As the Obama administration takes office, educators involved in development work abroad look to the future with hope. Although the economic downturn may constrain the new president's ability to make financial commitments abroad, Barack Obama has said he wants to double the amount of foreign assistance provided by the United States to fight poverty and hunger, and to strengthen developing economies and allow them to improve educational opportunities for their citizens. The main government entity through which colleges finance their overseas development projects is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In interviews with "The Chronicle", the departing head of USAID, Henrietta H. Fore, and several higher-education officials talked about their work with the agency over the past couple of years, and where they think the next administration's priorities should lie. American educators active in Africa and elsewhere are concerned about what they say is USAID's diminished role in development work abroad. In conversations with the USAID transition team, Ms. Fore emphasized the importance of supporting education programs at all levels, primary through higher education. noting key areas in agriculture, financial management, and infrastructure development.