The head of the U.S. Agency for International Development announced Wednesday that his group will begin seeking a greater voice for humanitarian aid with the launch of a new policy arm.

In a speech at the InterAction Forum in Washington, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah announced the creation of the agency's own "bureau of policy, planning and learning" as it attempts to "move towards five or even 10-year country strategies." The official announcement of the bureau by USAID had not been made as of press time, and USAID officials would not go on record.

"The reform agenda starts with building out real policy and budget capability at the agency," Shah said to the convention of humanitarian aid groups. "We absolutely have to have the ability to speak with one voice and communicate a strong development perspective not just in the interagency... but, frankly, all around the world where development partners and development practitioners look to this agency and this community of leaders to offer thoughts and insights."

Todd Shelton, senior director of policy for the nongovernmental aid coalition InterAction, said that the State Department would still "exert primacy, but if USAID proves itself well it could establish some autonomy."

"Development and humanitarian relief should be seen as a distinct discipline with its own thinking and budgeting capacity," Shelton said. "For our policy decisions regarding developing countries to be effective, there has to be a stronger, clearer empowered voice at the interagency table than there currently is or has been in recent years."

Shelton criticized the "weakness" of USAID's former policy-making panel, which was shut down by the Bush administration, and said he hoped USAID's efforts to "think for itself" would lead to better results from its programs and inspire State to give the agency more autonomy over its own budget and management.

"They're starting with what they can do," Shelton said.

Shah in his speech cited the need to seize a window of opportunity he expected to last "12 to 18 months" while the Obama administration continues to approach foreign aid as "a strategic, economic and moral imperative."

"When the economy is rough and deficit reduction rises to the top of the agenda, more money for foreign assistance is going to be a tough sell," Shah said.

President Obama requested a 10 percent increase for fiscal 2011 to fund diplomatic operations and foreign assistance programs. Budgets for the State Department and USAID would total $52.8 billion in fiscal 2011, up from $47.9 billion for fiscal 2010, including funds to improve USAID infrastructure and to recruit an additional 200 Foreign Service officers.

Shah also outlined the need to "modernize foreign assistance" by working better with the private sector, improving transparency with measures such as web outreach and concise reports, and encouraging "greater competition in our work" among the staff of 8,000.