Joint Strategic Plan of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development - Fiscal Year

Key Chapter Title List

1. Goal One: Revitalize American Leadership and Mobilize Alliances to Address the Global Challenges with the Greatest Impact on American Security and Well-being
2. Strategic Objective 1.1: Strengthen Global Health Security, Address Infectious Disease Threats, and Tackle Priority Global Health Challenges through Bilateral and Multilateral Engagement
3. Strategic Objective 1.2: Ensure Ambitious Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Outcomes, Including Supporting the Effective Implementation of the Paris Agreement
4. Strategic Objective 1.4: Lead Allies and Partners to Address Shared Challenges and Competitors; Prevent, Deter, and Resolve Conflict; and Promote International Security
5. Goal Two: Foster Global Prosperity and Shape an International Environment Where America Can Thrive
6. Goal Three: Strengthen Democratic Institutions, Defend Universal Values, and Advance Human Dignity
7. Goal Four: Revitalize the Diplomatic and Development Workforce and Institutions
8. Goal Five: Serve American Citizens Globally and Promote Safe International Travel
9. Stakeholder Engagement
10. Performance and Evidence

Document Introduction

This document is the Joint Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026 developed by the U.S. Department of State (State) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It is released during a period of profound challenges: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying climate change, heightened geopolitical competition, fifteen consecutive years of global democratic decline, and the dual impacts of the technological revolution. The plan's core premise is that America's domestic renewal and its strength in the world are intertwined and mutually reinforcing. Its fundamental goal is to utilize diplomatic and development tools to protect American citizens, promote domestic prosperity and security, and address transnational threats that affect American lives and livelihoods at the global level.

The plan establishes five overarching strategic goals that form the top-level framework for U.S. diplomatic and development actions over the next four years. Goal One focuses on "Revitalizing American Leadership," aiming to mobilize alliances to address challenges with the most direct impact on American security and well-being, such as global health security, climate change, and humanitarian crises, and to enhance foreign public understanding and support for American values and policies. Goal Two focuses on "Fostering Global Prosperity," emphasizing the creation of an international economic environment where America can thrive by supporting inclusive economic growth, safeguarding U.S. technological leadership and competitiveness, strengthening supply chain resilience, and shaping rules for emerging technologies. The core of Goal Three is "Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Universal Values," committed to countering the global erosion of authoritarianism by supporting good governance, combating corruption, promoting human rights and equality, managing migration, and improving basic services. Goal Four focuses on modernizing institutions and the workforce, aiming to build a diverse, inclusive diplomatic and development workforce equipped with 21st-century skills, and to modernize information technology, data utilization, and security protections. Goal Five returns to fundamental consular functions, emphasizing serving American citizens abroad and promoting safe and lawful international travel.

The development of this strategic plan was based on an extensive consultation process involving senior leadership from both agencies and drew upon presidential directives, the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, and previous strategic planning. Implementation emphasizes a "whole-of-government" approach, requiring close collaboration with numerous domestic U.S. departments (such as the Department of Defense, Treasury, Homeland Security, etc.) as well as international multilateral institutions (such as the United Nations, World Bank, WHO, regional organizations, etc.), the private sector, and civil society. In terms of performance management, both agencies commit to adhering to laws such as the Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, systematically collecting evidence and evaluating effectiveness through the development of "Learning Agendas" and "Capacity Assessments" to support data-driven strategic decision-making and adaptive program management.

Overall, this Joint Strategic Plan is not only a roadmap for action but also reflects the Biden administration's commitment to prioritizing diplomacy and development as primary tools of statecraft. It explicitly defines addressing climate change, global health security, technological competition, and democratic renewal as U.S. national security priorities. It seeks to uphold American interests and values in an increasingly complex and competitive international system by strengthening alliance systems and combining investments in domestic renewal with overseas development.