Today is World Water Day, and, to mark the occasion, the U.S. will sign a new Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank to strengthen support for developing countries seeking access to clean, safe drinking water. Access to clean water is an issue where we have seen successful public-private partnerships in tackling the problem. In addition to World Vision and Proctor and Gamble’s  partnership to distribute Pur water packets around the world, today’s announcement will include representatives from the Hilton Foundation and Coca-Cola, two more companies working to provide access to clean water and sanitation in the developing world.

Must Reads

Who’s In the News

Obama offers new U.S. partnership with Latin America (Matt Spetalnick, Reuters)

President Barack Obama called on Monday for a “new era of partnership” with Latin America as he acknowledged a sometimes troubled past between Washington and its neighbors in the region.

Smart Power

The State Department as a Tool of National Security (Brant Shalikashvili, WPR)

As an Army brat who grew up traveling the world, I’ve witnessed first-hand both the power and sense of hope that the United States projects around the globe. These qualities stem from both the might of our military as well as the less tangible characteristics of our diplomatic and compassionate efforts.

America’s health aid saves others, helps us (Dr. Sandra Gompf, St. Petersburg Times)

Americans may believe that federal spending on foreign aid is exorbitant, but global health programs are only one quarter of 1 percent of the budget, and they protect our own health by shoring up that of our neighbors. Further, these dollars by necessity must support the most efficient, low-technology approaches to help resource-poor areas.

Tetra Tech Uses Sound Science, Technology and Participation to Achieve Sustainable Development Results (Ivy Mungcal, DEVEX)

As the 2015 deadline for reaching the U.N. Millennium Development Goals approaches, world leaders and their international partners are increasingly hard-pressed to prove that they are making an impact on the lives of less affluent people in developing countries. For aid groups, it has never been more crucial to deliver measurable and sustainable results.

Politics/Foreign Policy

US-World Bank Tie Up To Ensure Water Secure Future Of Developing Countries (RTT News)

The United States will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Bank to strengthen support to developing countries seeking a water secure future. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and World Bank President Robert Zoellick will sign the MOU at World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. on Tuesday on the occasion of the World Water Day.

US Middle East foreign aid: Investing in quiet, but not peace (Rabbi Michael Cohen, Arab News)

While the outcome of the Arab revolutions will not be clear for some time, the shifting sands are already revealing certain truths. One of those has been the misguided use of billions and billions of dollars by the United States over recent decades to support the peace treaties between Israel and its neighbors, Egypt and Jordan.

Foreign aid cuts will accelerate foreign crises, contradicts U.S. goals (Carolina Chacon, the Nevada Sagebrush)

The House of Representatives made a devastating decision three weeks ago, cutting $1.7 billion from the international affairs budget. By slashing foreign assistance so drastically, the House is not only hurting millions of the world’s most vulnerable communities, but also damaging the economic and security interests that drive our foreign policy.