According to President Obama, “Africa can be the world’s next major economic success story.” This bold prediction was included in the announcement of the new U.S. strategy for involvement in the region, the Presidential Policy Directive for sub-Saharan Africa (PPD).

The optimism of [...]]]> Guest post from Victoria Webbe, Scoville Fellow at the Truman Project.

According to President Obama, “Africa can be the world’s next major economic success story.” This bold prediction was included in the announcement of the new U.S. strategy for involvement in the region, the Presidential Policy Directive for sub-Saharan Africa (PPD).

The optimism of his statement is less wide-eyed than it would initially seem. Six of the world’s ten fastest growing countries are in sub-Saharan Africa—with growth rates consistently over 6% annually. Countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, and the Gambia have seen under-five mortality rates decline by 25-40%, and along with South Asia, the region has made the fastest progress on primary school completion rates in the world.

However, sub-Saharan African countries will continue to face challenges. The PPD, issued June 14th, is an important step for the Administration—the first one that’s been taken since President Obama’s speech in Ghana in July 2009. The President’s new strategy therefore comes at a crucial time, recognizing the tremendous potential for African countries both as strong economic and trading partners and as regional security allies, while simultaneously highlighting areas in need of continued support.

The new PPD boils down to four key pillars:
·         Strengthening Democratic Institutions
·         Spur economic growth, trade and investment
·         Advance peace and security
·         Promote opportunity and development

Transparency and accountability in institutions are stressed as essential, both in supporting democracy and in fostering economic growth. The U.S. will work to increase African country participation in international programs like the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, which has developed a set of reporting guidelines in natural resource extraction, especially oil and mining, and to date has only 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa participating. The U.S. will also take a leading role in lowering barriers to inter-regional and international trade, and increasing access to global markets. Through standardized trade policy, improved infrastructure, and regulatory coherence and transparency, the region will continue to open up for trade and investment. To help U.S. businesses take advantage of these burgeoning markets, the PPD announces the “Doing Business in Africa Campaign” to help American business owners identify and capitalize on new opportunities.

Unfortunately, the PPD lacks detail in many areas—particularly the fourth pillar on promoting opportunity and development. Among its priorities in this area, the PPD lists food security, public health, humanitarian crises, women’s empowerment, the environment, and poverty reduction. The low level of specification on the program work in these areas seems to echo a marked shift in the Administration’s policy toward Africa away from development aid and toward governance, transparency, economic growth, and trade. The PPD does, however, recognize the challenges faced by low-income countries and the need to address “constraints to growth”—although it fails to define the term more clearly.

U.S. support for economic development, poverty relief and democratic institutions are vital to ensuring peace and security in the region. Perceived, widespread discrimination and economic inequality have been identified as among the root causes of a number of conflicts in Africa including the Sudan, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Burundi, Nigeria and others. Low revenue and limited capacity of the security sector make governments’ less able to address regional security issues—the recent cross-border raids between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, and the ongoing regional complexities of the Great Lakes region are two unfortunate examples.

Regional security in sub-Saharan Africa is crucial—both for promoting economic growth in the region and for ensuring the safety of American citizens here at home. Building the capacity of security forces in the region means building capacity in the fight against al-Qa’ida. Stronger border control capabilities means more effectively combatting the transnational trade of illegal arms, drugs and WMD technology and materials. Strengthening regional security forces means that African countries will be able to ensure their own regional security, and prevent their own conflicts. The PPD acknowledges the importance of these steps, specifically in the third pillar and more generally throughout the strategy.

In other words, the new U.S. strategy in sub-Saharan Africa is about more than international development. In addition to opening new channels for commerce and promoting democracy, the PPD is a revised strategy for international peace and security.

“Even in Sioux Falls, we know that after-school programs for kids [...]]]> Earlier this week, an op-ed appearing in the Argus Leader, South Dakota State Senator and Truman Partner Angie Buhl explained why international development is important to all of us, even her hometown of Sioux Falls in  in South Dakota. As Senator Buhl says,

“Even in Sioux Falls, we know that after-school programs for kids can keep them from joining gangs and entering a life of crime. In places like the Horn of Africa, building schools keeps those kids from joining al-Qaida and entering a life of terrorism. Building roads, water treatment plants and schools is much cheaper than sending soldiers abroad or dealing with the aftermath of terrorist attacks.”

With Congress recently threatening to cut funding to vital development and aid programs, the connection Senator Buhl draws between the these programs to our local communities is more relevant than ever.

Janessa Goldbeck from the Make US Strong campaign reports on her 4,200-mile trip across the country:

Three months ago, I set off from San Diego on what felt like the world’s heaviest bicycle with [...]]]> Originally posted on May 4, 2012 on the ONE Campaign’s Blog.

Janessa Goldbeck from the Make US Strong campaign reports on her 4,200-mile trip across the country:

Three months ago, I set off from San Diego on what felt like the world’s heaviest bicycle with one mission: to spread the word that international development, or foreign aid, keeps America safe.

Today, after 4,200 miles of cycling coast-to-coast and then some, my journey comes to an end.

RELATED: ONE member Janessa Goldbeck cycles cross country for foreign aid

International development has been a key part of America’s national security since the Greatest Generation rebuilt Europe and Japan at the end of World War II. Since then, development has been key to taking on some of the biggest challenges of the 21st century: limiting the spread of pandemic diseases, shutting down gun and drug trafficking, and making sure developing nations can stand on their own feet. With Congress considering cuts to these programs, there’s never been a more important time to get the word out about the critical role international development plays in our national security.

That’s why I took off on my bike: to spark a conversation in communities nationwide about the importance of development to keeping America safe.

Starting from San Diego in January, I pedaled for months, across New Mexico and Texas, down into Florida and up through the South. Along the way, I held events with community leaders, meetings with elected officials, gave speeches at at universities and VFWs, and did interviews with local press — at many of which I was joined and supported by ONE members from across the country.

Today, I am riding in from Virginia to give a joint address on Capitol Hill with Paul O’Brien, Vice President for Policy & Campaigns at Oxfam America. For the rest of the month, I’ll be doing follow up meetings with members of Congress…and trying to get my quads back to a normal size.

After cycling across 11 states and holding hundreds of conversations in all kinds of political climates, I was hard-pressed to find anyone who disagreed with the message of my ride. From a staffer in the office of “the most conservative member of the House,” who told me, “You’re preaching to the choir, here,” to a bar full of cactus salesmen in the middle of West Texas, people everywhere agreed that international development is a common sense way to win friends, keep problems like disease and conflict small and far away, and build stronger economic partners for the United States.

But even with all the support I found, international development is still under attack. Why are these important programs are regularly a target of politicians? Perhaps the biggest single piece of the problem is that most Americans think we spend 10 to 20 percent of our budget on international development. In reality, the number is less than 1 percent. Once the people I talked to heard that we only spend less than 1 percent, they were supportive of funding these programs.

My bike ride is over, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. The Ryan budget, recently passed by the House, slashes funding for the very programs I biked across America to protect. The House Appropriations Committee — just last week — proposed drastic cuts once again to these same programs. We need to make sure members of Congress and their constituents understand that, along with defense, diplomacy, and democracy programs, international development is vital to keeping America safe.

I’m really proud to have been a spokesperson for this cause and the Make US Strong campaign — it’s been an incredible ride. Now is your opportunity to get involved. Sign our petition to Congress, share this video with your friends and family, and simply sign up for updates.

There’s a time-honored saying that any state legislator knows well: “All politics is local.” It remains true today. As a community, we need to [...]]]> In an op-ed appearing in The Atlanta Patch today, Georgia State Representative Scott Holcomb (GA-82) makes the case that international development is a vital tool in keeping America safe.

There’s a time-honored saying that any state legislator knows well: “All politics is local.” It remains true today. As a community, we need to remain focused on what keeps our local economy prosperous and our cities like Atlanta safe and secure. It turns out that international trade and development does just that.

Rep. Holcomb’s op-ed comes just as Cycle For Security’s Janessa Goldbeck rolls into Atlanta today for a 6:00 pm event at Parish Market featuring City Council Member Aaron Watson and various community leaders from Atlanta.

 Mayor John Marks & I post event.

 Representative Alan Williams addressing the crowd.

 Leon County At-Large Commissioner Akin Akinyemi asking me about how we can change the way some Americans think about international development.

And, here I am!

 Great crowd – students, veterans, electeds, and [...]]]> Great event last week – check out some photos below!

 Mayor John Marks & I post event.

 Representative Alan Williams addressing the crowd.

 Leon County At-Large Commissioner Akin Akinyemi asking me about how we can change the way some Americans think about international development.

And, here I am!

 Great crowd – students, veterans, electeds, and community leaders.

Watch Janessa Goldbeck explain above how important international development is to America’s security, and sign the Make US Strong Petition to tell Congress development [...]]]>

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

Last week, Representative Paul Ryan and 227 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives voted to slash critical funding – international development and diplomacy programs – that keeps America safe.

Watch Janessa Goldbeck explain above how important international development is to America’s security, and sign the Make US Strong Petition to tell Congress development keeps America safe.

 Members of Congress:

Military strength alone can’t address all of the threats to global stability and America’s security.

For the sake of keeping America safe, I urge you to support robust funding for the International Affairs budget.

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Have you served in the U.S. Military? Yes, active duty Yes, reservist Yes, veteran No - Select -

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Cutting International Affairs funding would [...]]]> This morning, we learned some disturbing new details about House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) FY2013 budget proposal. While yesterday’s releases left out any information about critical national security tools like international development and diplomacy, today we see that he would recklessly slash those programs.

Cutting International Affairs funding would be dangerously short-sighted. How does Congressman Ryan think we can make sure we sustain the gains we’ve made in Afghanistan if he slashes funds for critical stability programs? How does he think we can we prevent pandemic diseases from growing, spreading, and ultimately threatening the US and our allies if we don’t pay for the tools we need to stop them early on? And, cutting American food aid programs will force desperate, starving people in the Horn of Africa to turn to terrorist organizations like Al Shabab. How does boosting the recruitment efforts of anti-American extremists help keep America secure?

A strong military is critical to keeping America safe — as is an International Affairs budget which keeps these threats small and far away by ensuring that the world is safe, stable, and strong. Neglecting either effort hurts both, a simple fact we’ve known since World War II.  To be truly secure, America needs the full set of tools that address the threats we face, like disease, arms and human trafficking, and loose nuclear material – none of which can be solved by the military alone.

Fortunately, this is the beginning, and not the end of the budget debate. As this process goes on, we hope Members of Congress, including Congressman Ryan, remember that American strength and security is just as reliant upon the problems we prevent and the friends we make abroad as it is the troops we train and the battles we fight.

However, one important piece of the budget that Ryan did not talk about, was our [...]]]> Today, House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) laid out his proposal for the FY2013 budget. He was ardent about making sure the Department of Defense has the resources it needs to keep America safe, a principle we fully support.

However, one important piece of the budget that Ryan did not talk about, was our International Affairs budget – critical programs that keep America safe by addressing threats while they’re small and far away. At the end of the day, this small but consequential piece of our budget provides the tools – diplomacy, democracy, and development - that go hand-in-hand with a strong defense, to combat today’s 21st century threats.  As the budget debates continue, it’s vitally important to America’s ongoing security that these programs get the support they need to work properly. It’s only 1% of our federal spending, but has an outsized impact on making sure the threats we face stay small.

How can you make sure that Rep. Ryan hears this message? Say it straight to him. Share this blog post with him via Twitter:

FY13 budget must include robust intl affairs funding. @RepPaulRyan, let’s see to it. #development #diplomacy #democracy bit.ly/GEiJt3

OR

GOP released FY13 #Budget. @RepPaulRyan – International Affairs is vital to #America’s security. Let’s keep US strong. bit.ly/GEiJt3

Let’s make sure that international affairs funding gets what it needs in the 2013 budget to keep America safe and strong.