Volunteers for Prosperity

This executive order creates "Volunteers for Prosperity," a program within USA Freedom Corps to deploy highly skilled American professionals as volunteers abroad to support U.S. global prosperity initiatives including HIV/AIDS relief, clean water, democratic governance, and economic development. It establishes coordinating offices in five federal agencies and designates USAID as inter-agency coordinator.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 56515

Impact dates

Mar 23, 2004
USAID submits first progress report to USA Freedom Corps Office
Oct 25, 2003
Offices or units begin operations

Key directives

USAID, State, Commerce, and HHS shall each establish an Office for Volunteers for Prosperity or operating unit
Offices or units shall begin operations no later than 30 days from the date of this order
Agencies shall consider applicants' use of highly skilled U.S. volunteers when evaluating grant applications for overseas assistance activities
Offices shall actively participate in grant design and selection processes, track use of U.S. private volunteer organizations, and coordinate with White House Offices
Agencies shall use best efforts to direct available funds to organizations using highly skilled U.S. volunteers
USAID shall serve as inter-agency coordinator and report to USA Freedom Corps Office within 180 days and annually thereafter

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Establishment of Offices for Volunteers for Prosperity or operating units required within 30 days

Near term (90d)

Offices begin operations
Agencies begin considering volunteer use in grant evaluations

Long term

Annual reporting to USA Freedom Corps Office
Ongoing coordination of volunteer placement with U.S. prosperity initiatives

Risks & tensions

Program effectiveness depends on voluntary participation by skilled professionals without compensation structure specified
Funding constraint: 'subject to availability of appropriations' and 'best efforts' language limits binding financial commitment
No enforcement mechanism: Section 7 explicitly disclaims any enforceable rights
Coordination burden across multiple agencies with potentially competing priorities
Vague 'as appropriate' qualifiers in multiple provisions reduce accountability