Development Challenge Other Donors FY2001 Program / Activity & Budget Information Summary Tables Program Summary Work Force Data Program/Sector Summary USAID Search: Great Lakes Justice Initiative Previous Years' Activities 2000, 1999 Thursday, 09-Nov-2000 13:55:53 EST

Introduction

During his April 1998 trip to Africa, President Clinton called attention to the need for a process of reconciliation from the terrible tragedies in central Africa, and acknowledged that the international community has been part of the problem and needs to play a more active role in the region. The President reaffirmed the December 1997 commitment of the Secretary of State that the United States would provide funding in support of a Great Lakes Justice Initiative (GLJI). The goal of this initiative is to strengthen national and local judicial systems and promote processes for reconciliation.

The Development Challenge

The region of the Great Lakes -- which includes Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) -- has been caught in a deepening cycle of violence and anarchy which spills over national and ethnic boundaries. The manipulation of ethnic tensions, political and economic failures have resulted in bloodshed, instability and economic ruin. A majority of the population lives outside the rule of law, where corruption and violence are perpetrated with impunity. In order for the peoples of the Great Lakes region to escape from this vicious cycle, there needs to be a concerted effort to construct effective systems of justice and to move towards reconciliation. To accomplish this, a commitment is needed by African states and donors to make the rule of law a development priority.

Other Donors

USAID recognizes that this effort must be a multi-donor effort. As the implementation phase of the GLJI gets underway, the United States is actively promoting involvement by other bilateral donors and multilateral organizations, especially our European partners. The U.S. Government will seek to collaborate with public-private partnerships, other professional associations, foundations, and non-government organizations (NGOs) to contribute in-kind resources and enhance cooperation between civil society and government. In the region, the Initiative would engage international and local NGOs as well as civil society institutions.