The Key To Sustainable Development

The big question facing anyone involved in global development is not only how to make agriculture development work, but also how to make it sustainable.

According to USAID and Dr. Montague Demment, the Associate Vice President for International Development at APLU, the keys to sustainability are both capacity building and country ownership.

Capacity building must be on both the human and the institutional level, in agriculture and related sciences.

When outsiders such as NGOs and other non-profits come into to assist with the development of a country, it is difficult to work at the local level. They must become familiar with diverse cultures, economic issues and make the difficult, but appropriate connections.

Trained nationals can much more easily this type of economic and social development. The impact of locals/nationals creates a much more long term contributions that can last for many decades. When this is combined with institutional capacity, development can remain sustainable indefinitely.

Yes, it is true that there may be a brain drain as a result. However, as Dr. Demment states, this is not the whole story. First, some do go, but others stay. And some loss is no reason to abandon this type of capacity building. Also, it is possible to minimize brain draining through proper training. Second, many individuals that leave, do return and apply their skills to the business sector, investments and research projects.

If country-driven development is to be the goal, the key element of approach must be to allow countries to make their own decisions and have significant input in the development process.

The bottom line is that, "If we want to set the stage for addressing poverty and malnutrition over the next 40 years, then we need to find a way now to educate a whole new cohort of people from developing countries who will carry much of the intellectual and political responsibility for achieving those goals."

-Gabrielle Gurian

SOURCE: USAID

USAID: Investing In Innovation

In this day and age, market capitalism is the major, driving global force. So why use it as an advantage to improve global development? USAID Innovation Ventures seeks to do exactly that!

USAID has begun pursuing market-driven solutions to involve the business community in a new venture called Development Innovation Ventures (DIV), which invests in creative development ideas. "We believe this can lead to game-changing innovations in development," stated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This program emphasizes the importance of investing in innovation.

DIV emphasizes producing development outcomes that are more effective and cost-efficient. DIV encourages a wide range of input from entrepreneurs, innovators, businesses, NGOs and academics, asking them to submit proposals for cost-saving developments and improving outcomes, rather than focusing on incremental changes. People are able to submit applications that have innovative ideas for addressing development challenges and supports projects with the potential to reach wide-scale.

How it works:
1. A non-profit, private or public sector applicant submits an annual program statement.
2. If the project has potential, the DIV provides funding focusing on first the proof of the concept, testing and lastly transitions to scale proven solutions that demonstrate effectiveness.

The program literally allows people from all different sectors of society to take part in and change the lives of the poor around the world simply by having a sound, innovative idea!

-Gabrielle Gurian

SOURCE: USAID

USAID Collaboration to Increase Corporate Volunteerism Abroad

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be working with IBM and CDC Development Solutions to increase U.S. volunteerism abroad. This collaboration aims to increase the number of U.S. employee volunteers abroad to help provide assistance to local governments, small businesses, and civic groups in emerging markets.

This partnership will give corporations access to resources to make their projects more effective. The “Center of Excellence for International Corporate Volunteerism” (CEICV) will be established as a virtual forum for companies to share successes and practices. After a 2-year pilot period, the center will be self-sustaining and funded by membership fees or other sponsorships.

This alliance will help connect members with local governments that are most receptive to foreign assistance. In keeping track of successes and the programs that created them, corporations will not have to spend as much time redesigning and attempting to replicate successful programs. Formalizing the planning process will not only help make initiatives more strategic and useful, but can also increase the number of volunteers and their ability to contribute to initiatives.

The three key goals for the CEICV will be to enhance sustainable development efforts, help companies of all sizes expand their use of international corporate volunteer programs, and to keep track of volunteer impact in order to create the best practices for international corporate volunteer programs worldwide.

The partnership between USAID, IBM, and CDC Development Solutions will connect international corporate volunteer programs to USAID development strategies. This will help increase the impact of development fund as well as provide skills and technologies to recipients of U.S. foreign aid. “It is our hope that these resources will drive innovation and allow us to achieve a greater return on investments as we push harder toward achieving the millennium development goals," said Bambi Arellano, Counselor to USAID.

-Sami Ressler

SOURCE: PRNEWSWIRE

3 Voices For Foreign Aid

Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) Co-Chairs David Beckmann, George Ingram and Jim Kolbe have stated the importance that foreign development aid has for the US. These three people have very different backgrounds: Rev. David Beckmann is the president of Bread for the World, George Ingram is co-chairman of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and Jim Kolbe is a former Republican congressman from Arizona who works as a senior advisor at McLarty and associates. But they agree in how relevant foreign assistance is for the US and the whole world.

The most important thing for them is to transmit to the average American citizen true and valuable info and facts about foreign assistance. For instance, a lot of Americans still believe the US spends up to 25% of the budget on aid when it is currently less than 1%. According to these three experts, development aid is a key component of US foreign policy, together with defense and diplomacy. The modest investment in development pays huge dividends in terms of security, prosperity and global leadership.

In the security area, the numbers could not be clearer: "development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers," Secretary Robert Gates recently outlined. The outcomes in stability, governance and moderation of extremisms are much greater than the costs. For economic prosperity, development aid improves conditions in countries, allowing them to trade with the US, thus opening new business opportunities and political ties. Furthermore, aid is not just exporting dollars. Much of what is spent actually stays in the country in the form of wages of contractors or in payments for US made goods to be sent overseas. Finally, programs like vaccination campaigns that save thousands of lives or investment in agricultural development reinforce the image of the US and its global leadership to the eyes of the World.

It is also recommended that the aid has to be more effective and accountable, better measured and evaluated, and also more responsive and adapted to local initiatives and priorities. The role of private and public investors and donors has to be better shaped too. And with all these facts in hand, a honest debate can begin among the American public.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: MFAN

Maternal Deaths in Bangladesh 40% Down

Maternal deaths in Bangladesh have declined from 322 per 100,000 in 2001 to 194 in 2010, a 40 percent decline in 9 years, according to a joint survey from Bangladesh Government, USAID, AusAID and UNFPA. This decrease in maternal and birth-related mortality is the result of several combined factors and efforts: better care seeking, successful family planning programs, improved access to and quality of referral-care, a scale up of emergency obstetric care, and increasing education of girls and women. This is a significant progress in the accomplishment Millennium Development Goal 5 (50%reduction in maternal deaths), and the possibility to completely fulfill this goal by 2015. Bangladesh has already been awarded by UN for its advances in other MDGs, particularly in number 4 (reducing child mortality).

Family planning and maternal health have been two development-related priorities for the government of Bangladesh. Several other international agencies and organizations have worked in these fields for more than a decade, so these results could be obtained. USAID in particular has focused its efforts in Bangladesh in family planning, girls' education, disease prevention and childbirth attention. According to Amanda Glassman, Director of Global health Policy, "the results are also a good reminder that investments in family planning and girls’ education drive much of maternal health outcomes, and that USAID investment in social marketing of family planning and health seems to be paying off in improved health."

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: USAID

Borgen Project

Saving Lives At Birth

During the critical 48 hours after the childbirth, 150,000 women and 1.6 million newborns die. This means that every 2 minutes, a woman dies in childbirth. Infection, hemorrhage, hypertension disorders, obstructed labor or child asphyxia are some of the multiple complications faced during birth. This problem is much more severe in poor countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In fact, a Sub-Saharan woman is 136 times more likely to die during childbirth than those living in developed countries. This is so important that not only one but two of the Millennium Development Goals (4 and 5) are actually involved in its solution.

To face this terrible issue, a new initiative has born. A partnership between the World Bank, USAID, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada and the Government of Norway called "Saving Lives at Birth" will fight maternal and birth complications from a new perspective. To do so, they will rely on modern technologies, science and innovative approaches to prevention and treatment. The project will focus on three working areas: technologies to detect, prevent and treat maternal and newborn problems; service delivery of high quality care, including transportation of sick newborns or mothers, training, recruiting and retaining skilled or alternative personnel; and empowering and engaging pregnant women and families in prevention or health habits, including the search for care during childbirth.

If successful, this project will save thousands of lives by providing cheap and effective healthcare material for mothers and newborns, and also a better informed and engaged population. Media and information technologies have a core role in this program, since the role of individuals and societies is considered the base of the changes wanted.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: Saving Lives at Birth official website

The Fruits of Aid

A new example of how foreign aid can help and improve local economies in developing countries comes from Ghana. ADRA, faith-based NGO, funded and supported by USAID conceived, designed, implemented and drove to success a project to stimulate fruit tree farming among local smallholders. This project has gone on from 1997 to 2006, and today, five years later, its success is glaring.

Starting with 1-3 acre plots assigned to almost 5,500 farmers in the region, now a buoyant and completely self-sufficient fruit based economy provides local markets, processing plants and even export companies with mangoes, pineapples and oranges. Some of the farmers have expanded from a couple of acres to several dozens, and the whole farming community is organized into associations so they can sell more effectively their products. The whole region has seen itself revitalized and today it contributes to Ghana's economy. Families and smallholders have assumed a more active role in the economic growth, and the increasing job opportunities mean that agriculture is an attractive option for unemployed people, thus decreasing the exodus to cities or other countries, especially of young people. Furthermore, the smallholders associations have been completely integrated in the value chain, becoming a basic part of it. Products elaborated with their fruits can be purchased in UK, France, the Netherlands or Italy.

Long-term commitment, close monitoring of the project year after year, steady funding, cautious planning and organization, close ties with local communities or good relations with political and economic powers of the country are among the keys to achieve success in development efforts like this one. Development is a continuous fight that requires years and hard work. But stories like the success of Ghana's smallholders make the fruits of the struggle against poverty as sweet as they can be.

- David Nebreda

SOURCE: USAID

Corruption and Aid

One of the questions that we frequently get asked is: "Why do you support giving aid to corrupted countries where the money won't actually reach the people?"

This is a perfectly legitimate question that strikes at the heart of developmental aid. Everyone has heard stories of the corrupt African dictator who lavishly squanders his wealth while his people struggle with sickness and poverty. And of course, no one wants to donate money that they believe isn't going to help the poor.

We have two main responses for that. The first is that we support programs such as the Millennium Challenge Account, which provides specific benchmarks for countries on a variety of objectives (ranging from corruption, to open elections, to open markets) that they must meet before they receive any aid. Nations that fail to meet these standards do not receive aid. Developed by the Bush administration, this has given nations incentives for reducing corruption.

The second response is that there are ways to disperse the money so that the corrupted individuals simply are uninterested. Dictators don't care about bed nets - one of the most effective malaria prevention techniques. They care about money, guns, and food supplies.

For example, USAID has recently begun a program to circumcise males in Zimbabwe in an attempt to reduce HIV infection rates. The money that USAID has pledged to this program (which is funded by Congress, which funds them based on your calls and letters) goes straight to the doctors and nurses administrating the procedure, bypassing government officials.

Thousands of lives saved and Mugabe doesn't see a dime. That's uncorrupted aid at its best.

-Corey Cox

SOURCE: Associated Press

A Gap in Pledged Vs Received Aid

If one measures international aid simply in the amount of aid pledged, then nations are doing a remarkable job. It seems the Obama administration or USAID announces major pledges to fight disease and poverty monthly, if not more. Last year, world leaders agreed to a $20 billion agricultural fund to assist the poorest of farmers. In September, the same leaders re-affirmed their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. And reports are already coming out abut the various deals reached in regards to developmental aid during the on-going G-20 conference. Yet at the same time we hear that the MDG has hit major challenges, and in some cases barely any progress has been made at all. President Obama campaigned on a promise of renewed vows to the developing world, but has hit road blocks as well.

So what's the problem? Why is there a disconnect between the amount of aid promised and the amount of aid received. I think there are three major reasons.

The first amounts to peer pressure. Nations want to look respectable and to be perceived as charitable by other nations, and so many nations commit to causes that they cannot feasibly support. The second, explained in a New York Times article by Helen Cooper, is the tendency for nations to double dip their accomplishments. USAID may produce an article touting their recent program spending millions of dollars to combat a major disease without acknowledging that those funds came from its already accepted budget and is not a new addition. Or worse, nations remove money pledged to an old campaign and move it into the new fund, which draws attention to the new fund while leaving the old one empty.

The final, and most important, reason of the "aid gap" is the simple fact that no matter how well-intended political leaders are, (at least in the case of the American President), they still have to respond and answer to those who hold the purse-strings: Congress. Congress has the power to control the budget and as such holds the final answer to whether or not the programs promised will actually be delivered. USAID, for example, receives billions of dollars less than it requests every year, as Congress looks for ways to balance the budget.

Too often, we applaud our nations for making pledges to developing nations without ensuring that the money actually ends up in the hands of those who need it the most. That is why The Borgen Project believes that contacting your Congressional leaders is essential. They are the ones that make the decisions involving the budget, and your phone calls communicate to them that international poverty reduction is important to you.

So make a call today. And sign this petition letting your Representative know that they should make water access for all a priority.

-Corey Cox

SOURCE: New York Times

World Powers Promote Technological Innovation for Development

Last week, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new fund: Development Innovation Ventures (DIV). Through this fund, USAID aims to combine private capital, free market competition, and good intentions in order to benefit both developing nations and private entrepreneurs throughout the world. It hopes to do this by bringing together business leaders, scholars and scientists, and local leaders in developing nations.

To support the new fund, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to the Commonwealth Club of California last Friday in San Francisco. There, she highlighted the potential of technology to improve people's everyday lives throughout the world, giving a variety of examples, including increased access to cell phones for women and solar power in Uganda.

Clinton emphasized the importance of "market driven solutions," which, when used effectively, can help further democracy and freedom throughout the world. While speaking about the importance of social entrepreneurship, she encouraged partnerships between the public and private sectors. Clinton's speech can be viewed, via C-SPAN, here.

Following suit of the U.S., the government of the U.K. recently started an "innovations fund," which international aid agencies can use to develop and share new technologies with the potential to support development in low-income countries.

-Elizabeth Newton

SOURCES: IRIN, Fast Company, CSPAN

Smarter Aid Spending

A recent report from the Center for Global Development laid out a concise plan for how the U.S. should be spending the $7.5 billion of economic assistance to Pakistan over the next five years. It was a dense and policy-focused document, but we can take a few good points from it that are broadly applicable to the disbursement of U.S. development aid.

1. Aid needs to be a long-term policy tool. "A smart development approach takes patience." For example, if the U.S. wants to improve the Pakistani education system, a quick fix would be to build schools and fund students. A long term investment involves these steps, but also ensures that there are qualified teachers when these new schools are built. This is looking at development as an investment. This way Pakistanis are not disenchanted with America or worried that once terrorism shifts to a different country, the U.S. will leave.

2. Decide on shared development indicators. Similarly to the MDGs, this would be a list of mutually agreed upon goals that are easy to measure (90% of children completing primary school and passing a standardized test in five years, for example). The process of deciding these is important to creating a shared idea of development between the U.S. and the country, giving clear goals which the constituents can hold their government accountable to, and emphasize real development in U.S. Congress evaluations.

3. Give incentives for success. The paper recommends that funds are given, no strings attached, to the provincial education center for example, for each child who passes the standardized test. This will give the in-country partners incentive to be innovative in solving the issues. It would also empower reform-minded government officials with some political leverage to garner support for their efforts.

4. Learn from what other organizations are doing in the country successfully, and where they have failed.

5. Spend some money on transparency efforts. This means sharing information about the quality of public service delivery, for example a list about how money was spent in the schools (on desks, on chalk, on computers, etc). Even better, this encourages the citizens to hold their government accountable, growing democracy, and increasing trust in government which breeds peace. All that with a list of how money was spent!

So there you have it, five ways to make aid more effective in the long-term.

-Erica Stetz

SOURCE: Center for Global Development

Employment Opportunities for Youth in Iraq

USAID has recently initiated the Tijara Provincial Economic Growth Program, which is a new initiative specifically targeting young Iraqis living in impoverished areas to exposure in essential business skills and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The program incorporates education, $4.5 million in microfinance loans for start up businesses, apprenticeship opportunities, and other financial services. The program is projected to create over 2.500 new full-time jobs, and benefit 5,000 Iraqis ages 18-35.

The Youth Employment Program will recruit 1,600 individuals, of which 1,000 will be placed into apprenticeships while 500 receive permanent jobs. Those remaining will be trained for opportunities outside the program.


-Michelle Leung

Source: USAID

USAID Launches an Online Platform for ‘Change-The-World Ideas’

USAID is launching a three-day online event called ‘Global Pulse 2010’, that aims to bring people together to brainstorm ideas in solving current global challenges. The website will launch March 29th and this year’s primary focuses include issues of female empowerment, environmental sustainability, building partnerships, use of technology, and promotion of global health.

Ideas and suggestions are open to everyone. The goal for USAID is to both receive feedback on how they can be conducting things better, but also to connect organization and influential individuals on their quest to improve current global conditions.

For more information, or if you would like to participate in Global Pulse 2010 visit www.GlobalPulse2010.gov.

-Michelle Leung

Source: USAID Press Release

Grassroots Approach Utilized in Fight Against HIV / AIDS

In an effort of increasing the availability and efficiency of anti-viral medication that is distributed, the US is putting locals in South Africa in charge of how the money is spent.

Groups supportive of this project say that this could mean essential savings in tough economic times like these when aid is typically curtailed by the US and other countries of the world.

Such a movement cuts the overhead costs of maintaining US branch offices in the region by employing locals directly for the management of funds that are received and spent.

- Tiffanie Depew

SOURCE: The Canadian Press

“Food is strength, and food is peace, and food is freedom" - John F. Kennedy

50 years ago, John F. Kennedy spoke those words in reference to the impact food can make on those in the developing world and out of those few words was born the Food for Peace Program.

Since then, more than 3 billion people in 150 countries have benefited. Currently, the Food for Peace Program works with rural farmers in developing countries to educate and teach them how to better sow their crops and tend to their fields. In addition, it works to improve women's education about nutrition, resulting in healthier babies and children, as well as provides micro-nutrients, such as Vitamin A, iodine, zinc, and iron, that hungry children often lack.

Though there are many ways of providing food aid, Food for Peace's goal remains constant: to minimize hunger in the world so that people everywhere can enjoy active and productive lives and, ultimately, to ensure that one day no one needs food aid.

- Tiffanie Depew

SOURCE: USAID

“Impatient Optimists”, Bill and Melinda Gates, Highlight 50 Years Of Progress Made Toward Global Poverty Reduction

According to the Gates’, significant strides have been made over the past 50 years. As the US and other countries have increased their investment in the fight against global poverty, there has been a corresponding decrease in the number of child deaths as well as a decrease in the cost of drugs to combat Malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis, and Small Pox. Melinda Gates also notes that efforts in family planning have successfully resulted in a decrease to the number of children being born to women, which has correlated to an increase in child survival because families are better able to care for their children.

This short video clip highlights a recent speech made by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on behalf of the strides made in the last 50 years in the battle against global poverty. Gates cites the halving of child deaths due to preventable diseases as well as the lowering of drug costs as just two improvements that have occurred in the past 50 years as a result of US investment in the developing world.

- Tiffanie Depew

SOURCE: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

USAID and “The Real Thing” Bring Water Sanitation to South Africa

In accordance with the efforts of the Millennium Development Project, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with the Coca-Cola Company through the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) initiative to bring better water sanitation to the Ramotshinyadi village of South Africa.

This unique partnership seeks to promote better healthcare practices to the 12,000 residents of Ramotshinyadi. The WADA initiative has so far proven successful through education and exhibitions that show residents how to practice good hygiene and the unfortunate consequences of drinking dirty water.

- Tiffanie Depew

SOURCE: USAID

1 Billion People in Africa

The 2009 World Population Data Sheet, released by the Population Reference Bureau and USAID, disclosed that there are now 1 billion people in Africa. They also project that the population will double again by 2050 since the growth rate is currently increasing by 24 million people each year.

In sub-Saharan Africa, women usually have an average of 5.3 children, while the global average is 2.6. Niger is the country with the highest fertility rate at 7.4 children. The major reason for this is lack of education (especially for women) and the need for family planning. Only 30 percent of children attend secondary school in sub-Saharan Africa and do not have access to necessary resources.

For the full report, click here.
--Jessica Milstead

Source: allafrica.com

Haitian Diaspora Market for Business Development

The newly created Haitian Diaspora Market is intended to help Haiti by encouraging Haitians working abroad to invest in Haitian businesses. USAID is working with Fondation Sogebank to manage the 2-year pilot program, which will operate until 2011. Its goal is to invest in small businesses in agriculture, tourism, assembly and information technology.

By encouraging partnerships between the Diaspora and Haiti, businesses can reach greater levels of productivity. USAID is promoting joint ventures by offering grants of $50,000 to $100,000 to companies that provide sustainable plans to help Haitian development. The expected results of the pilot program are to develop 20 partnership businesses in the regions around Port-au-Prince and provide a sustainable long-term model for the future.
--Jessica Milstead

Source: usaid.gov

USAID Global Development Commons

USAID created the Global Development Commons as a way for inventors to share ideas, create an innovative community and build partnerships to find solutions for development challenges. Through the Commons, organizations can spread technological advances to regions more efficiently. Sharing advances means that effective developments can reach more people in a shorter period of time.

One Commons project in Senegal, the Jokko Initiative, is bringing education to remote regions through mobile phones. Tostan and UNICEF worked together to develop an education program through RapidSMS. The project, which is currently undergoing a one-year pilot program, is connected with hundreds of villages throughout Senegal. Text messages are sent out to communities that sign up for the service, providing service announcements, poems and other updates.

To learn more about other Commons projects, check out their website!
--Jessica Milstead

Source: usaid.gov