Development Works Number 7, December 2012

Country-Led Development: Building Resilient Nations The concept of resilience also applies, more broadly, to nations. It’s a little more abstract than family efforts to build resilience—which might be learning which plants can grow alongside maize yet prosper with less rain, or organizing a group of neighbors to start a beekeeping business—but it’s the same idea. How do countries become more resilient? The Great Recession and very slow economic recovery showed that our country’s own capacity to “bounce back” is not always quick or complete. High poverty rates also show that the country’s resilience does not extend to all who live here. Still, previous experience gives Americans reason for optimism that the country can manage to rise to its challenges. Although we have far too many hungry people for such a wealthy co untry, there is also a social safety net. Starvation deaths are very rare here. Many factors contribute to the United States’ relatively strong ability to cope with shocks—including a diversified economy, good governance, financial and human resources, and the rule of law. From the framers of the Constitution onward, building and maintaining resilience has been a process led by Americans—people who live here and understand local conditions. Today, the need for such “country-led” development is recognized as a necessity for effective foreign assistance. Many low-income countries have developed their own detailed plans to reduce hunger and extreme poverty but lack the resources to carry them out fully. U.S. assistance helps support such country-led development plans. In 2003, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), was established. It gives additional development assistance based on countries’ commitment to “root out corruption, respect hu an rights, and adhere to the rule of law.” Apm A man in Senegal demonstrates the use of a handcrank water pump. 4 ReverieBank/Arne Hoel World Zurbas/USAID plicants receive help in identifying their key weaknesses in qualifying for MCA funding. The MCA requires countries to consult with their civil societies to ensure that funding is responding to problems that are top priorities of local people. Many critical factors in development are beyond the control of low-income countries themselves—whether it’s restrictive trade policies, climate change, volatility in global food prices, an economic downturn in industrialized economies that means less money sent home by immigrants, or something else. But government leadership in seeking and implementing solutions for hungry and poor people can mean even more. Countries with effective governments are more resilient. The United States provides some technical support to national and local governments in matters such as regulation, purchasing policies, improving services, and engaging more closely with citizens. This type of capacity-building program could be expanded in the future to build further government capacity to be effective. In turn, a strong civil society is important to help ensure effective governance and hold governments accountable. U.S. government engagement with civil society overseas supports, for example, efforts to establish an independent media and strengthen local nongovernmental organizations so they can better advocate for their communities. Building resilience in families and communities and building resilience in countries reinforce each other. It becomes easier to establish a resilient national government when there are fewer poor and desperate people, and it is easier for families and communities to become more resilient when government is there to support their efforts and protect the most vulnerable. Drought Resilience and Growth in the Horn of Africa and of the Global Alliance for Resilience in the Sahel, both formed in 2012). Its five-year goal in the Horn of Africa is to benefit 10 million people directly and reduce the need for emergency relief by 1 million people. One example of work toward this goal is extending the impact of the Arid Lands Recovery Program in Kenya by strengthening drought adaptation efforts. In the Sahel as well, USAID will concentrate on the most vulnerable ecological zones. One project will help build on local communities’ work against desertification: together, water harvesting and a technique for regenerating native vegetation from the mature root systems of cleared trees and shrubs have already “re-greened” more than 5 million hectares (12.5 million acres) of semi-desert land.

Development Works Number 7, December 2012 | Page 4