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 post’s 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 bureau’s 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 post’s 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.