A Consequential UN Appointment From The Trump Administration

(This is a guest post from the Center for International Relations senior editor)

Nikki Haley , the US Ambassador to the United Nations (USUN) recently nominated David Beasley , a fellow former governor of South Carolina, to lead the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

This is a consequential appointment: the World Food Program is arguably the most effective agency in the United Nations system.

Today, the World Food Program needs access to more funds and visionary leadership for a number of reasons.

Putting America First: a large portion of WFPs food is sourced from US farms- to the tune of more than $1 billion. WFP procurement is vital to the prosperity of rural America. While the practice is controversial and can be reformed, it is crucial to recognize it and its links to American jobs, especially for American farm jobs.

Tackling Famine First: with the world experiencing the largest famine in recent history, where more than 50 million people face starvation , WFPs role as the leading emergency food provider is critical.

No other private or public agency has the ability to do what it can: WFP has the logistics expertise and track record that would rival FedEx or UPS delivering vital humanitarian supplies, of which food is only one component, to the most remote areas of the world, in record time.

Ending Conflict First: WFP is much more than a food program; it is the largest humanitarian agency in the world. From Aleppo to Mosul, areas that are the center of conflict and terror with potential to reach American shores WFP is there first to feed and rebuild those communities.

With such important functions, Governor Beasley, has an important task cut out for him in leading WFP.

First, secure appropriate funding for the agency. WFPs budget is largely provided by the United States the largest contributor. By virtue of that fact, the US de facto appoints the Executive Director of the Program. Also, by virtue of that fact, the WFP will likely face the biggest hit from the Trump Administrations across the board cut to UN funding .

Governor Beasley will have to reform and streamline WFP functions, but theres not much room for improvement since it is already uber efficient in relative to other UN bodies . He will need to work with the US government and others to ensure that WFP is well resourced to tackle the worlds pressing conflict and food challenges. The case for WFPs importance to US domestic interests should be prominent in this regard particularly, in light of the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations .

Second, WFPs Board has members that could be construed to be influencing its agenda toward parochial interests, to the detriment of global food security or US interests. However, as a UN agency, such Board participants are to be expected. They should not be the grounds for gauging an agencys effectiveness and value.

WFPs work is far too valuable and valid, unlike other bureaucratized agencies like DfIDs multilateral review points out for agencies like UNESCO . Governor Beasley needs to work with Ambassador Haley to ensure that the US Congress and the Trump Administration recognize such distinctions- maybe the US can pursue its own multilateral review under senior leadership with Secretaries Tillerson and Mnuchin serving as lead sponsors.

Third, Governor Beasley has an opportunity to partner with sister food agencies in Rome FAO and IFAD the latter getting a new leader too , to better coordinate and deliver global food and nutrition security. As the Trump Administration fills the US ambassador roles, the US Ambassador to the Rome Agencies is a central figure, as are leadership appointments de facto reserved for the US in agencies like FAO (its Deputy Director General for instance), to achieve this task.

Governor Beasleys strategic expertise, not only in his role as Governor of South Carolina but also in his capacity as Chairman of the Center for Global Strategies , gives him the tools to bring about such coordination.

There are some who question Governor Beasleys appointment, as more of a political choice but this is in keeping with past practice for the selection of the role. He has the chance now to show that political choices can surprise and deliver as former US nominees for WFP Executive Directors have shown.

This is a consequential choice for ending global hunger, as well as maintaining stability and promoting prosperity.

Next up will be the head of the UNICEF: a consequential choice for the worlds children and their welfare- whose name will Governor Haley submit to replace Tony Lake? Condi Rice, a former NSA like Tony Lake?