Limited cooperation between Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs since 1999 has hindered the country’s social, economic, and political development, prolonging the region’s instability and lengthening timetables for European Union accession. The USAID Advancing Kosovo Together (AKT) program improved conditions that enabled Kosovo Serbs and other ethnic minorities to participate in the workforce and government institutions…
In October 2015, just a few years after experiencing tumultuous political and economic conflict, Côte d’Ivoire held its first peaceful presidential election in more than two decades. The USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives Côte d’Ivoire Transition Initiative 2 (CITI2) worked with local partners to advance the country toward peace and stability. By strengthening community cohesion and…
Despite gains made through prior USAID initiatives, Colombia still faces challenges in securing ongoing respect and protection for human rights. Vulnerable populations generally lack knowledge of protection mechanisms and of government efforts to prevent and respond to human rights violations. USAID’s Human Rights Activity (HRA) uses a three-pronged strategy — promote a culture of human…
Colombia’s 52-year conflict has debilitated some its rural areas, where the topography is difficult, the road infrastructure minimal, and the state presence weak. Negligible state presence in these areas has allowed illegally armed groups to form and narco-trafficking activities to proliferate, afflicting populations with high levels of poverty and violence. In the absence of effective,…
Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and with more than two dozen regional and national offices around the world, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) rigorously analyzes data and information that indicate an area is or will soon be facing food insecurity or famine. The network also provides early warnings to donors and governments, equipping…
The Society for International Development-Washington Chapter (SID-Washington) announced today that Chemonics Managing Director for Ethics and Risk Management Melissa Logan has been elected to a three-year term as Chair of SID-Washington’s board of directors. With a broad membership, SID-Washington is one of the development community’s most influential and inclusive organizations. Prior to Ms. Logan’s election…
This post originally appeared on The Atlantic Council. Many governance experts see decentralization as a potential model to mitigate political and sectarian challenges in Syria, Libya, and Iraq and improve livelihoods in those countries by restoring basic services to local populations. But in countries with a long history of absolute control, central government officials frequently…
3 Questions with Michele Piercey: Conflict and Exclusion as the Front Door for Extremist Recruitment
In February, a famine was declared in South Sudan. And in 2016, the media frequently linked the conflict in Syria to the country’s extreme drought. What do we know about the complex relationship between climate change and conflict, particularly resource-based conflicts? Climate change affects communities in a way that makes them chaotic and difficult to…
Earlier this year in Mombasa, a youth activist told me he knew plenty of young men who joined Al Shabaab. Many had participated in livelihoods and vocational training activities funded by NGOs. Some even found jobs. Nonetheless, they decided to join the notorious violent extremist organization. This was not the first time that I had…