June 15, 2010
Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, discusses the U.S. response to disasters in Haiti and elsewhere and the outlook for international development at a June 18, 2010 National Press Club Luncheon. Dr. Shah took a moment before the luncheon to sign the NPC's guestbook for the Club's President, Alan Bjerga. Photo: Noel St. John
Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, discusses the U.S. response to disasters in Haiti and elsewhere and the outlook for international development at a June 18, 2010 National Press Club Luncheon. Dr. Shah began his remarks by offering thanks for the overwhelming response to the Haitian earthquake disaster. Photo: Noel St. John
Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, discusses the U.S. response to disasters in Haiti and elsewhere and the outlook for international development at a June 18, 2010 National Press Club Luncheon. Dr. Shah stated that his agency owes the American taxpayers "hard evidence of the impact their money is making." Photo: Noel St. John
Upon being nominated for the position as administrator two months before the Haitian earthquake, he was told by his predecessor, Andrew Natsios, that if a disaster occurs he would have to "drop all that and focus on that emergency for as long as it takes to make sure that we get it right." Dr. Shah responded that he really did not think that was likely in his first hundred days.
Rajiv Shah, administrator of USAID, discusses the U.S. response to disasters in Haiti and elsewhere and the outlook for international development at a June 18, 2010 National Press Club Luncheon. Dr. Shah accepted the traditional NPC coffee mug from NPC President, Alan Bjerga. (Also pictured is Speakers Committee Chair, Andrew Schneider.) Photo: Noel St. John