10 FAH-1 H-050
PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OFFICERS PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
(CT:ASH-7; 12-04-2018)
(Office of Origin: R/PPR)
10 FAH-1 H-051 INTRODUCTION
(CT:ASH-7; 12-04-2018)
a. A wide range of professional contacts in Washington
is essential for PD officers working overseas. PD officers should take
advantage of the consultation process prior to departure to establish close
working relationships and face-to-face contacts within the Department and
throughout counterpart agencies and organizations in Washington. Such
relationships are critical to effectiveness and success at post.
b. The following list of activities should be completed
by PAOs, and other PD officers as appropriate, prior to departing for Post:
(1) Establish contact with the Regional Bureau PD
office (EAP/PD; NEA/PPD, etc.). The primary point of contact is the PD desk
officer, but you should also meet the PD director and/or deputy director and
PAOs should meet the PD DAS. These officers will be your primary point of
contact for problem solving, program support and any major new program
initiative. Frequent and regular communication should be established with the
desk officer, who should be informed immediately of significant developments,
political crises or personnel issues within the country of assignment. The
regional bureau PD office will help with links to other offices and bureaus and
can help solve problems and find solutions that might not be easily apparent
from overseas.
(2) Establish contact with the regional bureau
executive office, including post management officers and
budget/contracts/administrative personnel, particularly the person who handles
PD budgets. Ask for a copy of your posts PD budget and staffing pattern.
(3) Establish contact with the R Front Office. PAOs
should schedule a courtesy call with the special assistant and other R staff
responsible for their country of assignment. PAOs (and IOs and CAOs, if needed)
should also meet with the director of R/PPR and/or of R/PPR/P (Policy and
Planning) and R/PPR/R (Resources). The R/PPR leadership may recommend meeting
with others on the R/PPR staff.
(4) All PD officers assigned overseas should be
familiar with the ECA, IIP, and PA bureaus, both how the bureaus are organized
and what programs they manage or facilitate. PAOs should meet with a
representative of each bureau; at a minimum, information officers should meet
with IIP and PA, CAOs with ECA and IIP. If time permits, IOs and CAOs should
meet with IIP, PA, and ECA. The Policy Office in ECA is ready to organize
briefings with all of the relevant program offices in ECA for all outgoing PD
officers and for local staff training in DC. You may also contact the Special
Assistants for each bureaus front office.
(5) Many of the functional bureaus have established PD
offices, including Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL); International
Organizations (IO), International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL);
Counterterrorism (CT) and Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). PAOs, and
other PD officers as appropriate, should meet with the PD offices of these
bureaus as needed and with the offices of any Special Representatives dealing
with issues listed in the posts Integrated Country Strategy (ICS).
(6) If the country has public diplomacy programming
funded through ESF funds, the PAO should meet with the appropriate office in
Washington (EUR/ACE or MEPI).
(7) A representative of the U.S. Agency for Global Media can inform the PAO
and IO about VOA and USG-funded radio operations and the media environment in
the country.
(8) The Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) can
brief PD officers on public opinion polling and other issues in the country.
(9) If the country has a USAID presence, the PAO
should meet with a country or regional representative at USAID headquarters.
(10) If the country has a significant US military
presence, the PAO and IO should contact the Department of Defense.
(11) In advance of arrival at post, all officers,
including PD officers, should contact the ambassador and DCM.
(12) PAOs should pay a courtesy call on the Washington
Embassy of their country of assignment. The PD desk officer for your post can
help arrange this visit.
(13) If the PAO or PD officer needs to have a grants
warrant at the new post, the officer should complete the required training
prior to departure for post. Grants authority applies only to a specific
post. The PAO or PD officer will need to apply for a grants warrant for the
new post.