Frontlines June 2010 Page 3 DIALOGUE

FrontLines WWW. USAID.GOV JUNE 2010

INSIDE InterAction T H I S I S S U E Forum New educational opportunities are Woitschützke

opening for Serbs. See page 6. A. Debates Aid Photo by By Ben Barber This Serbian high school student recently visited Germany through a stu- WASHINGTON—Hun- AFP dent exchange program. dreds of foreign aid workers from major U.S. NGOs and FRAMEWORK OBJECTIVES: aid agencies that belong to the InterAction coalition Peace and Security met at the Washington Con- Munir uz Zaman, Photo by Can aid groups protect the people they serve? . . . . SEE PAGE 2 Bangladesh is one of 20 countries to receive aid under the $3.5 vention Center June 2-4 to billion Feed the Future initiative led by USAID. Here, a Bangladeshi debate the methods, poli- Governing Justly and Democratically laborer winnows rice grains on the outskirts of Dhaka. cies, goals, and rationale of Saving Africa’s diamond miners from poverty U.S. foreign assistance. and exploitation ...... SEE PAGE 16 $3.5B U.S. Hunger Plan to “In the past three years, 80 InterAction members Investing in People Feed 40 Million People have put more than $8 bil- Women admissions to judicial institute in Jordan By Angela Rucker lion of U.S. taxpayer rise from 3 percent to 65 percent ...... SEE PAGE 7 resources through USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah foundation for peace and oppor- Economic Growth into work on behalf of, announced on May 20 a wide- tunity, and therefore, our own USAID provides $55 million in agricultural really, the poorest and most ranging plan to revamp agricul- national security,” Shah said in vulnerable people in the aid to southern Sudan ...... SEE PAGE 13 tural assistance in developing announcing the initiative at a world,” said Administrator Humanitarian Assistance countries and address the grow- forum in Washington hosted by Rajiv Shah in a keynote Flooding and volcanic eruption strike ing problem of world hunger. the Chicago Council on Global address at the InterAction The Feed the Future initiative Affairs. Guatemala ...... SEE PAGES 8-9 2010 Forum. calls for investing at least $3.5 The initiative’s formal “In many cases, InterAc- billion over three years to fight announcement comes almost tion members put their lives hunger and malnutrition in 20 one year after President Barack on the line and take great focus countries in Africa, Asia, Obama, during his first G8 Sum- risks in doing this work,” and Latin America. If it works as mit in L’Aquila, Italy, pledged to said Shah. In 2008 alone, planned, Feed the Future will aid reverse years of shrinking aid there were 62 humanitarian 40 million people over the next budgets for agriculture in poor workers kidnapped, he noted. 10 years with food and other countries. Obama said that USAID and InterAction benefits. wealthy countries would pool members are “very much in “We know agricultural devel- together at least $18.5 billion to this together, and I see the opment is a springboard for make this happen. opportunity to visit with broader economic development InterAction as a bit of a

USAID and we know food security is the see HUNGER on page 12  family reunion,” Shah said. The forum included a discussion of aid broadcast Anna Gohmann, Clinton Calls for Unified U.S. live on National Public

Photo by Radio’s Kojo Nnamdi Show. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly Emergency aid to Haiti continues following the Jan. 12 earthquake. Approach to Aid Here, channels dug underneath roads and walkways allow water to (D-Va.) told the forum: “I’m wash away from shelters. See story on page 5. Secretary of State Hillary Speaking as the Obama old enough to remember Rodham Clinton has renewed a administration released its first justification for bilateral aid call for greater cooperation national security strategy, Clin- programs based on the Cold U.S. Agency for International Development PRSRT STD among defense, diplomacy, and ton said U.S. “overriding objec- War. All of that rationale ... Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs development to advance U.S. tives” are “security, prosperity, Washington, D.C. 20523-6100 Postage and Fees has collapsed.” He noted goals in the coming years. the explanation and spread of Penalty for Private Use $300 PAID USAID that Congress is working to Official Business Permit No. G-107 “One of our goals coming our values, and a just and sus- revise the 1961 Foreign into the administration was to… tainable international order.” Assistance Act. begin to make the case that She noted that efforts to unify “American foreign aid defense, diplomacy, and develop- diplomacy, development, and has also become increas- ment were not separate entities… defense faced some “resistance ingly fragmented among they had to be viewed as part of in our government” and among various departments and an integrated whole,” she said in international experts. a speech May 27 at the Brook- see FORUM on page 14  ings Institution in Washington. see CLINTON on page 14  page 2 INSIDE DEVELOPMENT

Aid Groups Debate: Can They Protect the People They Serve? This article first appeared May 24 on the website of the U.N. news agency, IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks). It is reprinted here with IRIN’s permission and edited for space by FrontLines. When people are driven from their homes by to survival, development, and internationally binding legal treaty, other in the field. If we all did fighting or persecution, what they need most of all well-being,” but UNICEF also but our work is mainly based on the same thing, our services signs up to a broader, rights-based the 1988 guiding principles. would not be wide enough. is protection. Since World War II, the United inter-agency definition of protec- The protection cluster’s 40 or A: Menikdiwela, UNHCR— Nations has provided protection by giving out cer- tion through the protection cluster. so members have adopted a defini- Whatever category of assis- tificates that recognize people as refugees entitled Whenever you engage with tion, which defines protection as tance you use relates to funda- to asylum. governments or non-state actors “all activities aimed at respecting mental human rights, which is on protection of civilians against the rights of the individual in protection. You can’t scrap it. But when people are driven from their homes yet harm or abuse, you always have accordance with letter and spirit of Each agency interprets the remain inside their home countries, they are consid- to have in mind their account- all relevant bodies of law, includ- parameters through their own ered “displaced persons” and find it harder to get ability. You are there to assist ing international humanitarian law, lens: UNICEF through child protection. them, to see how they will pro- international human rights law, or protection, OHCHR through tect people from abuse. international refugee law.” human rights protection, Some aid groups and human rights advocates say You can’t … be the agency UNHCR as refugee protection. people should have protection from child abuse, taking on those responsibilities. Q: Since few agencies have the The value of these mandates lie rape, hunger, and disease—a protection that widens In Haiti, when there was no same notion of what “humani- in their diversity. the meaning of the term and may be far beyond the police force up and running, and tarian protection” means, We are clearly a long way displaced people were experienc- should it be scrapped alto- from being perfect entities, but ability of any agency to provide worldwide. ing abuse, we could not just stand gether? Should agencies just there are merits to diversity. For example, in Rwanda, the international com- by and do nothing, but we tried label the activities that make it The challenge is to ensure all munity proved unable to protect some 800,000 peo- to build the capacity of remaining up—mental health support, protection responses encompass ple murdered in a genocide against Tutsis in 1994. police forces to address it. documentation of human rights different aspects ... [and] dis- In Sri Lanka, we advocated abuses, and the like? placed people, women at the The following article debates the extent to which for the release of children in the A: DuBois—There is no need to risk of sexual violence, and protection is or can ever be a real human right. government armed forces, but we scrap it. The term works inter- unaccompanied children are all — B.B. wouldn’t start sending supplies to nally for us, and we do break pro- covered in a crisis. strengthen police forces, or hand tection into projects. We know The U.N. refugee agency of international protection ser- out money that could be used to what we mean by humanitarian Q: What do you see as being UNHCR (United Nations High vices at UNHCR. fuel conflict. It’s a thin line we protection, it is just not what the the biggest protection gaps? Commissioner for Refugees) tread. public understands by it. They A: Forbes, World Vision— and the International Commit- Q: How do you define your A: Bill Forbes, World Vision— think it is mainly provision of From a child protection per- tee of the Red Cross (ICRC) organization’s protection role World Vision is committed to physical safety: when the armed spective, I would say that have been protecting civilians and where its protection limits doing everything possible to forces stop bad people doing bad exploitation through labor, vio- for decades. lie? ensure that our activities do not things to good people. lence in the home, and harmful But protection by aid agen- A: Marc DuBois, MSF UK—We put children at risk. We define this [Writing in Humanitarian traditional practices are the cies, NGOs, and the wider struggle even with the word, “pro- as being a “child-safe organiza- Exchange magazine, DuBois most critical. humanitarian community is still tection”—different people in MSF tion” ... [which] includes efforts at cited the following question: If A: Nylund, UNICEF—The relatively new and loosely have different approaches to it and prevention, responding, and pro- you were walking in the street biggest protection gap relates to defined. there is no consensus. Responding tecting related to abuse, neglect, and saw a group of people beat- scale. The scale of UNICEF’s Some experts warn of the to humanitarian crises requires exploitation, and other forms of ing a child on the ground, which and others’ protection programs danger of over-promising what more than the sterile distribution violence against children. of the following activities would ... is not sufficient. While some cannot be delivered. of goods and services; if a popula- We do not promise that chil- you consider protection? donors are more forceful about UNHCR and ICRC protec- tion is being abused, it requires dren in our target communities 1. Run across the street and stop making sure funding goes to tion mandates are defined by more than assistance, and humani- will be safe. We do not take on the attacker. protection, in humanitarian international law; other human- tarians should pat themselves on the responsibility for security, 2. Keep walking. Lobby for better appeals, protection is almost itarian agencies protect people the back for breaking through the other than ensuring all efforts to street lighting. always underfunded. from harm, abuse, and exploita- “aid alone” barrier. not put people at risk of harm 3. Run home and write down A: Menikdiwela, UNHCR— tion. Sometimes they protect MSF’s protection limits are not through participation in activities. everything you witnessed as a There are no gaps that are being such rights as shelter, water, hard and fast. We can try to stop However, since we work in vola- report for publication. completely unaddressed at the and education. people at checkpoints from harass- tile environments, even this must 4. Visit the family of the victim to global level. Ten years ago, IRIN interviewed the fol- ing patients crossing in search of be spelled out in each crisis. offer replacements for torn governments wouldn’t be talk- lowing humanitarian protection health care; we can design our A: Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, clothing. ing about “responsibility to specialists to discover the dif- own programs to minimize vio- UNHCR—We define it both [in He said humanitarians consid- protect.” ferent ways of viewing protec- lence, [like] delivering tents to terms of] content and the people ered all the responses as exam- In some cases where states tion: Marc DuBois, head of Haitians in a way that will not end we cover, which includes refu- ples of humanitarian protection, are not living up to their duties Médecins Sans Frontières up in a riot, but we cannot go out gees, stateless people, returnees, whereas the public overwhelm- ... the gap is more about trans- (MSF) in Britain; Bo Viktor and stop physical violence and and internally displaced persons ingly thought only of the first.] lating concepts at a [U.N.] pol- Nylund, UNICEF senior advi- abuse—that is a clear limit. [IDPs]. We don’t have a generic A: Nylund—The risk [of scrap- icy level in Geneva and New sor on child protection in emer- A: Bo Viktor Nylund, UNICEF— protection definition. ping humanitarian protection] York into the field of opera- gencies; Bill Forbes, associate The way we define protection var- For refugee protection, we fol- would be that the 20 years we tions; transitioning from con- director of protection at World ies a lot. UNICEF’s [2008] child low the gamut of rights in the have spent trying to get coherence cepts to reality on the ground. Vision International, the protection strategy states [that it] 1951 Refugee Convention, and on what ... [it] means would be The entire article can be world’s largest relief and devel- is “preventing and responding to for stateless people, the 1954 and lost. We each feel a bit differently found online at: opment NGO; and Ruvendrini violence, exploitation, and abuse 1961 Conventions are applied. about what protection means, but www.irinnews.org/Report. Menikdiwela, deputy director to ensure children’s rights With IDPs, there is no hopefully we complement each aspx?ReportId=89236. .

2 FrontLines June 2010 page 3 DIALOGUE

Mission of the Month UKRAINE INSIGHTS FROM ADMINISTRATOR DR. RAJIV SHAH

USAID’s assistance. Before the Since joining USAID, I have been enormously impressed by the installment of the solar panels, capacity of this agency, including the breadth of the wisdom and water was warmed in a large innovation underway in so many corners of our organization. cooking pot. Now, this work is done by solar panels. Hot water As I have said consistently since my confirmation hearing, in accumulates in the boiler, ready order to make the most of USAID’s unique knowledge and experi- for use at any time. ence, we must enhance our institutional capacity to inform and shape

Simone Kozhukharov Photo by By using solar panels, the development policies. To tackle the toughest global challenges— Children at Kindergarten No. 9 in Bakhchysaray, Crimea, benefit kindergarten demonstrated whether natural disaster displacements, threats of civil unrest, or the from USAID assistance. The kindergarten uses solar panels that to the community how it can reduce electricity costs. cut costs as well as be more persistent social disparities that hold back human progress—we must environmentally friendly. be able to channel the expertise and experience of all our develop- Solar Power Improves Energy Kindergarten Director ment professionals through a unified voice. Lyudmila Basenko said “solar We have taken an important step toward achieving this goal with energy helps us not only to Picture in Ukraine the establishment of the Bureau of Policy, Planning, and Learning By Katya Kopchuk and Olha Myrtsalo (PPL). I expect PPL to provide policy analysis, meaningful evalua- In 2008, the tions, strategic planning coordination, and a dedicated focus on using Challenge and strengthen the ability of science and technology to solve development problems. The bureau local organizations to continue Creative Union Using energy effectively will also project an informed and unified voice in interagency and work in the field. and efficiently is one of the of Scientific and external fora. In 2008, the Creative Union most pressing challenges facing of Scientific and Engineering PPL will also support USAID’s evolution as a learning organiza- Ukraine today. Engineering Societies of Crimea was among tion that is results-oriented and that fosters interchange among pol- During the summer tourist Societies of season, energy use and costs the first winners of a nationwide icy, planning, evaluation, research, innovation, and knowledge man- peak in Crimea, an autonomous grant competition in support of agement activities. The bureau will promote active engagement with, energy conservation funded by Crimea was region inside Ukraine. and learning from, our national and global development partners. USAID. “Crimea is one of the among the first Finally, the bureau will play an active role in advising me regarding sunniest regions of Ukraine “We were very excited about the fiscal year 2012 budget and in follow-up to the PSD-7 (Presiden- and enjoys about 280 sunny the competition. Our team had winners of a days a year. So it’s the most been thinking about opportunities nationwide grant tial Study Directive) and QDDR (Quadrennial Diplomacy and appropriate place to utilize to develop solar energy in Crimea Development Review) processes. solar energy,” said Aleksandr but we did not have enough competition As I have traveled to our missions overseas and engaged with resources,” Slepokurov said. Slepokurov, head of the Agency leadership in Washington, I have heard a consistent call for Creative Union of Scientific Under the grant, experts from in support of reasserting USAID’s leadership through the design of development and Engineering Societies the Creative Union researched of Crimea, an NGO based harnessing solar energy, evaluated energy conserva- strategies. Working with our regional bureaus, PPL will support our in Crimea’s capital city current use and benefits of solar tion funded by missions in the preparation of Country Development Cooperation Simferopol. power, and listed all suppliers that Strategies (CDCS) and will streamline planning and reporting pro- provide solar equipment. “By installing solar panels, USAID. cesses. In July, we will organize Washington reviews for pilot CDCS Crimeans can better satisfy To apply this technology more effectively, the Creative Union in Liberia, Uganda, and Peru. their demand for energy use save electricity, but also makes audited the energy efficiency In mid-July, PPL will facilitate a conference of leading thinkers and significantly save costs.” us less dependent on limited of 12 public-sector buildings— budget funding. At least we on “Transformational Development Through Science and Technol- including a school, hospital, Innovative Response have warm water for our ogy.” In the fall, I will announce a new initiative on Monitoring, and administrative building— children.” Evaluation, and Transparency, which will be led by the bureau. USAID programs improve and analyzed energy-saving To support solar energy, the energy efficiency and opportunities in the Bakhchisaray PPL is also taking the lead in revising our policy formulation pro- Creative Union set up an conservation in Ukraine by district. Based on these audits, cess, which will involve targeted teams, using an evidence-based developing new technologies. information center in Simfero- experts developed instructions on approach to provide strategic and practical guidance to our agency One of USAID’s energy pol to advise on energy-saving solar panel installation that could programs in Ukraine— issues and installation of solar- and partners. be replicated by local authorities Municipal Partnerships power equipment. USAID I hope that you are as pleased as I am to have in place such a cru- throughout Crimea. for Better Energy Use—is funding also enabled the Cre- cial addition to the Agency’s capabilities and to see this very real designed to involve local ative Union to partner with manifestation of progress toward our shared goal of bringing the best governments and communities Results four producers of solar equip- thinking into the service of development. But, with this new capabil- in raising awareness of Kindergarten No. 9 in ment, local governments, and the issue, stimulate local Bakhchysaray, Crimea, is expert NGOs to expand its ity comes new expectations. We must lead based on the rigor, cre- partnerships and innovations, among the first to benefit from promotion of solar energy. . ativity, and strength of our ideas. I am excited about the challenge and the opportunity. .

www.usaid.gov 3 page 4 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

BRIEFS

Granville and were fighting against efforts to school construction, and other announced June 8 a $10 million people with HIV/AIDS in Rahama Killers “Christianize” Sudan. infrastructure improvements in incentive fund to start offering eight African countries as Gaza and the West Bank to help financial services by mobile donors cut funding amid the Escape Sudan Jail African Economy improve the “day-to-day lives of phone in Haiti and expedite the global economic meltdown, an KHARTOUM, Sudan— Growing Says ordinary Palestinians,” Bloom- delivery of cash assistance to aid group said May 27, accord- Four men sentenced to death McKinsey berg reported. victims of the country’s Jan. 12 ing to The Associated Press. for killing USAID employ- “The situation in Gaza is devastating earthquake. Médecins Sans Frontières ees John Granville and Africa’s economic growth is unsustainable,” Obama said, Enabling Haitians to send, (MSF), also known as Doctors Abdelrahman Abbas accelerating after decades of calling for a new “conceptual receive, and store money using Without Borders, said funding Rahama escaped through stagnation as global demand for framework” for Israel’s block- their mobile phones reduces the cuts threaten to unravel years the sewer system of Kober commodities rises and as Afri- ade of ships bringing supplies risks and costs of financial of progress on the continent prison June 11 and shot dead cans move to cities and spend to Gaza to focus more narrowly transactions, increases savings, hardest hit by AIDS. a police officer as they fled more, McKinsey & Co. said on stopping the flow of arms and generates employment. The MSF study looked at the capital, police told June 9 in a report, according to into Gaza. They also connect people to AIDS programs in Congo, Reuters. Bloomberg. Abbas thanked Obama for services like banking, insur- Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Granville and Rahama Fifty percent of Africans the aid pledge, saying the ance, and utilities. Mozambique, South Africa, were killed when they will live in cities by 2030, up “United States cares about the Administrator Rajiv Shah Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and returned from New Year’s from about 40 percent today, suffering of the people in Gaza said that “before the earth- found the effects of funding celebrations on Jan. 1, 2008. and the top 18 cities will have and about the suffering of the quake, fewer than 10 percent of cuts widespread. During the trial, the pros- combined spending power of Palestinian people.” Haitians had ever used a com- In Kenya, clinics fear run- ecution said defendants $1.3 trillion, said McKinsey in The aid includes more than mercial bank. A mobile money ning out of money. Health Mohamed Makkawi Ibra- its quarterly report. $100 million channeled through system can restore and remake policy makers in Mozam- him Mohamed and Abdel The rate of return on foreign USAID. Of that, $75 million banking in Haiti and serve as bique and Uganda say they Basit al-Hajj Hassan fired investment is higher in Africa will be for infrastructure an engine of inclusive growth.” cannot afford to follow inter- the fatal shots. Prosecution than in any other developing improvements in the Palestinian The first company to launch national standards for the statements said the third region and gross domestic prod- territories, $5 million for proj- a mobile money service that commencement of treatment. defendant, Mohamed uct expanded by 4.9 percent a ects to repair water distribution meets certain criteria in the MSF found people were Osman Yusuf Mohamed, a year from 2000 through 2008, and wastewater systems, and next six months will receive turned away because the clin- former Sudanese army offi- more than twice the pace of the $10 million to bolster Palestin- $2.5 million. The second opera- ics did not have enough cer, was the driver of the 1980s and 1990s, McKinsey ian businesses. Another $10 tor to launch and reach these medication. attackers’ vehicle, while said. million would pay for construc- benchmarks within 12 months However, Eric Goosby, Abdel Raouf Abu Zaid tion of five new schools in will receive $1.5 million. head of the President’s Emer- Mohamed, the son of a well- Obama Pledges Gaza. Another $6 million will be gency Plan for AIDS Relief known Islamic preacher, More Aid to The biggest portion is $240 awarded as the first 5 million (PEPFAR), said in a state- was a passenger. Palestinians million to the Overseas Private transactions take place, divided ment to AP that the budget The four denied murder- Investment Corp. for home accordingly between those had increased from $6.8 bil- President Barack Obama met ing Granville and Rahama, mortgages in the West Bank. operators that contributed to the lion in 2010 to “nearly” $7 with Palestinian Authority Pres- saying taped confessions total number of transactions. billion for 2011 and the num- were extracted under ident Mahmoud Abbas June 9 Gates, USAID Use ber of people PEPFAR torture. as tensions remained high over Phones for Haitian Medical Group Says directly supports on treatment A group in Sudan calling Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Donors Cut AIDS increased from 1.6 million to itself Ansar al-Tawhid (Sup- Strip, Bloomberg reported. Cash nearly 2.5 million in 2009. porters of Monotheism) Obama announced the SEATTLE/ WASHINGTON— Funds claimed responsibility for United States will provide $400 The Bill & Melinda Gates JOHANNESBURG—Doctors From news reports and other the killings, saying they million in aid for housing, Foundation and USAID are being forced to turn away sources. .

FRONTLINES: JUNES PAST

1970: A May 31 catastrophe in the history of the development of genetically FrontLines. The task force’s U.S. economy is linked to earthquake strikes Peru, western Americas.” resistant plant strains could $157 million program sup- the increase of a worldwide leaving 300,000 people 1980: While modern decrease U.S. pesticide use by ported the Central American middle class. “America’s homeless in the Callejon chemicals have helped to solve up to 75 percent, according to peace process that included trading partners of the de Hulleyas Valley of the a host of problems—including the congressional Office of assistance for the Nicaraguan future will account for a Andes Mountains, reports the control of insects, weeds, Technology Assessment. Resistance and resulted in an growing percentage of the the June 19 edition of rodents, and microorganisms— 1990: Following election victory for the jobs within our borders,” FrontLines. USAID plays concerns arise over resulting Nicaragua’s first “free and democractic opposition. says the report. Development a key role in responding threats to the environment fair” elections on April 25, 2000: FrontLines highlights programs play a critical to the disaster that Robert and human health, reports the the Agency’s Task Force on a report from the Business role in the process, notes Finch, presidential assist- June 12 FrontLines. Use of Humanitarian Assistance ceases Alliance for International the report that promotes ant in charge of relief for alternative methods of control operations, having completed Economic Development con- the expansion of foreign Peru, called “the worst such as natural predators and its work, reports the June cluding that growth of the assistance. .

4 FrontLines June 2010 page 5 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

EMERGENCY AID TO HAITI CONTINUES AS RECONSTRUCTION BEGINS “Four months after the quake, destroyed much of the city— we are still into the emergency including government offices. phase and will be for a long Among the challenges: time,” said Paul Weisenfeld, staff care was needed for Hai- USAID Haiti Task Team coordi- tian and foreign employees nator. He spoke at a panel held by who lost family and homes; the Society for International needs assessments and deliv- Development in Washington. ery of relief supplies faced “Everyone has lost someone,” blocked roads, thousands of said Mark Schneider, former homeless survivors, and loss USAID assistant administrator of skilled staff; in the Bureau for Latin America security became a problem in and the Caribbean and currently the first week as some aid senior vice president of the trucks were pillaged and crim- International Crisis Group. “The inals escaped from jail; and emergency will go on for some supplies were blocked by time. This is a long-term project. damage to the airport and USAID It will take a generation to move seaport. Haiti forward.” Canny said that troops from Haiti’s disaster came after two the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Anna Gohmann, years of relative progress under Division broke the logjam,

Photo by President René Préval, said Sch- helped reopen the airport and Sandbagging along a pathway in Haiti helps to prevent flood damage. neider. The Caribbean nation of 9 seaport, and helped with secu- million is also benefitting from rity so that “we began to see While some aid groups prepare to spend billions of dollars the presence of 7,000 U.N. humanitarian space to do our peacekeepers, 3,000 U.N. police, work.” By the third week, CRS, on reconstructing Haiti’s capital after the Jan. 12 earthquake— and 1,000 international civilians. working with the World Food William Canny, director of Program, was able to organize among the worst disasters ever in the Western hemisphere—the emergency operations for Catho- large scale distribution of relief emergency operations may continue up to a year and half, aid lic Relief Services (CRS), said supplies. aid was difficult to deliver after experts said May 25 in Washington. the quake left 230,000 dead and see EMERGENCY on page 11  Creative Student Ads Educate Public on Disaster Donations Ariz.

Students com- donations like clothing or canned Tucson, peting to create Money—rather than in- goods—is the most efficient way winning public to render assistance, disaster and serve announce- kind donations like clothing development officials have ments (PSAs) or canned goods—is the stressed for years. aimed at decreas- Cash allows first responders and Carmen Lamadrid of ing the amount most efficient way to render to provide immediate and appro- of inappropriate assistance, disaster and priate relief at the height of a Erlick, Lindsey donations sent to disaster and beyond. worldwide disas- development officials have “It’s a huge message. We’re ter sites had trying to send out help to people Kristen Schissel, plenty of natural stressed for years. who really need the help,” said disasters this past Rika Endo, a rising sophomore year to work with. that received varying amounts of at the California Institute of the Belhumeur, Joshua

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake international attention and aid. Arts in Valencia, whose team Timms, struck Haiti Jan. 12. A magni- The students were competing captured first place in the broad- tude 8.8 quake struck the coast in the fifth annual Center for cast category of the competition. Shannon

of Chile Feb. 27. In April, there International Disaster Informa- “Chile happened while we Astorga, were two more major quakes: tion (CIDI) competition to design working on it. Haiti was big Aleena the first, near the Mexico- PSAs educating people who want enough,” she said. “It made me California border, registered 7.2; to respond to international disas- realize how much people really and the second, in a quake-prone ters. The message the announce- need help.” area of China, registered 6.9. ments convey is that making cash Endo led a five-person team Ruggeroli, Lauren

And there was an assortment of donations to reputable relief that considered nine different Authors: floods, cyclones, volcanic erup- agencies is the best way to help. 1st place print winner in the 2010 PSAid competition: “Give Him tions, and other natural disasters Money—rather than in-kind see STUDENTS on page 11  What He Needs”

www.usaid.gov 5 page 6 THE REGIONS

EUROPE & EURASIA LATIN AMERICA Local Clinics Improve Health Services in Honduras By Samantha Croasdaile

An old Honduran saying goes: “No two pregnancies or childbirths are ever the same.” This is especially true for Marta Lidia Castro, a 28-year-old mother of two whose first child was born in Santa Rosa’s Regional Hospital, about a day’s walk from her home. Her second child was delivered only a few miles away from her house, in the Santa Rita Clinic. “My experience at the clinic was much better than at the hospi- tal,” said Castro. “The clinic is always open and has a doctor. At the hospital, I delivered pretty much by myself.” She is one of 42,000 people in Copán, Honduras, who use the locally managed health care system. In Honduras, public health care is financed and managed by the central government in the capital Tegucigalpa. However, the cen- trally run system is inefficient, lacks medicine, needs supplies, and closes frequently when the hospital workers are on strike. For the past five years, USAID has helped local governments in Woitschützke Copán take over the management of area health care systems A. through a process called decentralization, which transfers health care

Photo by management responsibilities and resources from the central govern- Students from Krusevac, Serbia, visit Germany through a USAID-supported exchange program. ment to the local government. The central government continues to finance health care services, while local governments implement and manage them. Leonidas Aleman is the administrative director for a group of Student Exchange Opens Channels municipalities in the department of Copán. He says the decentraliza- tion has resulted in fewer deaths of women during pregnancy and Between Germany and Serbia childbirth. By Mirjana Vuksa “The changes in health in our communities are impressive,” says Aleman. “We went from having 12 mothers dying from pregnancy BELGRADE, Serbia— “The participation of our In December 2009, the U.S. The United school in the program is invalu- and German embassies able for the education of our announced they would fund States is provid- children, for our economy, and education and other opportuni- ing $200,000 to our society as a whole,” said ties for young Serbs. Milibor Sakovic, the director of The announcement coincided form 30 economic the first economic high school in with the 20th anniversary of the Belgrade. “It is the only possibil- fall of the Berlin Wall and the school partner- ity to create a cadre for the open lifting of visa requirements for ships and allow labor market.” Serbs to travel to European Added Assistant Minister Union (EU) countries. 480 Serbian high for Education Bogoljub Laza- Now, nearly six months later, revic: “It is only when we approximately 100 students from school students compete internationally that we five Serbian economic high and 40 Serbian can see how much we are actu- schools have visited their coun- ally worth.” terpart schools in Germany, teachers and The program is part of while 14 students from German USAID’s Partnership@work schools have come to Serbia, headmasters to initiative. with the remaining schools participate in an U.S. Embassy Charge scheduled to participate in the d’Affairs Jennifer Brush said exchange program at the start of exchange program that she knows how valuable the next academic year. such exchange programs can be. The United States is provid- based on a com- In the 1970s she came to Serbia ing $200,000 to form 30 eco- petitive process. as an exchange student and she nomic school partnerships and still stays in touch with the peo- allow 480 Serbian high school ple she met. students and 40 Serbian teach- The program gives students, One of the goals of the pro- USAID ers and headmasters to partici- teachers, and headmasters from gram is to help establish long- pate in an exchange program economic high schools in Serbia term relationships between high based on a competitive process. an opportunity to experience schools in Serbia and Germany. It

It also allows several hundred first-hand a modern European is also helping to encourage con- Hector Medrano, Photo by German students to visit Serbia educational system through tinued reform of Serbia’s educa- A mother and child in a clinic in Taulabé, Honduras and learn more about a future partnerships with German eco- tion system and contribute to Ser- EU member state. nomic schools. bia’s EU integration process. . see HONDURAS on page 11 

6 FrontLines June 2010 page 7 THE REGIONS

ASIA Indian Tractor Firm Helps Farmers Increase Yields By Suzanne Ross

JAMNAGAR, India—Despite his best efforts, Ramesh Cho- Like most poor vatiya was no longer able to grow the groundnuts he had farmers, Chovatiya sown and harvested for years on his now-depleted farm in Jamna- farms on a small gar, a town in India’s western plot of land, gener- state of Gujarat. Like most poor farmers, Cho- ating no more than vatiya farms on a small plot of land, generating no more than $1.25 to $2.50 $1.25 to $2.50 per day. With tra- ditional farming producing low per day. yields, Chovatiya knew he had to change the way he farmed. But he didn’t know how.

USAID That was when he sought out private extension services at the local Samriddhi (a Hindi word that means “prosperity”) center, a new agri- culture service available in India through a public-private alliance formed by USAID, Mahindra and Mahindra, one of the world’s largest

Suzanne Ross, Photo by tractor manufacturing firms, and the University of Wisconsin. With the increased profits resulting from improved agricultural practices and productivity, Ramesh Chovatiya purchased a milk cow to improve his family’s nutrition. see INDIA on page 15  MIDDLE EAST AFRICA Female Maternal Deaths Remain Judges Gain Huge Challenge in Namibia Ground in By Kevin Hernandez Jordan By George Kara’a and Jan Cartwright

AMMAN, Jordan—Judge Ihsan Barakat, the first female judge to head an appeals court in Jordan, has seen a sea change in Association her profession in recent years. Although women have long served as lawyers, they have Social Marketing

only served as judges since Williams, 1996. Today, 45 of the country’s 750 judges are women, and 140 women judges are expected by Eric Photo by In USAID-supported New Start Centers in Namibia, women 2011. can get tested for HIV and learn how to prevent transmission The growth in the number of to their children. female judges can be traced to the Jordanian government’s ANDARA, Namibia—On Although the majority of strong support for women’s par- Jan. 12, Rosie* made her way pregnant women in Namibia ticipation in the legal profession, from her village in the Kavango now have access to prenatal as well as support from donors. region of northern Namibia to care, because of the remoteness In late 2006, USAID helped Andara District Hospital, 50 of her village, Rosie did not. the Jordanian judiciary establish kilometers away. Just 17 years Arriving at the hospital just a streamlined, merit-based judi- old, Rosie was pregnant and her before midnight, Rosie’s labor cial appointment system to baby was due any time.  replace the old system, which Project Rule of Law USAID/Jordan Photo by see NAMIBIA on page 15 Judge Nawal AlJohari manages her court cases at the Amman *Rosie’s last name has been withheld to protect her family’s privacy. see JORDAN on page 11  First Instance Court.

www.usaid.gov 7 page 8 FOCUS ON GUATEMALA

DUAL DISASTER STRIKES GUATEMALA By Wende S. DuFlon Guatemala was struck by two 174 people dead, 113 missing, natural disasters in late May— Scattered thun- 154 wounded, 162,857 evacu- heavy rainfall, which resulted in derstorms and ated, and about 63,000 in shel- flooding, mudslides, and a sink- ters. Some 1,300 public schools hole, and a volcanic eruption heavy clouds were serving as temporary shel- that covered the nation’s capital ters and emergency supply distri- with up to an inch of ash. against mountain bution centers. More than 39,000 On May 26, heavy rainfall slopes frustrated homes were damaged. from Tropical Depression Agatha CONRED is distributing began in Guatemala, Honduras, early relief efforts emergency relief supplies to and El Salvador, dumping up to 3 affected families with U.S. gov- feet of water in some areas and to deliver 6,500 ernment assistance and is con- causing an enormous sinkhole in pounds of supplies. ducting damage and needs downtown Guatemala City. assessments and response opera- Floods and mudslides were trig- tions outside Guatemala City in gered in the majority of the coun- emergency due to the dual disas- collaboration with the Guatema- try’s municipalities. ters, which struck 21 of the lan Air Force, the National Civil Although the rain subsided country’s 22 departments. Police, and the U.S. government. May 30, the Ministry of Educa- The U.S. government Scattered thunderstorms and tion closed all schools, public responded immediately with heavy clouds against mountain and private, for one week. Many $150,000 in initial emergency slopes frustrated early relief public schools were converted humanitarian assistance from efforts to deliver 6,500 pounds into temporary shelters for fami- USAID. of supplies. However, as of June lies displaced by the storm. The departments of Guatemala, 4, CONRED had distributed On May 27, one of Guate- where the capital Guatemala City emergency relief supplies to mala’s three active volcanoes, is located, Chimaltenango, Hue- many affected families with the Pacaya Volcano, erupted 25 huetenango, Sololá, and Izabal, assistance of U.S. government miles south of the nation’s capi- and parts of the southern coast helicopters. AFP tal, Guatemala City, and spread were the worst hit; more than Guatemala is largely agricul- ash, sand, gravel, and fist-sized 193,000 people have been affected tural and crop damage is exten- pumice rocks for miles. The by the disasters. sive, particularly among large debris in the city prompted the According to reports from coffee and sugar plantations and

Ordonez, Johan Photo by closing of Aurora International Guatemala’s National Emergency among medium and small pro- A woman looks at the damage caused to her home by the eruption Airport. Commission (CONRED) and the ducers of specialty vegetables of the Pacaya volcano about 30 miles south of Guatemala City in Subsequently, the government Pan American Health Organiza- Las Calderas, San Vincente Pacaya. of Guatemala declared a state of tion, as of June 8, the toll was: see GUATEMALA on page15  AFP

SHARE de Guatemala Photo by Ordonez, Johan Photo by A man pushes a wheelbarrow of mud as he helps clean a street near his house in Amatitlan, Guatemala, Tropical Storm Agatha caused flooding that carried rivers of mud June 1. through towns, homes, and croplands, causing extensive damage.

8 FrontLines June 2010 page 9 FOCUS ON GUATEMALA SHARE de Guatemala Photo by Flooding and mudslides prompted by Tropical Storm Agatha brought boulders from surrounding mountains into rural towns and villages like this one outside Tecpán in the department of Chimaltenango. SHARE de Guatemala Photo by Damage to homes and village infrastructure in Tecpán, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, May 30.

www.usaid.gov 9 page 10 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Teamwork and Tea Among the Afghans Are Key for PRT By Jan Cartwright

Trevor Hublin often gets the will succeed and have a lot of same question from colleagues fun doing it.” headed out to serve in Afghani- Hublin credits close civilian- stan for the first time. “People military cooperation for the always ask, ‘Is it like the book improvements that he sees in Three Cups of Tea?’ I say, ‘Yes, Farah province. “Thanks to close be prepared to sit, talk, listen, cooperation between USAID, drink tea, and build relationships.’” As an officer in the U.S. “[They are] the Marine Corps for more than seven years, Hublin served in most wonderful, conflict zones as well as in the aftermath of humanitarian crises caring, and dedi- and natural disasters. He was in Indonesia during the first weeks cated people I of the 2004 tsunami disaster, in Iraq in both 2003 and 2005, and have ever had the in Chad and Afghanistan in 2008. honor of meeting. When a USAID opportunity presented itself, Hublin was I tell [my friends pulled back to Afghanistan as a civilian—drawn by his admira- and family] that tion and concern for the Afghan I feel like an people. “[They are] the most wonder- honored guest to ful, caring, and dedicated people I have ever had the honor of be here, which meeting. I tell [my friends and family] that I feel like an hon- motivates me to ored guest to be here, which motivates me to give my best give my best shot shot every day.” Having worked in Afghan every day.” National Security Force devel- opment efforts with both the national army and police, Hub- the State Department, USDA lin jumped at the chance to con- [U.S. Department of Agricul- tinue his efforts on the civilian ture], and the military, we have side serving in an Afghan pro- helped the Farah provincial gov- vincial reconstruction team ernment to become more profi- (PRT). In March 2009, he was cient, more service oriented, and hired as a field program officer more willing to take risks to get (FPO) for a PRT in Farah prov- out to the rural countryside and ince in western Afghanistan, serve their people.” where he will serve for two Hublin stresses that the true years, until April 2011. heroes are the local Afghans who

Hublin said his interest in often go to extraordinary lengths Imran Kamran Photo by listening to and helping the to help their fellow citizens. Trevor Hublin, left, wearing the traditional shalwar khameez, meets Roohul Amin, the governor of Afghan people has been key to An example of this was an Farah province. his success living and working experiment in which USAID on a PRT. worked throughout the fall of the most volatile parts of the this effort as his “most inspiring “Serving in Afghanistan “To be successful, an FPO 2009 and into 2010 with the province and begin delivering experience.” on a PRT as a USAIDer has must be able to stop, listen, and Farah government to establish a basic rural services once security Hublin is grateful for the reinforced my view that learn from the Afghans even if stabilization team through its was established. experience he gained in the Afghanistan is the right place he’s had 25 years of prior devel- Department of Rural Rehabilita- The Afghan government offi- Marines, but he is happy to now to be and that we can help the opment experience,” he says. “If tion and Development. The team cials were aware of the risks to be with USAID, noting the Afghans to get back on their the FPO is humble, outgoing, consisted of local civil engineers their personal safety, but chose Agency’s special role in feet and take their country back willing to live with hardships and community mobilizers, who to go and help their fellow “strengthen[ing] our country’s from extremism and poverty,” and put an honest effort to help- partnered with the Afghan Afghans in these extremely dis- relationships with all nations of he says. “It’s been an incredible ing the Afghans out, he or she national army and police to go to advantaged areas. Hublin recalls the developing world.” experience.” .

10 FrontLines June 2010 page 11 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

EMERGENCY from page 5 STUDENTS from page 5 JORDAN from page 7 A mass distribution of rice at ideas before settling on a con- need canned food?” was cumbersome and inefficient. they prepare for their future that point, protected by the 82nd cept using shadow puppets, The Boston team spun off the Over the past year, the number positions as lawyers and judges Airborne, “calmed the situa- paper cutouts, and a pair of idea of the ubiquitous collection of women admitted to the Judi- in the male dominated judiciary. tion,” said Canny. He noted that human hands. The theme of their jars at local restaurants and con- cial Institute of Jordan (JIJ), the urban setting of the disaster entry “Helping Hands” is “when venience stores to come up with the center where all judges forced CRS to improvise. For lending a helping hand to those their print PSA entitled “Disaster are trained, increased from 3 Today, 45 of example, it was impossible struck by disaster, cash is best.” Relief Fund.” The Mason jar, percent to 65 percent of total to dig latrines in the asphalt “It took us maybe a month,” which they stuffed with bills and admissions. the country’s streets, so portable toilets were Endo said. “We really wanted this spare change, came from the “Women have been able to provided to tent settlements. PSA to mean a lot to people and Goodwill down the street from prove themselves as judges,” 750 judges are And blocked drains were for it to be visually appealing.” the campus. said Judge Barakat. cleaned out to avoid flooding in The second place broadcast Suzanne H. Brooks, the direc- “They are efficient, serious, women, and 140 the rainy season. winner was a team—also from the tor of CIDI, which receives sup- and resistant to corruption. With However, Canny admitted California Institute of the Arts— port from USAID, said student the newcomers, the overall per- women judges that “we were slow on gender- led by animation major James participation nearly doubled formance of the judiciary will be based violence,” mostly affect- Esparza. The animated 30-second over the previous year—a sign enhanced, and I fully expect that are expected by ing homeless women, and “we spot called “A Walk Through of greater interest in disaster women will obtain even higher were not ready” for the flight of Disaster” shows that cash dona- response. positions in the near future.” 2011. 600,000 people out of the capital tions can be used for food, water, “It is important to make sure She said that since entry bar- to outlying cities and towns medical supplies, and shelter. that everyone knows that donat- riers have been removed, there unaffected by the quake. “Of course, we were thinking ing cash is the best way to help should be no obstacles for other “My mentor served as a role Finally, he noted “difficult about the natural disasters that international disaster victims, women wishing to pursue a model for me with her humility land issues for shelter” as land- were happening at the moment,” and it’s especially timely this career in the judiciary as they and eagerness to offer assis- owners were reluctant to permit Esparza said. “But we were try- year given the devastating earth- have proven themselves through tance,” said Saly Al Mouasher, a transitional shelters to be built ing to stay away from addressing quakes we’ve seen in Haiti, the entry process and as judges. student from Jordan University. on their properties. At the same each one.” That way the PSA’s Chile, and China,” she said. Judge Rateb Wazani, the “She exemplified will-power, time, the Haitian government message could resonate with a “It is no coincidence that we chief justice of Jordan, said the self-confidence, and determina- lacked strong legal standing to wider audience in the future. saw our largest and most tal- new admissions policy at the JIJ tion. I learned from her that with Like some of the other stu- ented pool of entries to PSAid will increase the percentage of persistence and perseverance, temporarily claim land for emer- dent winners, Boston Univer- [Public Service Announcements women judges from the current women can assume the most gency housing. sity’s Allyson Dilsworth and her for International Disasters] this level of 5 percent of sitting prominent positions.” “This was the largest urban team, which took second place year,” Brooks added. Each year judges to 15 percent of all judges The Future Judges program is relief operation” that USAID in the print category, spent much PSAid challenges college stu- in just three years. an initiative of King Abdullah II had ever engaged in, said of their time brainstorming ideas dents to create print or broad- This advancement toward and the Ministry of Justice to Weisenfeld. With a number of they hoped would move an cast announcements for use by gender equality on the bench is recruit top students to pursue legal contributing donors and organi- audience. CIDI in its outreach and educa- complemented by two other degrees and eventually become zations, the combined effort Dilsworth said she didn’t tion programs. USAID programs: the Woman- judges. USAID has supported the involved feeding 3 million peo- know that cash is best, like a lot Entries are posted on the to-Woman mentoring program program by developing the gen- ple, caring for 1.5 million dis- of people in the United States. PSAid website to be voted on by and the Future Judges program. der-neutral recruitment process placed, and vaccinating 1 mil- “They think when international the public and a panel of judges. Woman-to-Woman, estab- and administration systems for lion people. Heavy plastic tarps disasters happen, the things peo- More than 70 student groups lished by USAID with the Jorda- the program, which resulted in were distributed to more than ple want are clothing or food or entered the competition this nian judiciary, pairs 25 female women making up more than 50 300,000 households. supplies. How are we to know if year, vying for a total of law students with sitting female percent of the program’s 100 In addition to its own efforts, they do need clothes or they do $30,000. . — A.R. judges to support the students as admissions each year. . the Agency is coordinating assis- tance from several other U.S. agencies, including adding 800 HONDURAS from page 6 temporary staff to the U.S. and delivery complications every year, to none. The number of Embassy in Port-au-Prince to women who deliver at a clinic as opposed to at home has gone up “Our social workers also help help meet urgent needs immedi- from 57 percent to 95 percent.” ately after the quake. Health care costs the community less, too. “We do more with less communities acquire clean water and To prepare for heavy seasonal money. Our clinics provide services to three times as many women, sanitation systems. We cannot expect rains and possible hurricanes, and our overall costs are lower,” Aleman adds. USAID is inspecting 800 hur- Local governments also save money by using more efficient pro- people to have healthier lifestyles if ricane shelters nationwide. How- cesses for buying medicines and supplies and for contracting doctors we don’t provide the means for them ever, hurricanes generally bypass and nurses. The savings allow local governments to expand services. the capital and focus on the For example, in the last four years, local governments opened 10 to do so,” says Kenya Lopez, local north, which was not hit by the additional community health centers and one new clinic specializing government project coordinator. quake. in maternal and child care. Five more health centers are scheduled to Weisenfeld also said that the open this year. number of people in camps rose Unlike the centrally run health care system, the locally run system “Under the old system, there was a nurse assigned to a clinic that recently from 600,000 to focuses on prevention. was closed for seven years,” says Anardo Napoleon, the mayor of between 1.5 million and 2 mil- “Our social workers also help communities acquire clean the municipality of Cabañas, about 45 minutes from Copán Ruinas. lion because of the “draw” of aid water and sanitation systems. We cannot expect people to have “All that time, the nurse continued to receive pay, and her absence and services offered there. healthier lifestyles if we don’t provide the means for them to do was excused as sick leave. No matter how much we complained, As part of a long-term strat- so,” says Kenya Lopez, local government project coordinator. authorities in Tegucigalpa did nothing about it.” egy, the Agency is also helping Local governments also help to provide communities with water Napoleon said the clinic has re-opened and it has medicine in the nation’s energy, infrastruc- tanks and improve household stoves that reduce smoke contamina- stock, a doctor, two full-time nurses, and three social workers. It also ture, health, and agriculture sec- tion in the home. Decentralization also strengthens community remained open despite the fact that the centrally run clinics have tors. . — B.B. involvement. been on strike several times. .

www.usaid.gov 11 page 12 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

HUNGER from page 1 That announcement came departments, the Millennium after more than a year of steep Challenge Corporation, the FOOD SECURITY IN SPOTLIGHT rises in global food prices that Peace Corps, and the U.S. Trade were accompanied by protests Representative, among others— AT BANGLADESH FORUM and riots in a few countries. That as well as the nonprofit and pri- year also saw the number of vate-sector partners is only the people considered chronically beginning of the challenges. DHAKA, Bangladesh—When USAID Administrator Rajiv hungry reach 1 billion—one- “A lot of this is going to fail sixth of the world’s population. and that’s OK ... because we’re Shah joined top agricultural policy makers at a meeting here The new initiative will focus going to learn from it and do on agricultural research and agri- better the second time around,” in Bangladesh in May, the government of Bangladesh and its business development, support Shah said during a question-and- efforts led by developing coun- answer session at the Chicago development partners pledged to enhance food and nutrition tries, and emphasize women. Council event. “Women produce 60 to 80 In addition, Congress still security in a key nation on the frontlines of the struggle to feed percent of the food in countries must approve the full $3.5 bil- where we work,” Shah said, lion. However, Feed the Future the growing world. “And when women control gains has a high-level backer in in income, they’re far more Obama, who made mention of a Bangladesh dramatically improved rice pro- Bangladesh could lose $26 billion of agricul- likely to spend those gains U.S. response to hunger around duction over the past 30 years, and economic tural production to climate change between improving their families’ access the world in his inaugural speech. growth has averaged 6 percent a year over the 2005 and 2050, researchers said. Much of the to health, education, and “This has real potential,” said past decade. country is barely above sea level and suscep- nutrition.” Garvelink, a 30-year develop- However, the world’s most densely popu- tible to flooding. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina While USAID will have a ment veteran. lated country—with 158 million people on land said climate change may make it increasingly lead role in Feed the Future, Countries set to benefit from the size of Iowa—continues to confront rapid difficult to provide food to all Bangladeshis. Shah also acknowledged that the the initiative are already moving population growth, the loss of Agency, and the United States as forward with plans. arable land, and extreme vul- a whole, left the issue to drift In Liberia, which is one of nerability to climate change. Bangladesh could lose $26 billion of during the last 30 years. the focus countries, 70 percent Stunted growth during child- In 1979, agricultural programs of the population depends on hood remains prevalent, as agricultural production to climate change made up 18 percent of foreign agriculture for their livelihood, does anemia among children assistance; by 2005 that figure said President Ellen Johnson and women. between 2005 and 2050, researchers was below 1 percent—the result Sirleaf, who also spoke at the The Bangladesh Food of shifting priorities. Now, devel- Feed the Future launch. Security Investment Forum said. Much of the country is barely opment officials are talking of a Though the country of 3.5 convened by the Bangladeshi second Green Revolution similar million has been addressing government in May brought above sea level and susceptible to flood- to the one in the 1960s where many of its post-conflict prob- together researchers, policy- USAID helped India and other lems since 2006, Sirleaf said, makers, members of civil ing. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said countries successfully grow “the challenges remain awesome society, and NGOs to identify enough food to feed their people. and our nation fragile. Our popu- ways to reduce hunger and climate change may make it increasingly William Garvelink, the for- lation is still highly vulnerable to poverty. mer ambassador to the Demo- food insecurity.” Before the forum, USAID difficult to provide food to all cratic Republic of the Congo, “Our government is placing announced it would increase has been tapped as the deputy emphasis on this strategic sec- food aid to Bangladesh from Bangladeshis. coordinator for development for tor,” she said, describing a back- $32 million to $42 million the initiative and is in the pro- to-the-soil campaign that is each year for the next five cess of staffing an office at focusing on improved rice and years—the U.S. government’s largest non-emer- The minister for food and disaster manage- USAID. His charge: organize the cassava production. “It is very gency food assistance program in the world. ment, M. A. Razzaque, said farmers often do more than 130 agriculture clear to us that agriculture has Much of this will be for better nutrition, income not receive fair prices because they are unable experts across several U.S. and the potential to become a major generation, and food. to move their products to the most profitable other government agencies to source of employment.” Under the Feed the Future initiative (see markets. work on food security issues as Sirleaf said between 2006 and story, page 1), the United States is slated to pro- “There is considerable evidence that public part of the new initiative. 2009, rice production increased vide an additional $30 million per year to spending on agricultural and rural development “Obviously, coordination is from 85,000 metric tons to Dhaka, mostly for agricultural development. has the largest positive effects on growth and critical to this,” Garvelink said 200,000 metric tons. “We know food security facilitates stable com- poverty reduction in developing countries,” said only seven days into his new Shah said other countries like munities and resilient nations,” Shah said in his Shenggen Fan, director general of IFPRI. Citi- assignment. “We’re using all the Liberia already have jumpstarted opening address. “We know agricultural develop- zens must be empowered to demand better ser- tools available to us to make it agricultural initiatives, and that ment growth is more effective at reducing poverty vices from their government, monitor public work. they are the kinds of places than general economic growth. And we know spending, and hold service providers account- “This is a long-term commit- where Feed the Future dollars children need nutrition to learn and grow.” able, Fan said. ment. If this is going to really will be invested. (See sidebars The May 26-27 forum was conducted with Bangladesh’s experiences were to be dis- work, it will take a minimum of on Bangladesh, this page, and support from USAID, the International Food Pol- cussed in June’s G8 and G20 summits in Can- five years.” Sudan, page 13.) icy Research Institute (IFPRI), and other groups. ada and again in July, at the Food Security Balancing competing inter- “These plans and this politi- In preparation for the forum, the government Investment Forum for Asia and the Pacific, in ests from various bureaucra- cal leadership show the signs of of Bangladesh commissioned papers on agricul- Manila. cies—multilateral institutions, strength that we are looking for,” tural productivity, climate change, nutrition, “The people of Bangladesh can look forward the U.S. State and Agriculture Shah said. . safety nets, food distribution, trade, marketing, to a brighter future, free from extreme hunger livestock, fisheries, governance, and gender and filled with greater economic opportunity,” equity. said Shah. . Visit the Feed the Future website at www.feedthefuture.gov.

12 FrontLines June 2010 page 13 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Science Seen as Cutting Edge of International Development By Steven Gale

The new office of science adapting STI than developed and technology at USAID, and countries. Poor countries often a July 14 forum on science and lack access to modern technol- technology in development, are ogy, regulatory and governance both signs that breakthroughs structures to support invest- in science are increasingly seen ments, and essential scientists, as the way to solve pressing engineers, and entrepreneurs. challenges in health, agricul- Aid donors are learning how ture, and water in developing to help developing countries countries. boost their STI capacity so they Science and technology have can find, invent, or purchase long played a vital role to appropriate technologies to

Warren advance development by help- solve their local and regional ing to save millions of lives problems. from life-threatening diseases, One promising and novel Jenn Photo by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah (left) attends the May 17 launch of the new Food, Agribusiness, and inadequate nutrition, and pol- approach taken from the private Rural Markets program with southern Sudan Caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Samson luted drinking water. sector is the use of challenges, Kwaje in Juba, southern Sudan. USAID has harnessed such prizes, and competitions to cre- cutting edge science as far back ate revolutionary breakthroughs as the 1960s when it helped to benefit humanity. The most introduce high-yielding seed famous prize to date, the X Agency Launches $55M Agriculture varieties and increased use of Prize, worth a cool $10 million, fertilizers and irrigation—the was awarded in 2004 to the first Program in Southern Sudan so-called Green Revolution— NGO to launch a reusable By Angela Stephens enabling many poor countries manned spacecraft into outer in Asia to feed their growing space twice within two weeks. JUBA, Southern Sudan— populations. The X Prize was the catalyst USAID is undertaking a five-year, Agriculture is the backbone of eco- The Green Revolution is that kick-started a brand new $55 million agriculture program credited with saving the lives of private sector capability for with Sudan’s regional govern- nomic development in southern Sudan, over a billion people worldwide manned space flight. Such pri- ment in southern Sudan, Adminis- employing the majority of the region’s from starvation. vate sector competitions may trator Rajiv Shah announced May Today’s global issues like be used to solve tough develop- 17 on a visit to Juba. more than 8 million people. climate change, energy short- ment challenges overseas. The program aims to boost ages, disasters, infectious dis- Administrator Rajiv Shah food production and trade by eases, and biodiversity loss will convene a forum July 14 to linking areas of high agricultural spans Western, Central, and make up the majority of farm- increasingly threaten the lives promote the use of STI to trans- potential with fast-growing mar- Eastern Equatoria states, all ers in southern Sudan, as in and jobs of those in developing form the Agency and help solve kets for farm goods through road places where conflict destroyed many parts of Africa. “Unless countries and the developed difficult development chal- networks that are being improved agricultural production during we focus on women in a very world as well. lenges faced by the world’s and expanded. The Food, Agri- Sudan’s 22-year civil war. It will fundamental way,” including Agency analysts are expect- poor. Participants will include business, and Rural Markets help smallholder farmers rapidly hiring female agricultural ing to accelerate use of the lat- leading STI thinkers spanning (FARM) program will also train increase production of staple extension workers, Shah said, est science and technology to private, public, and academic farmers and others in the agricul- crops. “we know these efforts will help solve more of today’s most communities. tural sector. Shah noted, “It is five to eight simply not work. pressing development problems The forum’s main goals are: Agriculture is the backbone times cheaper to give assistance According to the USAID- and address just over-the-hori- to develop a consensus around of economic development in in agriculture than to distribute funded Famine Early Warning zon challenges. the top development challenges southern Sudan, employing the food.” System Network’s latest analy- While science, technology, of the 21st century where sci- majority of the region’s more He encouraged southern sis, there are currently about and innovation (STI) has ence and technology can have a than 8 million people. More than Sudan’s government to allocate 6.8 million food-insecure peo- always played an important but profound impact; to build a 90 percent of southern Sudanese 10 percent of its budget to ple in Sudan (out of a popula- perhaps understated role in shared science agenda to accel- live on less than $1 a day. agriculture. tion of approximately 39 mil- development, recent evidence erate and connect current devel- Southern Sudan is highly Samson Kwaje, southern lion), including 2.3 million shows that its function is actu- opment-related research dependent on food imports from Sudan’s caretaker minister of internally displaced persons. ally critical. throughout the entire federal neighboring Uganda and agriculture and forestry, said the Five million of the food-inse- Developmental economists government; and to explore new Kenya—and the imports are program has the potential to turn cure are in northern Sudan, estimate that, over recent approaches and mechanisms, expensive. Increased production southern Sudan’s subsistence including Darfur, and 1.8 mil- decades, more than half of the such as prizes and competitions, of domestically produced food is farmers, “who produce only lion are in southern Sudan, gains in developing countries’ to help solve today’s and future expected to reduce the high food food enough for the table,” into concentrated in the states of gross national product and over development challenges. prices in Sudanese markets. commercial farmers able to earn Jonglei, Northern Bahr El 80 percent of gains in per capita Ideas for using STI to help The program will initially an income. Ghazal, Warrap, and Lakes, income are closely linked to solve development challenges target counties in southern Another focus of the FARM and parts of Upper Nile and progress in STI. can be submitted at: www.trans- Sudan’s “greenbelt zone,” which program is women because they Eastern Equatoria. . Low income countries face formingdevelopment.ideascale. far greater difficulties in com. .

www.usaid.gov 13 page 14 CONTINUED. . .

CLINTON from page 1 FORUM from page 1

“That is an incredibly short- Clinton also pledged U.S. tribal leaders or to survey a dam agencies,” Connolly said. “We sighted view…most members of backing for democracy, women’s the United States had repaired or have to have one voice when it Congress feel their highest duty rights, and fighting hunger, a school we had built, they went comes to international develop- The forum is to the security of the United working with the private sector in mine-resistant armored vehi- ment issues and that one voice States” and that it is necessary to as well as through traditional aid cles or they flew on helicopters. needs to be [US]AID.” included a show that diplomacy and devel- programs. Our civilians don’t have those Shah noted there is currently opment support security, she said. “We believe that if we’re resources. a “political opportunity” to discussion of aid “We are trying to...have a going to be committed to devel- “So in order for us to pick up improve foreign aid because unified approach that will gain opment, we’re going to have to the responsibilities and to fulfill President Barack Obama broadcast live on the credibility of our government ask the American taxpayers to our obligations of the security “deeply believes in develop- and our Congress and our peo- help pay for sending somebody of our diplomats and our devel- ment” and sees “shared prosper- National Public ple; that will present a united else’s child to school or providing opment experts, it costs money. ity as the common basis of our front supported by [the Depart- somebody else’s mother maternal We have to fortify the places long-term security…” Radio’s Kojo ment of Defense] for our devel- healthcare, we’d better be able to they work and live….We can’t Shah proposed reforming for- opment and diplomacy effort. show results,” she said. in good faith send people into eign aid through the following: Nnamdi Show. And it’s just a smarter way to get And she noted that in Iraq, harm’s way without the physi- Using the latest knowledge, the resources we desperately Afghanistan, and Pakistan, when cal security being taken into insight, and evidence to be need.” U.S. military officers “meet with account.” . — B.B. more effective. For example, Reduce the size of awards and in Haiti, the Poverty Action encourage greater competition Lab at the Massachusetts of ideas and strategies. Institute of Technology found Set targets for building local that distributing chlorine tab- capacity and create conditions Excerpts from the 2010 National lets at water delivery points for “our long-term exit.” cut diarrhea to 12 percent Design, monitor, and evaluate Security Strategy below pre-earthquake levels. programs within the Agency instead of paying contractors In May, the Obama administration released its first National Security Strategy, a 60-page docu- Investment in women and girls, to do this work. ment outlining goals and visions for the future in fields of security, diplomacy, and development. The which is likely to improve Set up transparent ways for entire document is available online at: www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/national_ household living standards, the public to click on a map security_strategy.pdf education, health, nutrition, and see aid projects, what Following are some excerpts from the NSS that detail the U.S. government views on develop- and farm output. they’re doing, and the out- ment issues. Working with the private sec- tor, including the NGOs in comes they’re getting. Accelerate Sustainable and accountable state institu- contributing to global secu- InterAction, to tap resources Shah said that by August, the Development tions. We will ensure a greater rity and prosperity. such as direct investment that Agency will begin hiring “a sig- The growth of emerging and more deliberate focus on a Exercise Leadership in the dwarf foreign aid. For exam- nificant number” of talented and economies in recent decades global development agenda Provision of Global Public ple, Mercy Corps expanded experienced people, including has lifted people out of pov- across the United States Govern- Goods: Our approach needs access to bank credit for farm- those hired through the ongoing erty and forged a more inter- ment, from policy analysis to reflect the fact that there ers by market research and Development Leadership Initia- connected and vibrant global through policy implementation. are a set of development helping banks design projects tive as well as other mid-career economy. But development We are increasing our foreign challenges that strongly in rural Africa. technical professionals. has been uneven, progress is assistance, expanding our invest- affect the likelihood of prog- USAID was “in many cases, He also pledged to tap the fragile, and too many of the ments in effective multilateral ress, but cannot be addressed appropriately criticized,” Shah skills of the 4,000 Foreign Ser- world’s people still live with- development institutions, and by individual countries act- said, for operating independently vice Nationals at USAID offices out the benefits that develop- leveraging the engagement of ing alone. Particularly in from local governments and overseas. “They include people ment affords. While some others to share the burden. Africa, these challenges— institutions, and it will now who’ve been ministers of state; countries are growing, many Invest in the Foundations of such as adap­tation to global stress training and helping each they include people who are lag behind—mired in insecu- Long-Term Development: The warming, the control of epi- country to design and carry out doctors or technical experts; rity, constrained by poor gov- United States will initiate long- demic disease, and the its own development program. they’re people who know both ernance, or overly dependent term invest­ments that recognize knowledge to increase agri- Shah said USAID was setting the culture of their community upon commodity prices. But and reward governments that cultural productivity—are up a Bureau for Policy, Planning and how things will be perceived sustained economic progress demonstrate the capacity and not adequately addressed in and Learning as well as a budget and received far more effectively requires faster, sustainable, political will to pursue sustain- bilateral efforts. We will office that will redesign “how than, generally, outsiders will,” and more inclusive develop- able development strategies and shape the international archi­ we allocate what are essentially Shah said. ment. That is why we are pur- ensure that all policy instru- tecture and work with our a series of congressional priori- Finally, Shah said the Agency suing a range of specific ini- ments at our disposal are har- global partners to address ties in a way that allows our would try to better monitor tiatives in areas such as food nessed to these ends. And we these challenges, and country missions to have more results of aid programs, begin- security and global health will provide our support in mul- increase our investments and flexibility…” ning by “collecting baseline that will be essential to the tiple ways—by strengthening engagement to transition to a He pledged to reform the way data” to judge progress. future security and prosperity the ability of gov­ernments and low-carbon growth trajec- the Agency buys services and He criticized the tendency in of nations and peoples around communities to manage devel- tory, support the resilience of materials, cutting back on paper- the Agency to write reports in the globe. opment challenges and invest- the poorest nations to the work that provides “almost a aid jargon which he called Increase Investments in ing in strong institutions that effects of climate change, false transparency” and masks “development-speak” and for Development: The United foster the democratic account- and strengthen food security. “how much did you spend on this writing 400-page reports that are States has an interest in work- ability that helps sustain devel- We must also pursue poten- program, what are you getting in “failing to make our work as ing with our allies to help the opment. This will expand the tial “game changers” for result, and what’s your unit cost.” transparent as possible.” world’s poorest countries circle of nations—particularly development such as new Reforming procurement, said However, Shah noted that grow into productive and in Africa—who are capable of vaccines, weather-resistant Shah, means to: with the financial crisis and calls prosperous economies gov- reaping the benefits of the seed varieties, and green Broaden the base of partners in Congress to curb spending, erned by capable, democratic, global economy, while energy technologies. . from a “small handful” of foreign aid will have to make a large contractors. strong case to get funds..

14 FrontLines June 2010 page 15 CONTINUED. . .

INDIA from page 7 GUATEMALA from page 8 The service is part of USAID’s and fertilizers, and by solving feedback, the company devel- and fruits, ornamental plants, a detachment from Joint Task Partnerships for Innovation and specific agricultural problems, oped new products tailored to and shrimp. Force-Bravo, based in Honduras, Knowledge in Agriculture Samriddhi center staff develop farmers’ specific needs, like Health officials are concerned to support evacuations, search (PIKA) which brings together close ties with farmers. As the quality seeds, fertilizers, pesti- about the outbreak of diseases and rescue efforts, and transport businesses, universities, scien- centers provide extension ser- cides, and tools. With more cus- such as malaria and dengue and of emergency supplies. tists, agriculture specialists, and vices, farmers increase crop tomer friendly services, Mahin- are monitoring for increased Unfortunately, Guatemala can farmers to improve production, yields. dra and Mahindra even saw numbers of children with acute expect more natural disasters. The markets, and distribution Chovatiya saw a 50 percent their stagnant tractor sales malnutrition due to the affects of United Nations International Strat- systems. increase in his cotton crop and a increase. the crisis in areas with high egy for Disaster Reduction Global With a tractor division that had 35,000 rupee ($800) profit. “Two years ago we were an chronic malnutrition rates. The Assessment Report on Disaster saturated the market, Mahindra Today, he is a champion of pro- engineering firm that built trac- economic and social effects of Risk Reduction (2009) states that and Mahindra was eager to grow. gressive farming, sharing valu- tors,” said Sanjeev Goyle, a the dual disaster are expected to “Guatemala is among the top 10 In an effort to improve farm pro- able information through his senior vice president of market- last into 2011. countries with the highest mortal- ductivity and increase its cus- demonstration farm and encour- ing at Mahindra and Mahindra. International NGOs and agen- ity risk index due to natural disas- tomer base, the company began aging hundreds of farm families “Today, we are growing our cies are delivering supplies and ters. Guatemala is at high risk for opening farm service centers in to seek advice at the Samriddhi business by creating a range human resources in response to climate-related hazards such as 66 of its tractor dealerships. centers. of new products, which couldn’t the dual disaster. A nine-person landslides, droughts and earth- The University of Wisconsin It seems to be working. Ten have come about if we didn’t USAID assessment team is work- quakes that provoke physical and brought agricultural expertise Jamnagar famers increased their create a feedback loop of ing closely with the Guatemalan economic vulnerability.” and training that allowed Sam- crop yields by 20 percent or experimentation and learning government and humanitarian In the last decade, seven natu- riddhi center staff to provide soil more based on advice from a between our engineers, the deal- groups to coordinate the U.S. ral disasters have been declared in and water testing, as well as on- Samriddhi center. ers, agricultural specialists, uni- government response. In coordi- Guatemala. USAID has provided farm consultations. Mahindra and Mahindra is versities, and the farmers, our nation with the U.S. Embassy and approximately $5 million in emer- By recommending crops to reaping benefits from the alli- customers.” . USAID, the U.S. Southern Com- gency humanitarian assistance to grow, crop rotation schedules, ance as well. After farmers’ mand brought in helicopters and the country since 2000. .

NAMIBIA from page 7 FrontLines was long, lasting into the next In response, USAID is work- day. The baby was born not ing to minimize the delays and is published by the U.S. Agency for International Development, breathing and unresponsive. But improve the adequacy of care. through the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs. a medical officer was on hand to The Agency provides training resuscitate the baby and save its and equipment to health care "I realize that there are among us those who are weary of sustaining this continual effort to help other nations. But I would ask them to look at a map and recognize that many of those whom we help life. Rosie, however, collapsed providers so expectant mothers live on the 'front lines' of the long twilight struggle for freedom—that others are new nations posed on the floor. Despite efforts to like Rosie can receive timely between order and chaos—and the rest are older nations now undergoing a turbulent transition of new resuscitate her, Rosie died from emergency care closer to home. expectations. Our efforts to help them help themselves, to demonstrate and to strengthen the vitality of post-partum hemorrhage. For those mothers that must free institutions, are small in cost compared to our military outlays for the defense of freedom." Rosie’s tragic death is just be seen at a larger facility, —John F. Kennedy, Special Message to the Congress on Foreign Aid, March 13, 1962 one of hundreds of preventable USAID is rehabilitating Waiting maternal deaths in Namibia. Mothers Shelters with short-term The problem is complex. The living facilities so expectant Joseph A. Fredericks Deputy Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs (Acting) lack of outreach to isolated com- mothers can travel to hospitals munities places women in earlier in their pregnancies and FRONTLINES STAFF Namibia at especially high risk. remain close to care and Ben Barber, Editorial Director With a nationwide lack of emer- support. Claire McIntyre, Production Editor gency obstetric care and high The aftereffects of maternal Angela Rucker, Writer rates of HIV/AIDS among deaths are inconsistently Patricia Adams, Photo Librarian women and children, maternal recorded, but research shows a Mary Jane Cotter, Human Resources Coordinator and Employee Liaison health constitutes a national link between a mother’s early Michael Del Moro, Brittany Jackson, Interns emergency in Namibia. death and poor health among the Maternal mortality rates in infants they leave behind— CORRESPONDENTS: Namibia have skyrocketed from including high infant mortality. AFGE – Willy Hardin; AFR – Susan Quinn, Ranta Russell; AFSA – Francisco Zamora; 271 per 100,000 births in 2001, Additional resources are ASIA – Jan Cartwright; CFBCI – Heather MacLean; DCHA – Rebecca Gustafson, Sven Lindholm, Amanda Eichelkraut; to 449 deaths in 2008. This badly needed to combat the ris- EGAT – Jane Stanley, Ashley Allen; E&E – Michael Hathaway; OCRD – Gloria Blackwell; GC – Harmony Wade; exacerbates what is already an ing maternal mortality rates. ODP – Todd Kirkbride; GH – Sandra Jordan, Chris Thomas, Jessica DiRocco; alarmingly high number of Ready access to prenatal care IG – Debra Scott; LAC – Maxine Hillary; LPA – Barbara Bennett; orphans and vulnerable children could have identified risk factors M – Lauren Gabler; ME – Hope Bryer, Jan Cartwright; in the country. for Rosie and emergency obstet- SEC – Dwayne Moore, Lorraine Meehan “Because of the vastness of ric skills may have prepared Namibia, the distances expectant hospital staff for her difficult mothers have to travel to receive delivery. Submit notices, story ideas, feedback to FrontLines articles and requests adequate care often create Increased access to contra- to be added to the mailing list to [email protected]. delays. These delays are at the ception may have prevented root of the problem,” said Dr. Rosie’s pregnancy in the first Ochi Ibe, USAID senior HIV/ place. Transportation, medical The icon at the end of a story indicates that associated videos are available through the AIDS care and nutrition adviser. personnel, and more modern online version of FrontLines. Go to www.usaid.gov/frontlines to view these videos. “When combined with the com- equipment are also needed as plications associated with HIV/ part of an extensive outreach AIDS, it is causing maternal effort to expecting mothers in deaths to climb.” remote areas. .

www.usaid.gov 15 page 16 SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN DIAMONDS

Diamond miners are filmed as they sift for rough diamonds in Ngotto, Central African Republic, as part of a media campaign conducted by the PRADD project.

Gleaning diamond laden gravel in Ngotto, Central African Republic. Few rough diamonds are sifted out of large amounts of gravel from sand and gravel deposits in West and central Africa. Africa’s Diamond Trade: Bringing Justice to Miners through Property Rights It is ironic that diamonds, the berley Process. It requires par- mation to help miners establish beautiful stones that many cul- ticipating countries to certify their property rights. This also tures use to celebrate love and their shipments of rough dia- helps the government comply marriage, have also been used to monds as “conflict free” through with the Kimberley Process by Staff from the PRADD project records property rights claims finance violence and oppression. clear accounting and tracking. identifying the exact source of information from a diamond miner in Ngotto, Central African Republic. The trade in illegal diamonds Diamonds must be legally mined the diamonds. Once a property in Africa, worth billions of dol- and sold from source to export. right is validated, the miner is lars, has been used by warlords Despite the high prices that able to acquire a diamond min- Because of PRADD’s success and rebels to buy arms to fight diamonds command in the inter- ing license from the government. in pilot zones in the Central Sierra Leone’s wars in Angola, the Democratic national market, mining commu- To help stop miners from African Republic, it is now Republic of Congo, Liberia, and nities in central Africa are des- being swindled, PRADD pro- being expanded to other artisanal Blood Diamond Sierra Leone. These wars have perately poor. The people are vides training in diamond valua- diamond mining areas in the One country where the Kim- not only cost millions of lives, easily exploited by warlords, tion. To address the environmen- country’s southwest. berly Process has helped limit but also have shattered weak criminals, and dishonest buyers tal effects of open pit diamond USAID is also expanding the the trade in illegal diamonds economies, spread disease, who cheat them on price. mining by large numbers of arti- PRADD program to Liberia and is Sierra Leone. Activists esti- fueled government corruption, In 2007, USAID began pilot- san miners, PRADD supports other donors who hesitated to mate that during the civil war, and created millions of refugees. ing the Property Rights and Arti- rehabilitation of damaged areas address conflict diamonds in the the Revolutionary United Front Miners and their families sanal Diamond Development and the adoption of techniques past are becoming involved. rebels raked in around $125 have been kept in near slavery (PRADD) project in the Central to limit degradation. The PRADD project, million a year from smuggled conditions, digging diamonds African Republic. Educating miners about envi- designed and managed by diamonds. Sierra Leone’s civil for little return as others reap the It is a collaborative effort— ronmental rehabilitation is USAID’s Office of Natural war raged for several years until profits and their families, com- created and implemented by accompanied by training focused Resources Management in the 2002, and the country became munities, and governments USAID with funding and diplo- on alternative livelihoods and Bureau for Economic Growth, synonymous with blood dia- remain poor. The land around matic support from the Depart- agricultural productivity, allow- Agriculture and Trade, is one monds, serving as the backdrop their communities is stripped of ment of State to meet the ing miners and their families to component of a global USAID to the Leonardo DiCaprio nutrients as they mine along requirements of the U.S. Clean earn more from alternate sources program on land tenure security movie “Blood Diamond.” streams. Diamond Trade Act. And its aim and grow more of their own food. and property rights. A USAID- Back then, legitimate USAID is part of an interna- is to establish clear ownership of Madeleine Wékombo, the produced documentary on the exports of diamonds from tional effort to combat the trade land on which diamonds are owner of a diamond mining PRADD project recently won an Sierra Leone were worth a in these “conflict” diamonds. mined. For years, property rights claim in the heart of the PRAAD award at the Houston Interna- little more than $1 million a Since 2002, the United Nations in mining areas were rooted in pilot zone, said: “I’m very happy tional Film Festival, and is avail- year. Although some smuggling and governments of diamond customary rules that were not for the PRADD training. Before able in the video archive at still goes on, official exports producing and trading countries, recorded, making it difficult to this project, we didn’t know that www.rmportal.net. are now worth well over $100 including the United States, have trace the source of diamonds. much about diamonds. We didn’t For more information on this million a year, providing been working with the diamond The PRADD project uses know the real value of our dia- program, contact Gregory Myers, much-needed funds for the industry and civil society groups community meetings and sur- monds and usually we sold them [email protected], or Timothy government. on a program known as the Kim- veys as well as geospatial infor- at a very undervalued price.” Fella, [email protected]. .

All photos by Jamil Simon, Spectrum Media

16 FrontLines June 2010