Chris Milligan: Understanding Global Cooperation at USAID

Chris Milligan built a distinguished career focused on international development, especially in countries undergoing political transitions or other crises. His work at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) spanned over thirty years and many countries from South America to Southeast Asia. He has helped lead efforts to rebuild societies devastated by conflict and natural disasters, improve effectiveness of foreign assistance, and guide complex political discussions. 

Milligan graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, during which he completed an exchange year at Sciences Po. In reflecting on his choice to study abroad, Milligan said, “It's very important that you leave your own little corner of the world, travel and see the rest of the world, and broaden your perspectives. It makes you more effective professionally, no matter what you do." 

Additionally, Milligan credits his time at Sciences Po in part for establishing his understanding of global cooperation. "Studying at Sciences Po increased my worldview, especially because at the time the EU was still growing and the focus in our studies was on France’s role within it… One of the key things that came out of the academic experience was this importance of cooperation and mutual respect to get something done. So when you’re working in international assistance, no one country should do it all. It’s the comparative advantages and work of everybody.” 

Later, Milligan completed graduate studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS and went on to volunteer at a refugee camp in the Philippines with the International Organization for Migration. One of his early assignments was in Indonesia, helping with democratic transition and decentralization of government. Later, Milligan went on to help lead post-war reconstruction plans in Iraq amidst ongoing conflict. After Haiti’s earthquake in 2010, Milligan led the US response- a $1 billion effort to bring critical assistance which required coordination with many organizations. Another notable period in his career was reopening the USAID mission in Myanmar, assisting in the first free and fair elections in decades and in constructing government policies. His last position at USAID was as counselor, the top foreign service position, where he worked on overall strategy and direction for USAID. 

Milligan’s work at USAID was vital and he explained, "USAID is a National Security Agency, because international development is important for the United States. It's not just about helping millions of other people overseas. It's also about protecting ourselves from the next pandemic, creating markets with stable democracies, protecting US farmers from tropical diseases that would come and wipe out their crops, and more."

When considering the recent significant reductions made to USAID, Milligan voiced his concerns: “I think that they're trying to do this with many agencies and departments, and it began first with USAID because there isn't a domestic constituency. The constituency overseas, they can't speak up. This is having a massive effect. 84% of USAID programs have been canceled. Thousands of employees have been put on annual leave or told they'll be fired.”

Currently, he is working with the USAID Alumni Association to support former employees affected by the ongoing changes. This includes providing career transition support and addressing immediate physical and psychological needs.