Samantha Power says the U.S. government needs to “reinvent our playbook” for supporting democratic reformers in a world of rising authoritarianism.
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In a major speech Tuesday that covered territory from domestic U.S. gun laws to democratic backsliding in Sudan, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power called for a more “nimble” approach to U.S. democracy promotion.
U.S. President Joe Biden came into office pledging to fight back against global democratic decline, but on the heels of America’s own tumultuous transition of power, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has given the issue existential urgency.
“America and all who share our values—the world’s democracies, allies in the private sector, civil society, multilateral institutions, religious and diaspora communities, everyday citizens— all of us must build on the unity that we have demonstrated in Ukraine to try to extend a broader revolution of dignity to people seeking to be free,” Power said Tuesday.
For USAID, that means a sharper focus on three priorities: 1) highlighting democratic “bright spots” and assisting the reformers who enable them; 2) fighting back against “digital authoritarianism”; and 3) taking a more proactive role in targeting sanctions against kleptocrats.
On that last point, Power noted that USAID’s traditional involvement with sanctions has been focused on helping humanitarian partners navigate them in order to deliver assistance to people living under sanctioned regimes. And while she emphasized that the agency will continue to do that, she also said that USAID will increasingly look to international journalists, activists, and civil society actors who have “unique insights into where and how illicit gains are stashed away and are eager to pass that information to sanctioning authorities.”
More broadly, Power wants to see USAID play a more assertive role in helping democratic reformers consolidate their hard-won gains by supporting their delivery of effective government services.
“Far too often, reformers will win an election on a platform of strengthening the rule of law or a mass movement will succeed in toppling a repressive government, only for the democratic dream to wither as despots wrest back control,” she said.
“Traditionally, we have responded to these bright spots with democracy assistance. But what a democratic bright spot may most desperately need is debt relief, shipments of wheat or vaccines, support for a more robust social safety net, particularly amid economic reforms, or even just an infusion of bureaucratic expertise so that citizens have access to basic services— these are moves that would quickly deliver tangible benefits to everyday people,” she said.
While many of the concrete plans mentioned in Power’s speech were previously announced, her framing of what needs to happen next struck democracy advocates as a step in the right direction.
“Russia’s invasion of sovereign, independent Ukraine has served as a wake-up call across the community of democracies – and the USAID initiatives in the Administrator’s speech are critical components of a broader, much-needed strategy,” Katie LaRoque of Freedom House tells me.
+ Check out all of our coverage of USAID, including the report on Power’s hearings in the U.S. Congress last month, where she laid out the agency’s approach to localization, Ukraine, and the food crisis.
Needs assessment
For humanitarian organizations, the crisis in Ukraine has demanded a rapid scale-up of response programs in a complex and changing environment.
“Several U.N. agencies and international NGOs told Devex that they were facing challenges not only in delivering aid — due to factors including insecurity, a lack of access, and fuel shortages — but also in expanding and recalibrating their operations to meet growing humanitarian needs. In some cases, they’ve started their responses from scratch in Ukraine,” Kieran Guilbert reports for Devex.
Read: NGOs juggle emergency aid, development planning as Ukraine war rages
Undeclared
“It was clear to me that there was famine in Tigray, and the only reason it wasn’t declared was because the Ethiopian authorities were quite effective in slowing down the whole declaration system.”
— Mark Lowcock, former undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, United NationsLowcock, who left his role at the U.N. last year, said yesterday the Ethiopian government had blocked official declaration of famine in its Tigray region, in remarks first reported by Devex. Lowcock went on to criticize the current system for declaring famines, calling it “not functional.”
Mark Lowcock: Ethiopian government blocked Tigray famine declaration
+ For the inside track on how agriculture, nutrition, sustainability, and more intersect to remake the global food system, sign up for Devex Dish, our free, must-read Wednesday newsletter.
Stay the course?
Bloomberg Philanthropies is known for its focus on noncommunicable diseases and injuries — work that its health leaders say is even more critical during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jenny Lei Ravelo reports on how global concern for pandemic preparedness is reshaping the funder’s approach.
“The COVID pandemic has alerted us that we're not doing enough on NCDs and it's the time to really step it up,” says Dr. Kelly Henning, the foundation’s public health program lead.
Read: How COVID-19 changed Bloomberg Philanthropies' work (PRO)
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Paying the price
The World Bank released its latest edition of the Global Economic Prospects report on Tuesday, and raised the alarm that stagflation — aka high inflation combined with stagnant growth — will be particularly brutal for middle- and low-income countries.
“Several years of above-average inflation and below-average growth now seem likely,” said bank President David Malpass, adding that, “For many countries, recession will be hard to avoid.”
Read: World Bank warns stagflation to hurt the poor, with famines possible
+ Track how business, social enterprise, and development finance leaders are tackling global challenges by signing up for Devex Invested — our free, must-read Tuesday newsletter.
In other news
Africa’s energy poverty is so great it should be allowed to use some of its fossil fuel reserves to address the gap, says former Irish President and U.N. climate envoy Mary Robinson. [The Guardian]
The U.N. will launch an aid appeal for Sri Lanka while the country negotiates a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to help address its economic crisis. [Al Jazeera]
U.N. agencies warn of a surge in child deaths amid increasing food insecurity and worsening malnutrition across the Horn of Africa. [UN News]
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About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
