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Office of Democracy and Governance
>> Regional Overview >> Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Overview THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE: USAID efforts to strengthen democracy and good governance worldwide anchor a balanced foreign policy approach. USAID extends democracy assistance worldwide; 80% of USAID field missions promote democracy and good governance as one of their development objectives. Of the total funding for USAID democracy programs in FY 2001, 20% was attributed to rule of law, 6% to elections and political processes, 39% to civil society, and thirty-five percent to governance. Democratic governments are more likely to advocate and observe international laws, protect civil and human rights, avoid external conflicts, and pursue free market economies essential to international trade and prosperity. USAID investments in these four priority areas work toward:
- Improving laws and legal systems;
- Conducting fair and impartial elections and strengthening political processes;
- Developing citizen groups and civil society; and
- Improving government's ability to perform and respond to constituency needs.
THE USAID PROGRAM: In FY 2002, the Office of Democracy and Governance (DCHA/DG) will program $15.7 million in Development Assistance (DA) funding. For FY 2003, the Administration has requested $18.8 million for the global Democracy and Governance portfolio that includes $6 million for operating year budget transfers as described in footnote above. DCHA/DG also manages some additional DA and Economic Support Funds (ESF) at the request of USAID field missions or U.S. embassies in countries in which USAID is not present. All FY 2002 and FY 2003 funds will further existing strategic objectives, with rule of law programs receiving 21%, elections and political processes 15%, civil society 33% and governance 31%. The Office of Democracy and Governance's own funding is directed to:
- Formulating new approaches to make democracy programs work better;
- Assessing innovative activities and promoting best practices;
- Training worldwide staff; and
- Providing direct technical support to missions.
DCHA/DG formulates new approaches to democracy programming. Beginning in FY 2002, DCHA/DG's operations research will focus on the mechanics of program design and implementation through an evaluation of political parties assistance programs, assistance to civil society organizations, and governance assistance programs. DCHA/DG assesses innovative activities and promotes best practices. Already completed research provides robust evidence that DCHA/DG's activities contributed to national political change in Bolivia, Bulgaria, and South Africa. In FY 2002, DCHA/DG will release a new handbook on qualitative indicators that provides guidance on how to best measure the achievements of USAID's democracy programs and activities. Research findings are continually incorporated into USAID's rigorous training program for newly hired USAID democracy officers and in-service training for USAID democracy officers in the field.
DCHA/DG also provides direct technical support to missions. DCHA/DG's in-house experts in rule of law, elections, governance, and civil society conduct needs assessments, design new programs, and evaluate on-going programs at the request of missions. Select DCHA/DG programs provide a comprehensive framework that contributes to the achievement of all four strategic objectives: the rule of law, elections and political processes, civil society, and governance. For example, DCHA/DG conducts overarching strategic assessments to inform USAID missions' democracy programs, and a new conflict analysis framework will be used in several field assessments in FY 2002 and FY 2003 to examine the causes of conflict and to design targeted interventions.
Recent program successes include:
- Rapid response by DCHA/DG to further the achievement of foreign policy objectives by supporting democratic breakthroughs in Nigeria and Peru.
- DCHA/DG anti-sweatshop programs provided advocacy organizations in Guatemala and Indonesia with technical assistance and training allowing them to become leading monitoring and advocacy organizations on behalf of garment workers.
- USAID support to increase the number of national chapters established by Transparency International (TI) to 82 countries to fight corruption and to publish the TI's annual Corruption Perceptions Index, considered one of the most valuable tools in the global fight against corruption.
OTHER PROGRAM ELEMENTS: DCHA/DG manages democracy and governance activities in countries in which USAID does not have a field mission. Activities in non-presence countries are typically funded with ESF and are designed in close partnership with the Department of State and USAID's non-governmental organization (NGO) partners. Activities include assistance to civil society groups that support democratic reformers and cultivate political will to establish democratic practices, and assistance to government institutions promoting democratic reform. Many non-presence countries in which USAID manages democracy activities have little experience with democratic practices; many are troubled by political instability. DCHA/DG management of the funds ensures targeted programming in difficult environments, and allows for re-programming of funds if circumstances change.
OTHER DONORS: DCHA/DG plays a leadership role in the field of democracy assistance within the U.S. Government and among other donors. DCHA/DG disseminates its best practices widely and coordinates with other donors to develop cutting edge approaches in each of the four sub-sectors. DCHA/DG works closely with other relevant U.S. Government actors, primarily in the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and State, to coordinate programs that have multiple funding sources. The Office's recently completed guide on promoting judicial independence was widely vetted within the U.S. Government, and will be featured at a Development Assistance Committee Democracy and Governance Network meeting in the near future. The highly political nature of elections often creates circumstances in which donor coordination is critical. United Nations organizations, other bilateral donors, and a myriad of international organizations and NGOs provide large-scale assistance on a selective basis.
Program Data Sheets
- 932-001 Legal systems operate more effectively to support democratic governance and protect human rights
- 932-002 Political processes, including elections, are competitive and more effectively reflect the will of an informed citizenry
- 932-003 Informed citizen's groups effectively contribute to more responsive government
- 932-004 National and local government institutions more openly and effectively perform public responsibilities
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
Overview
