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AFSA withdrew this appeal in February 2016 when the
Agency agreed to halt its midlevel hiring and to focus
on workforce planning in the HCTM Transformation. This
was an appropriate response. The next appropriate re-
sponse is an increase in entry level health officer hiring
and appropriate promotions within the ranks. USAID
acknowledged that workforce data and planning had
not kept up with Agency needs and was insufficient to
serve as an effective tool. USAID has made significant
strides in this area and has named clean data and
proper workforce planning as a top goal to be com-
pleted in 2017. This data will then serve as the sound
foundation for addressing many of our concerns.
USAID has put a hold on AFSA requests such as a
long-term lodging program and per diem for new hires
in training due primarily to lack of adequate workforce
data to justify program demand and the lack of a
known overseas assignment at point of hire, respec-
tively. Furthermore, adequate workforce planning will
provide the needed justification for additional FSO
hiring, development of FSO careers and lessening the
over-reliance on auxiliary hiring mechanisms.
As USAID met its FSO hiring ceiling of 1,850 this year,
AFSA will continue to call for the Agency to evaluate its
hiring needs especially in light of appropriately deter-
mining career FSO requirements and true limited-term
needs.
With the goal of providing a forum for members
to have candid discussions with the AFSA President
and AFSA USAID VP regarding their careers and to
gain feedback on how AFSA can better support its
members, AFSA hosted its first “structured
conversations” at USAID in 2016. Attendance was
full and both sessions were well received and
provided valuable feedback.
AFSA’s consistent call to reinstate the student loan
repayment program saw movement this year with plans
set in gear to offer the SLRP in 2017. Agency leadership
is also placing increased emphasis on addressing
member concerns around staff care needs such as
PTSD, bullying and leadership training.
Each year brings new challenges and opportunities. As
2017 ushers in new faces with the change of Adminis-
tration, I look forward to upholding our mandate and
keeping the momentum of these much needed advance-
ments moving forward.
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