Money for Education

Last month, USAID announced the winners of their Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant Competition. 300 entries, pairs of higher education institutions in Africa and the US, competed for the prize of $50,000 for their partnership-building efforts. 40 winners were selected, with each individual school receiving the grant. The paired institutions will use the money to focus on solving various development issues. This contribution from USAID underscores the importance of improving education as a strategy against poverty.
Source: USAID

Passing through Hurdles to Help

Medair, a Swiss humanitarian agency, has recently been able to access areas in Southern Sudan to aid the remote tribes devastated by measles. Because of the rainy season, they were unable to help out last November, since getting there requires a 1-3 day walk through forests and mountains. To reach one tribe, they had to swim through a river and float their equipment on cooking vessels. After travelling through treacherous conditions, they were able to vaccinate a total of about 1,200 children. With no roads, health posts, schools, or markets near their tribes, people were very happy to see Medair come and help out.
Source: Reuters AlertNet

Improving US Development Assistance

In an article for Politico, former Senator George McGovern states that development assistance is the key to making sustainable economic growth possible. He points out the importance of giving aid to help countries defeat hunger and poverty.

"By directing U.S. aid to countries with sound policies and to programs advancing agricultural development and education, the right conditions are beginning to take root toward ending hunger. We see the U.S. government accomplish this through several programs and priorities. To generate an even greater impact in the fight against poverty and hunger, a more effective, collaborative and coordinated effort across these various agencies and goals is absolutely essential. At a time of severe economic crisis, investing U.S. development dollars toward these effective outcomes is a sustainable strategy to create a world free from hunger and poverty. Let us support the new administration in remaking foreign aid with greater accountability."

Source: Politico

Borgen's Meeting Record

Last week the President of The Borgen Project was on Capitol Hill building support for the Global Food Security Act and the Newborn, Child and Mother Survival Act. Below is the list of offices he met with.

Monday April 20th
Number of Meetings Scheduled: 29 meetings
9:15 - Representative Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
9:30 - Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ)
9:45 - Representative Harry Mitchell (D-AZ)
10:00 - Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
10:15 - Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX)
10:30 - Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
10:45 - Representative Adam Putnam (R-FL)
11:00 - Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC)
11:15- Representative Louie Gohmert (R_TX)
11:30- Representative John Shadegg (R-AZ)
11:45 - Representative Robert Brady (D-PA)
12:00 - Representative Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
12:15 - Representative Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
12:30 - Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
12:45 - Representative Lee Terry (R-NE)
1:00 - Representative Walter Jones (R-NC)
1:15 - Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
1:30 - Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA)
1:45 - Representative Jo Bonner (R-AL)
2:00 - Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY)
2:15 - Representative Lincoln Davis (D-TN)
2:45 - Representative James McGovern (D-MA)
3:00- Representative Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
3:15- Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
3:30- Representative Shelly Berkley (D-NV)
3:45- Representative Rush Holt ((D-NJ)
4:00- Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA)
4:30 - Representative Steve King (R-IA)
5:00 - Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)


Tuesday April 21st
Number of Meetings Scheduled: 28
9:00 - Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN)
9:30 - Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
9:45 - Representative Howard Coble (R-NC)
10:00 - Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX)
10:30 - Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)
10:45 - Representative Boswell (D-IA)
11:00 - Representative Bill Young (R-FL)
11:15- Representative Tom Price (R-GA)
11:30- Representative Frank Kratovil (D-MD)
11:45 - Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH)
12:00 - Representative Sandy Levin (D-MI)
12:15 - Representative Daniel Maffie (D-NY)
12:30 - Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
12:45 - Representative Bobby Bright (D-AL)
1:00 - Representative Peter DeFozio (D-OR)
1:30 - Representative Spencer Bachus (R-AL)
1:45 - Representative Jerry Moran (R-KS)
2:00 - Representative Nathan Deal (R-GA)
2:15 - Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
2:30- Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA)
2:45 - Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ)
3:00- Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA)
3:30- Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC)
3:45- Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)
4:00- Representative Dave Camp (R-MI)
4:15 - Representative James Oberstar (D-MN)
4:30 - Representative David Price (D-NC)
4:45 - Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
5:00 - Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV)


Wednesday April 22nd
Number of Meetings Scheduled: 19
9:30 - Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
10:00 - Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)
10:15- Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)
10:30 - Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
11:00 - Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
11:30- Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
12:00 - Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
12:30 - Senator Roger Wicker (R-MI)
1:00 - Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
1:30 - Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
2:00 - Senator Herbert Kohl (D-WI)
2:30- Senator James Inhofe (R-OK)
3:00- Senator Richard Shelby (D-AL)
3:30- Senator Tom Udall (D-NM)
4:00- Senator Robert Casey (D-PA)
4:30 - Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
5:00 - Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)


Thursday April 23rd
Number of Meetings Scheduled: 13
9:30 - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
10:00 - Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD)
10:30 - Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV)
11:00 - Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
11:15 - Senator Charles Schumer
11:30- Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
12:00 - Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
1:00 - Representative Charlie Wilson (D-OH)
1:30 - Representative Parker Griffith (D-AL)
2:00 - Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
2:30- Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
3:00- Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI)
3:30- Senator Mark Udall (D-CO)
4:00- Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
4:30 - Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC)

IMF in Need of Change

According to the a group of global banks, the International Monetary Fund needs radical transformation in order to stimulate the international markets. G-20 leaders pledged earlier this month to increase funding for the IMF, but that money is not yet committed. The promises made at the summit need to be turned into reality, and the IMF needs to become more transparent in its actions.
Source: Financial Times

Success on Capitol Hill

Last week, the President of The Borgen Project went to D.C. and met up with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, along with 80 other congressional offices. He spoke mostly to foreign policy L.A.s (legislative assistants) about the Global Food Security Act and the Newborn Child and Mother Survival Act. A majority of them were very supportive, and the overall response was positive. As they go on to present this info to the congressional leaders, hopefully we will see an increased list of cosponsors for the two bills. Throughout the next few weeks it will be important to keep calling our local senators and representatives to ensure that this poverty reduction legislation stands out from the thousands of other bills being presented. Find out more about calling your congressional leaders, and mobilize your friends to do the same!

Special thanks to Robin Moore Photography.

Farmers Need Help to Make a Profit

In Uganda, farmers are not asking for bailouts; most don't even know what the G-20 summit is. The only thing they ask for is a fair chance in the global market. For many, the issue is a lack of demand, which results in the farmers being pressured to sell their crops quickly for a low price to middle men who then re-sell it for a big profit. An easy solution would be to give these farmers secure storage areas where they could keep their crops, and find buyers who would pay more reasonable prices. As global financial institutions focus on bailing out huge companies, they need to step back and pay attention to the needs of the individuals in the agricultural sector.
Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Learning about Leadership

In order to effectively fight poverty, Africa needs to get rid of corrupt leaders and establish a stronger, more reliable leadership. For this reason, Fred Swaniker co-founded the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa. The school began teaching its first class last September. 97 students from all over Africa are taking part in a two year program designed to "develop the next generation of leaders." With an intensive selection process and a student/teacher ratio of 5:1, the academy hopes to build a strong foundation of good leadership skills in the minds of young people.
Source: Sowetan.co.za