Christina Schultz serves as a Senior Advisor for programming and new business.
Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somali citizens have lived under statelessness and weak transitional governments. USAID’s Strengthening Somali Governance (SSG) Project supported the development of more effective and accountable Somali government institutions. Since October 2014, SSG greatly improved how the government provided essential services. Throughout the political process, the project systematized…
African governments have contested elections on a platform of ridding the country of corruption for many years. They berate predecessors for not doing enough, when they have no tangible plans for addressing corruption’s root cause, the lack of integrity. If a lack of integrity is the root cause of corruption, then it is important to…
Southern Syria was at the center of a revolution that has spiraled into a civil war. Despite the challenging security situation and unpredictable nature of the war, USAID’s Syria Essential Services (SES) program provided assistance to stabilize conflict-affected communities in southern Syria. The program worked with local communities and councils to strengthen their ability to…
After six years of chronic instability and a persistent governance and security vacuum, Libyans increasingly frame their aspirations in terms of survival. The Libya Transition Initiative (LTI) III, under USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives, fostered stability and public confidence in public institutions, aiming to reinforce Libyan resilience and prevent further political fragmentation. Working in partnership…
Imagine you are in a neighborhood. In this neighborhood, there is a corner where young people gather every night to drink. We would call them “at-risk youth.” These are young guys who have dropped out of school, and the local priest decides that he is worried about them. The priest forms a basketball team that…
Ghana’s criminal justice system faces a number of challenges: Cases are not handled in a timely manner and a lack of communication within the justice sector has weakened efficiency and effectiveness during criminal prosecutions. USAID/Ghana’s Case Tracking System Activity developed a criminal case tracking system to support the Ghanaian government in effectively investigating and prosecuting…
This post originally appeared on UrbanLinks. Quick infusions of public services are usually a surefire way for local officials to increase their political capital. But pushing through reforms that spur longer-term economic development and strengthen community cohesion is often much harder to accomplish amid competing priorities. In Jordan, USAID’s Cities Implementing Transparent Innovative and Effective…
Down-and-dirty politics and political roadblocks have thwarted the success of agricultural development projects for decades. To achieve greater success, we need to consider how we can better understand and break down such blocks. Whether we like it or not, international development efforts are inherently political. Within the agriculture sector, the relationships and power dynamics among…
Final Report: Colombia Consolidation and Enhanced Livelihoods Initiative – Northern/Southern Regions
From October 2011 to 2017, the USAID-funded Consolidation and Enhanced Livelihoods Initiative – Northern/Southern Regions (CELI N/S) supported the Government of Colombia’s efforts to improve governance, stimulate sustainable economic development, build social capital, and encourage licit lifestyles free from conflict and violence in 19 prioritized municipalities in Antioquia, Bolivar, Córdoba, and Tumaco (Nariño).
Despite the recent weakening of violent extremist groups such as the Islamic State and Boko Haram, these threats continue to be a pressing global issue. In the development sector, countering violent extremism (CVE) and preventing violent extremism (PVE) are increasingly high priorities for government agencies and donors. As USAID, the State Department, and others grapple…
Opaque regulations, institutional inefficiency, and widespread corruption present immense challenges for developing countries that are trying to strengthen their economies. To build a strong economy, it’s key to have a thriving business environment that brings public sector stakeholders and private sector advocates together. The World Bank’s annual Doing Business Report offers a useful framework to…