Challenges

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• Challenges Perspectives on Democracy and Human
  Rights in Africa
• Ryan McCannell Democracy Governance
  Specialist USAID Bureau for Africa
• March 28, 2008

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First things first... what is USAID?

• USAID is an independent U.S. Government Agency
  providing foreign assistance to over 100
  countries
• USAID works closely with Department of State on
  strategic and program planning
• USAID works worldwide on agriculture, democracy
  and governance, economic growth and trade,
  environment, education and training, health,
  global partnerships, and humanitarian assistance.

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Where we work

• USAID's presence in Sub-Saharan Africa
• 26 bilateral programs Angola, Benin, Burundi,
  Djibouti, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya,
  Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique,
  Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra
  Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania,
  Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• 3 subregional offices
• Accra West Africa
• Nairobi East Africa
• Pretoria Southern Africa
• managed from Nairobi
• managed from Conakry, Guinea

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Why does the U.S. promote democracy?

• First, as a matter of principle our political
  system and national identity are built on the
  belief that all people share fundamental rights.
  
• Second, democracy promotion is central to our
  national security.
• Third, poor governance is often a root cause of
  conflict.
• Finally, U.S. support for democracy and better
  governance is an integral part of our broader
  development agenda.

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Estimated FY 2007 budget by Sector 3.35
billion total
Democracy, Human Rights and Conflict Mitigation
- 9
Other Health
6
Education - 7
Agriculture/ Environment - 9
Other Economic Growth - 5
HIV/AIDS
49
Malaria
9
Family Planning
6
Includes USAID-managed funds of the President's
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). In
addition, the U.S. provided 1.2 billion in
emergency food aid and humanitarian assistance to
Africa in FY 07.
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How do we define our work in democracy promotion?

• The Four Democracy and Governance ("DG") Program
  Areas

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What problems are we trying to solve?

• Challenges Weaknesses Common to Many African
  Countries

Good Governance
Rule of Law
Elections / Political Processes
Civil Society
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With whom do we work?

• Host-Country Partners "Clients"

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What are some recent accomplishments in democracy
and governance?

• Examples of our work

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Democratization Trends in Africa

• From 2001-2006
• 12 countries rated "Less Free"
• 14 countries experienced no change
• 20 countries rated "More Free"

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Remaining challenges

• Intransigent leaders (Zimbabwe, Sudan)
• Linking "modern" and "traditional" ideas of power
  sharing, consensus, and conflict resolution
• Strengthening institutional checks and balances
• Increasing respect for rule of law and human
  rights
• Improving service delivery the "democracy
  dividend"
• Fighting corruption
• Challenging African democracies to exert
  leadership
• Geopolitics extractive industries and the rise
  of China

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Ryan McCannell, Democracy Advisor USAID
Bureau for Africa202-712-1192 /
rmccannell_at_usaid.gov
Thanks.