CWS on US Diplomacy and Development Analysis

["Lesley Crosson" <lcrosson@churchworldservice.org>]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2010
 
U.S. review hits target on poverty, food security but misses NGO 
partnership role, says Church World Service
 
NEW YORK – International humanitarian agency Church World Service 
welcomes the release of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development 
Review, the Obama administration's comprehensive analysis of U.S. 
diplomacy and development work, as a necessary tool in global efforts 
to fight hunger and poverty. 
 
But CWS also voiced concern over the review’s failure to reflect the 
vital role of non-governmental aid agencies as partners with United 
States Agency for International Development (USAID).
 
"This milestone report, the first real look at U.S. diplomatic and 
development efforts in the last 50 years, provides a sharper focus 
for the U.S. government as it seeks to alleviate poverty and provide 
food security for the world's most vulnerable," said CWS Executive 
Director and CEO John L. McCullough.
 
"It is encouraging to see development being elevated as a key 
component of U.S. diplomatic efforts," McCullough said Dec. 16, 
following yesterday’s release of the review, which he said overall 
was positive.
 
Still, McCullough expressed CWS concern and disappointment about 
several issues, including the fact that the review fails to clarify 
the authority and accountability for the U.S. Global Climate Change 
Initiative.
 
But the key concern, McCullough said, is that the review does not 
sufficiently note the role of non-governmental organizations like 
Church World Service as full partners in global efforts to fight 
hunger and poverty – a point also raised by InterAction, the largest 
alliance of U.S.-based international humanitarian groups.
 
"Our concern is that, while the review recognizes the role of 
non-state actors like Church World Service and other InterAction 
members, it does not include them in the list of potential partners 
for alleviating hunger and poverty globally," McCullough said. As 
InterAction noted in its reaction to the report: "NGOs play a crucial 
role in building local capacity, leveraging billions of dollars in 
private resources, and should be seen as a potential strategic 
partner of the U.S. government."
 
Through its CROP Hunger Walks and other efforts, including grants and 
public donations, Church World Service raises tens of millions of 
dollars annually, support which has a demonstratively powerful impact 
on fighting global and domestic hunger and poverty.
 
“Given the Obama administration's new approach and commitment to 
development and diplomacy, we hope that the contributions of NGOs, 
whose work is supported by millions of Americans, will be recognized 
and that partnerships with groups like Church World Service are 
strengthened," McCullough said.
 
Another concern for CWS, McCullough said, is that the State 
Department's "ultimate control and budget power could mean that 
diplomatic and 'strategic' interests will too often take precedence 
over long-term poverty reduction. Not that this would be new, but a 
more independent USAID would help strengthen the focus on authentic 
and sustainable poverty reduction and self-reliance."
 
McCullough praised the review's emphasis on lifting up the role of 
women and girls as participants in development programs. However, he 
added that a needed priority for all development and humanitarian 
work that was not specifically mentioned as a focus for the review is 
the importance of providing nutrition in the first 1,000 days – 
roughly the first three years – of a child's life. Ensuring food 
security as well as early nutrition is a bottom-line requirement for 
tomorrow’s generation, he said.
 
CWS praised the administration’s commitment to strengthen the United 
States Agency for International Development and to elevate its role 
as the lead U.S. government agency in promoting global development 
work. "It is also encouraging to see President Obama’s Global Hunger 
and Food Security Initiative, called Feed the Future, being based at 
USAID," said McCullough, noting that the moves will help empower 
USAID, making U.S. aid efforts more effective globally. "It is 
disappointing, though, that it might not be until 2012 that the 
Global Health Initiative will be based within USAID."
 
McCullough commended  the review for its focus on global "best 
practices" that include "high-impact" development programs that have 
broad government and popular support in the countries where USAID 
works. McCullough also praised the review's wisdom that protection of 
refugees and other displaced people, as well as dissidents and 
marginalized people, should be a core effort of U.S. diplomacy.
 
CWS provides protection programs for displaced people globally and 
resettles refugees to the United States. Church World Service, with 
more than 60 years experience in disaster response and refugee 
resettlement, is a global humanitarian relief and development agency 
supported by Christian denominations in the United States.  CWS is a 
member of the ACT Alliance.
 
Media Contacts
Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net
 
Church World Service
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New York, NY 10115
(212) 870-2676