The Pervasive Role of Science, Technology, and Health in Foreign Policy Imperatives for the Department of State (1999) / Chapter Skim
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2 Leadership Within the Department of State for Addressing STH-Related Issues
2 Leadership Within the Department of State for Addressing STH-Related Issues
Pages 25-34
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From page 25... ...
At the same time, this spread of responsibilities and capabilities requires special efforts to help ensure consistency and synergism in addressing related issues that may involve many organizations at home and abroad that deal with multiple offices of the Department and different sections of embassies on such issues. An essential first step in strengthening STH capabilities within the Department is a clear signal that the Secretary recognizes the significance of such capabilities, the importance of integrating informed STH considerations into foreign policy deliberations, and the need to strengthen STH capabilities.
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From page 26... ...
· Identify and analyze STH-content issues on the horizon and provide alternative policy options for addressing these issues, with special attention to issues that evolve slowly and are not directly linked to ongoing high-priority policy debates, such as the implications of demographic trends and of water shortages in ecologically sensitive areas of the world. · Ensure awareness within appropriate offices of significant interna
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From page 27... ...
The undersecretary in the first instance should of course be confident that the bureaus for which he or she is responsible adequately recognize the significance of STH in foreign policy and the importance of policies that facilitate international STH activities. The undersecretary should work with other undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, including those responsible for activities within the geographic bureaus and embassies and missions abroad, to help embed needed STH capabilities and sensitivities throughout the Departmental structure.
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From page 28... ...
The Senior Advisor should have important liaison responsibilities with a variety of STH-related institutions both to keep them apprised of relevant developments within the Department and to ensure that their perspectives on foreign policy issues are brought to the attention of responsible Department officials. Should the Department expect the Senior Advisor to participate in international negotiations or otherwise represent it in meetings with foreign officials, he or she should be accorded the rank of Ambassador.
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From page 29... ...
Implementation of the recommendations contained in this report will require adjustments in resource allocations and procedures that probably could be addressed more effectively with a modified organizational structure at the bureau level. An important objective in considering a realignment of operational responsibilities should be the establishment of well-engrained responsibilities for a broad range of STH activities in order to protect against the vagaries of the budget, the priorities of the day, and the special interests of individual officials, which in the past have hindered program stability (e.g., the narrowing of the focus of STH resources within OES to support environmental diplomacy activities)
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From page 30... ...
The committee's interim report of September 1998 called for allocation of about a dozen new positions to expand STH-related activities in OES, S/P, and INR, and $500,000 annually to begin to support external advisory activities.2 In addition, adequate resources to support the STH Senior Advisor and a well-qualified staff are essential. Should major structural changes within the Department be required to meet future STH res ?
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From page 31... ...
also has had a special ambassador for nuclear issues, and consideration should be given to reviving this position, given the heightened concern within international agencies as well as the United States over proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies. Within OES, in either its current or future form, one or more special ambassadors designated to lead global environmental negotiations could take a great travel burden off the OES leadership while ensuring that specific topics, such as global climate change and biodiversity, receive sufficient attention on a sustained basis.
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From page 32... ...
The significance of disease prevention, food safety, environmental protection, and nuclear security, for example, is easily understood, and Congress should be quite receptive to expanded efforts in these areas given the number of congressional committees that have international STH developments within their purviews (see Table 21~. The Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs is in a good position to help improve public understanding on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation of the importance of the STH aspects of foreign policy issues and international programs for the well-being of American citizens.
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From page 33... ...
Thousands of American private-sector institutions have strong international STH interests: universities, research institutions, professional societies, health care providers and insurers, manufacturing companies, trading organizations, consulting firms, financial institutions, service companies, charitable groups, and other nongovernmental organizations. Some of their programs are supported financially by other departments and agencies.
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From page 34... ...
Cooperation in developing better telecommunications systems can improve business opportunities throughout the world. As the role of the private-sector continues to expand overseas, the Department needs greater outreach capabilities to learn from the insights of others, to take advantage of international contacts and international programs that have been developed by others, and to involve the everexpanding group of stakeholders in international STH activities in formulating and implementing the foreign policy of the nation.
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