.S. Government's public diplomacy strategy.

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  Submitted by walshtechnet 2 years ago

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  Deploy Resources In-Line with Current Priorities »

  Public/Private Fund for Citizen Diplomacy Programs

  The State Department's funding priorities for private and NGO programs in the area of citizen diplomacy are woefully inadequate. Oft times, funding is "wired" for specific State programs and never publicly competed. Also, where funding IS available, State's management system for this funding often fails, resulting in programs that are never fully realized or measured for effectiveness. The U.S. government should establish ...more »

  The State Department's funding priorities for private and NGO programs in the area of citizen diplomacy are woefully inadequate. Oft times, funding is "wired" for specific State programs and never publicly competed. Also, where funding IS available, State's management system for this funding often fails, resulting in programs that are never fully realized or measured for effectiveness.

  The U.S. government should establish a public-private funding corporation that will act as an investment house for civic diplomacy programs. Congressional funding should be appropriated annually for this quasi-governmental organization, and it should be administered by professional program management experts from a variety of interagency backgrounds (Defense, State, USAID, etc). Additionally, this corporation should solicit donations from other grantmaking organizations to better coordinate a national investment strategy for civic diplomacy programs.

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  Submitted by st.cpdu4 2 years ago

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