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Moviefone News Moviefone Copyright 2011, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Moviefone Good old fashioned elbow grease. <![CDATA[On Earth Day, Lessons Learned From a Ghanaian Slum]]>
In 1970, when America celebrated its first Earth Day, hybrid cars and eco-friendly light bulbs weren't even a blip on the radar screen. Now is a far different time. In 2013, celebrating Earth Day has become a critical moment around the globe to think about and act on ways to "future proof" our world against a variety of environmental and climate-related concerns -- especially in our most vulnerable urban regions.

In a previous post, I spoke about the opportunities that exist within climate change adaptation to improve and transform slum communities, and how planning not for, but with, the urban poor can curb the cycle of poverty. Global Communities has applied a similar approach in another part of the world -- Ghana -- where about half of the urban population lives in slum settlements. Ghana's success story with water is fitting for an Earth Day discussion.

As we know, water plays a key role in good hygiene and sanitation. In slums -- typically characterized by poor land conditions, high density population, and a lack of adequate government services -- the additional challenge of limited access to clean and treated water can pose serious health and safety implications.

These were the conditions that spurred the Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene for the Urban Poor (WASH-UP) program, our USAID-supported urban water and sanitation project in Ghana.

In Ghana, the water supply has declined significantly since the late 1990s as urban population density increased tremendously. This has led to water rationing. Most households in Accra with yard or in-house water connections receive water at most twice a week, although many areas now go for weeks without any water at all. Daunting conditions, to be sure. But at Global Communities, along with our local partners, we are implementing many innovative ways to ameliorate this situation and improve hygiene and sanitation for slum dwellers in Accra. One such innovation is Biofil latrine technology.

Biofil is a greener, safer, and more cost effective way to manage human waste. The Biofil Digester combines the benefits of a flush toilet system with those of composting toilets, in that solid waste is degraded, decomposed and converted into rich, safe soil -- courtesy of living organisms which include both micro-organisms, such as bacteria, and macro-organisms, such as earthworms, which are housed in a section of the facility.

The system also makes hand-washing an easy and integral part of the process through a hand-washing facility that is connected to the toilet, which turns the water a person uses to wash their hands into the water that flushes away the waste.

The Biofil Digester has proven economically and environmentally-friendly in the hard-scrabble regions of Accra, especially where water supply is at risk; where services to maintain sewers or septic system services are inconsistent or absent; and where buildings are challenged by adverse soil, like clay or solid rock.

Since 2011, 13 of the toilets have been installed in the Accra neighborhoods of Ayidiki and Nima. And they've had a transformative effect. In March 2013, Global Communities celebrated World Water Day at the Accra home of a woman named Madam Donkor, a recipient of a Biolfil toilet. Madam Donkor raved about the benefits of her Biofil, reporting that her family of 15 now uses only 36 liters of water to wash their hands and flush the toilet for a whole week. This compares to a modern western toilet which uses around six liters per flush and older models which used to use up to 30 liters per flush. Another Biofil recipient in Ayidiki, George Clottey, lived in a compound that lacked adequate space for a conventional septic tank or latrine. However, the more compact and modern Biofil toilet fit within his living space. He and his family have benefited from their Biofil system for two years now.

A key part of Global Communities' collaborative model is ensuring an economic benefit for the people within the communities where we work. To that end, the Biofil Digester is a system made by Africans, for Africans. The toilet was manufactured locally, using locally-sourced materials.

Others within the community are reaping economic benefits, too. The toilets have helped Ghanaian farmers as the byproducts are used as fertilizers and soil conditioners. The system has a simple yet effective "drain field," or perforated pipes, that distribute bio-filtered waste directly to vegetation or farmyards. And other locals have developed businesses in aquaculturing, in which they grow the earthworms used in the system and use or sell them to feed fish or seed new toilet installations.

Through the introduction of a simple, replicable and affordable sanitation system that protects the land and yields positive benefits for homeowners, farmers and local businesses, the WASH-UP project represents something worth celebrating this Earth Day. It's curbing pollution, keeping slum residents healthy and helping eliminating diseases like cholera, dysentery, and scabies. And it's an efficient program to boot. To date, 2,700 households involved in the project now have connections to safe, piped water.

By showing what is possible through modern toilet technology, WASH-UP has made a life-changing difference for residents and stakeholders in slum communities within Accra. It's yet another way that Global Communities is working to bring about sustainable changes that improve the lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable.]]> Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:42:02 EDT 3095291 <![CDATA[Kenya Elections: Reducing Political Violence Through Community Dialogue]]>

Kenyan youth are reaching across ethnic lines to advocate for peaceful elections.

As part of the broader effort in Kenya to mitigate and prevent this kind of violence, Global Communities is implementing the United States Agency for International Development-funded Kenya Tuna Uwezo (KTU) program, which means "We Have the Power" in Kiswahili. The program focuses on the informal settlements of Nairobi, where Kenya's most vulnerable citizens are easy targets for political manipulation and where ethnic violence is common. KTU, which also includes Kenyan partners PeaceNet and Kituo Cha Sheria, is empowering these communities to resist political manipulation and building the capacity of community leaders and groups to resolve the sources of conflict and develop cooperation that leads to peace and stability. This process is built on Global Communities' 18 years of conflict mitigation experience around the world, and is outlined in a new issue brief entitled Community and Conflict Resolution -- Partners for Peace.

One of the places where this approach has had the most success is in the informal settlement of Kiambiu. Historically, this community has been bitterly divided along ethnic lines, with two of the largest ethnic groups of Kenya -- the Kikuyu and the Luo -- on opposing sides. By the time post-election violence erupted in 2007 and 2008, neither group could safely cross into the other's territory. To help ease these tensions, in 2012 KTU staff entered the community, identified the main leaders on each side of the conflict, and sought to bring them together into dialogue. The process was challenging, but eventually both sides agreed to meet. (You can read about this process in the issue brief.)

The meeting marked the first time in more than a decade that these warring factions sat in the same room peacefully. Through the dialogue that took place, both sides agreed to pursue peace. To do so, many grievances had to be addressed. Many people who sat in the room had lost loved ones during the violence of 2007 and 2008, or had their homes and businesses burned to the ground. Many had been forcibly and illegally evicted from their homes, and those who forced them out were still living there without paying rent. Each side got to give their point of view, and over time grievances were forgiven and trust was built. Through the process, Global Communities helped them work to assign roles and responsibilities, manage expectations, develop and adhere to deadlines, and keep an open dialogue. In a significant show of progress, both groups decided to solidify their new bond by formalizing it. On Oct. 15, 2012, former warriors and gang members of the Kikuyu and Luo tribes joined together and established the Kiambiu Youth for Peace and Development.

Today, the group is addressing what they identified as their biggest obstacle to lasting peace: the dispute over the forceful evictions. Fortunately, through much dialogue based on the trust that has been built in the past year, the families still living in those particular houses agreed to vacate and let the rightful tenants return. The group is assisting those who vacated in finding alternative housing. While many challenges lie ahead, the cycle of violence has been stopped, and the group has made a commitment to working together through dialogue and openness.

Kiambiu demonstrates that when local partners act to resolve differences at the community level, they share ownership and accountability, which gives them a very tangible stake in their own success. As the world waits to see what the Kenyan elections will bring, we celebrate the tangible progress made by Kiambiu Youth for Peace and Development in reducing politically-charged violence and seeking to heal the wounds of a previously broken community. We hope other local governments, development groups, and concerned citizens will consider and apply this model of community-driven conflict mitigation in their efforts to ensure peace and stability. And, we hope for today's elections to be fair, free and peaceful.]]> Mon, 4 Mar 2013 11:20:55 EST 2776189 <![CDATA[Opportunity in the Middle East?]]>
While political instability across the Middle East has long kept investors at bay, the unprecedented social and political transformation taking place in the region also offers tremendous new opportunities. The middle and lower income classes can be a key to creating more equitable economies in the future if they are provided with access to credit, and the means to utilize their entrepreneurial talents in building and expanding the "missing middle" enterprises. Elissa McCarter of CHF International reports that "In developed countries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to over half of gross domestic product and 57 percent of total employment... The Middle East and North Africa region lags far behind other regions [in this area, and regional SMEs remain]... grossly underserved [and are] starved for capital to meet investment and expansion plans."

Global Communities (formerly CHF International), which has developed vast experience in development finance in the Middle East since the mid-1990s, worked in partnership with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and local banks in the West Bank to provide access to commercial bank credit, with OPIC providing loan guarantees to our partner banks, incentivizing the banks to lend to worthy small- and medium-sized enterprises that could create jobs and generate income. Because of the success of that program, OPIC, the United States Agency for International Development and Global Communities are now replicating such loan guarantee facilities in Jordan and Egypt, investments which, where market appropriate, also include training for local entrepreneurs and bank loan officers alike. This modest investment of public money can unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment.

A loan client in Iraq.

In the Middle East region, microfinance can also play an important catalytic role in spurring equitable economic growth. With the largest network of microfinance institutions in the region, Global Communities has seen first-hand the kind of robust and impressive results that can stem from limited initial investment. Since 2004, Global Communities has been able to disburse more than $620 million in small loans to more than 260,000 people, helping to create more than half a million new jobs across a broad spectrum of the economy, creating a larger and stronger middle class and reducing income inequality.

In many countries in the Middle East, past private foreign investment has largely benefited the elite privileged classes. The middle and lower income classes have been largely left out, and the markets have been distorted by donor and government subsidies. Moreover, the lack of good legal frameworks to enable more commercially-oriented microfinance has stymied the ability of banks and other finance institutions to provide necessary credit to assist working class entrepreneurs. In our experience in the region, our microfinance clients have proven to be loyal, resilient and bankable, continuing to build their lives and livelihoods through war, economic stagnation, regime change and more. Despite challenges, they repay their loans (our repayment rates are consistently above 98 percent) and value the consistent access to financing that has enabled them to continue expanding their small businesses. These people, who represent the vast majority of the region's population, are the future of their countries.

Yet in order to significantly expand these activities, and thereby expand economic opportunities, private investment is a must. President Obama and his foreign policy team can help by highlighting opportunities for private investment and by working with regional policy-makers to encourage a climate more conducive to investment. This would mean advising on creating the right regulatory framework to open markets, and to better enable microfinance to serve the lower income strata of the population.

For so many of the peoples of the Middle East who have supported the "Arab Awakening," their frustration has only partly been because of disenfranchisement from their political systems. They have also been economically disenfranchised. Their aspirations are to provide a better life for their families, have the security of their own home and a job or a business that will translate to hope for a better future for their children. Investing in the working class in this region is a key ingredient in bringing stability to the region and ending the cycle of disappointment and disillusionment that so often leads to ideological extremes and violence. At a time when the perceived turmoil in the region is so easily seen as a disincentive to invest, the smart money must recognize the opportunity before us of a region hungry to build a better future.]]> Wed, 6 Feb 2013 10:33:31 EST 2585025 <![CDATA[Don't Let Foreign Aid Fall Off the Fiscal Cliff]]>
Sequestration means that all federal programs would face across-the-board cuts of 8.2 percent come New Year's Day, unless Congress can agree upon more than $1 trillion in savings. This is a direct result of last year's Budget Control Act that established the congressional "super committee" whose members agreed that sequestration would automatically take effect should they fail to come to an agreement. If there's anything good to be said about this looming threat, it's that it forces us to take a careful look at what we value as a nation. And I personally believe that among the values Americans hold dear, few rival the importance of investments we make to support humanitarian assistance and international development.

Humanitarian assistance and international development programs have played a fundamental role in not just increasing prosperity around the world, but in mitigating conflict and building the foundations of peace, thereby protecting our national security. This was the spirit in which President John F. Kennedy founded the Peace Corps in 1961. With two world wars behind us, Americans recognized the need to maintain a presence abroad and to develop friendships with and forge greater understanding of peoples who live beyond our shores. Today, of course, our nation faces new threats and unprecedented challenges in the international arena. Helping those in need around the world isn't just a good thing to do; it's in our national interest.

Thoughtful leaders from both sides of the political aisle agree that a critical link exists between our national security and the assistance that we provide to struggling countries to reduce poverty, mitigate conflict, spur economic development, help rebuild after disasters, and build self-sufficiency.

Former Secretaries of State, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell and George Shultz have all spoken out about the importance of keeping our International Affairs budget strong. [Source: Interaction fact sheet quote] General John Allen, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, minced no words when he told Foreign Policy about the long-term value of the "soft power" of development and humanitarian aid: "While the hard power of the military can create trade, space, time, and a viable security environment, the soft power of USAID and the development community can deliver strategic effects and outcomes for decades, affecting generations."

Empowering the poor and vulnerable with the knowledge and tools they need to change the course of their lives is a fundamental element of our approach to development at Global Communities (formerly CHF International). It permeates everything we do, whether we are equipping community leaders in the slums of Nairobi with conflict mitigation skills; assisting those with HIV and AIDS in Colombia to gain access to treatment; or distributing emergency food aid to vulnerable families in Gaza during the recent conflict. Considering the fact that foreign assistance only makes up less than 1 percent of the federal budget, it's hard to make a solid economic argument for cutting programs like these -- programs that reduce poverty and conflict, save lives, and contribute to our national security.

We are certainly not the only ones doing this critical work. Thankfully, many other organizations recognize the need, and through the combined efforts of the international development community, the positive impacts of foreign aid can be seen every day -- in stability as well as sustainability. This work simply must be allowed to continue, especially if we are to continue America's legacy as a champion of peace throughout the world.

And so, as the budget battles wage in Washington, our national leaders must be challenged to put politics aside and remember the values that define us. Not only members of the international development community, but all Americans should stand in support of investments in foreign assistance -- the most important investments we can make toward prosperity and global security.]]> Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:28:32 EST 2296206 <![CDATA[To Our Next President: Global Leadership Begins With Foreign Aid]]>
In my role as the CEO of Global Communities, I see firsthand the effectiveness of foreign assistance in having a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable populations around the world and in asserting America's leadership. Through foreign assistance, we promote stability, provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, and promote economic growth, each of which is in America's best interest. Research shows that "for every 5 percent drop in income growth in a developing country, the likelihood of violent conflict or war within the next year increases by 10 percent."

However, there are many voices in Congress and throughout the country calling for deep cuts to the funds that support these assistance programs. Often times these opinions are based on the misconception that foreign assistance represents a significant amount of federal spending. However, the fact is that the entire foreign affairs budget, of which foreign assistance and development is only a part, comprises less than 1 percent of the overall federal budget. Cutting aid would not only be ineffective in balancing the budget, but it would do so at the cost of life-saving programs that consistently deliver results.

Another misconception among those calling for disproportionate cuts to foreign assistance is that these programs function as "hand outs." In fact, foreign assistance in its best form -- and one that I've seen work with dramatic results time and again -- is founded on partnership with and empowerment of the communities in which we work. This is the core of what we do. We work with real people who understand the needs of their communities, and partner with them to bring about lasting change. Under this approach, development is actually something we do with the vulnerable, not something we do for them.

This is the approach that Global Communities has taken for 60 years in more than 100 countries around the world, engaging and involving individuals and communities throughout the development process to keep control and ownership in their hands. It's an approach we believe in so strongly that we recently changed our name -- from CHF International to Global Communities -- to reflect that commitment.

Our work in Haiti is a meaningful and recent example of this approach. After the 2010 earthquake, the infrastructure of many Haitian communities was utterly destroyed. In order to help them rebuild, Global Communities launched a major recovery program in the community of Ravine Pintade, Port-Au-Prince, working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. Along with our partner PCI, we identified key leaders within the Ravine Pintade community, worked with them to identify their needs in a manner that allowed us -- with them -- to not simply rebuild the neighborhood, but to "build back better." The result: a rebuilt a community based on their feedback that was stronger and more vibrant than before the earthquake struck. This groundbreaking USAID-funded KATYE ("neighborhood" in Creole) program was responsible for the creation of green spaces, schools, proper access to roads, family homes that will be more resilient in the face of future natural disasters, and a safer and healthier community. This kind of development using American foreign assistance dollars begins and ends with a commitment to the communities themselves, empowering them to create lasting change for their own good.

With Election Day now here and the outcome an apparent toss-up, I hope that the next president of the United States will work to maintain a robust foreign assistance budget, which will ensure the continuation of America's legacy of leadership and engagement throughout the world with a focus on our humanitarian values. Doing so transcends politics, and is a commitment that our next president must not ignore.]]> Mon, 5 Nov 2012 23:55:24 EST 2077777 <![CDATA[The Urban Poor, Climate Change and the Future of Cities Around the World,]]>
On September 17, as part of a panel hosted by CHF International and the U.S. Green Building Council, Brian English, CHF's Director for Program Innovation, discussed how we can "future proof" cities, releasing an issue brief detailing how including the urban poor in planning and decision-making processes is crucial to developing more resilient cities.

Slum dwellers, the poorest of the poor in ballooning mega-cities around the world, are living on the edge physically, economically, and politically: in coastal cities, on riverbanks, in hazard-prone areas, without rights to their land, with little savings, without identity or a right to their cities. They also represent the communities that will be hit hardest by climate change, placing them on the front lines of the scramble to adapt and mitigate its impacts.

CHF's recent experiences in India provide a useful lesson about the value, and measurable impact, of planning not "for," but with the urban poor in one of the world's most populated regions.

Near Mumbai, the city of Pune is the eighth largest metropolis in India with a population of about five million people -- and 1 million of them live in slums. By 2025, the population of the Pune-Mumbai "mega region" is expected to hit nearly 50 million people.

Just as they have in many cities around the world, in Pune slums are growing. In the absence of affordable housing, newcomers to Pune found shelter in squatter settlements, typically on land unsuitable or unattractive to real estate developers. These communities lack basic services. For example, thousands of slum households in Pune have no access to sanitation facilities and must resort to open defecation.

In 2007, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's department of Special Initiatives, CHF started a program called SCALE- UP in India and Ghana, designed to improve living conditions and incomes of these vulnerable populations, thereby contributing to their resilience.

One project under SCALE-UP took place in Pune, India where we helped support both local governments and the urban poor in exploring the conditions of their communities in order to take action -- a skill that will be increasingly needed in the face of climate change. We engaged 5,000 volunteer slum dwellers to survey the socio-economic conditions of their peers across the city. Entering this information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) that we developed with the local government, we then gave back the data to community volunteers and taught them how to organize neighborhood action plans supported by their findings. In two years, having mobilized their own resources and those of the local government, 130 slum communities in Pune implemented projects that they wanted, and on their terms. The improvements included a solid waste management program, better water connections, sanitation access, and the development of renewable energy sources.

During this same period, the Pune city authorities began implementing a disaster management plan as part of a climate change adaptation strategy. They put in place programs to restore natural drainage, reduce river pollution and encroachment, and extend bridges. The city also introduced property tax incentives to encourage households to use rainwater harvesting. Flooding decreased in the city, and Pune has been recognized for the tangible results they achieved.

But even more importantly, the city's leaders should also be recognized for their progressive approaches towards working with their marginalized slum communities. In 2010, I had the chance to see first hand the impacts of the programs we implemented with the Pune Municipal Corporation and meet with city officials. It is clear that many leaders within the city government share our approach to creating lasting impacts: poor and vulnerable communities must be included in and empowered by solutions. The vulnerability of slum communities has by no means been solved yet in Pune, but by championing this approach forward, we know that there will be a legacy of empowerment behind every brick and mortar solution.

The urban poor are incredibly resourceful populations, who have their own resources, networks, and the proven capacity to save and invest in the betterment of their communities, if only given the chance. It's up to us to offer it. Climate change creates a stimulus for action; we must ride that momentum to help city governments revisit the vulnerability of these communities and reimagine solutions that improve livelihoods and living conditions.]]> Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:11:55 EDT 1955764 <![CDATA[The Future President of Palestine]]>
One of the most inspiring people I met was Basha'er Othman, a 15-year-old girl from Illar, a small town of just over 6,000 people. Basha'er is the "shadow" mayor of her town and one day, she told me, she hopes to be the president of a future state of Palestine. I have no doubt that her drive and poise will take her a long way. But for now, she is learning the ropes by being the democratically elected "shadow" mayor and working with the local council members of her town. In her position, she is supervised by the mayor and the deputy mayor and is expected to engage other youth members to shadow the municipality's council members.

PHOTO: Basha’er meeting with ‘Illar Municipality Council members.

Basha'er became involved in local government through the Youth Shadow Local Council (YSLC) -- an initiative implemented by CHF International as part of the USAID-funded Local Democratic Reform program (LDR). CHF helped form Youth Shadow Local Councils across the West Bank to engage youth and teach them about local governance and democracy. The program targets 12 communities which are administered by democratically elected municipal and local councils: Beit Sahour, Jericho, Al Tayba, Abu Dis, Salfeet, Anabta, Illar, Qalqilya, Ar Ram, Idhna, Halhoul, Beit Fajjar. The activities of the YSLCs will be expanded under the current Local Government and Infrastructure program also funded by USAID and implemented by CHF International. We hope further to implement the YSLC initiative in other countries using what has been already developed in the West Bank as a model.

Basha'er says that her mission is to empower her fellow youth to become part of the local government's participatory democratic decision-making process on the local and national levels. Despite her ambitious dreams, Basha'er was brought up in a marginalized community. Her well-being, however, was of the utmost importance to her parents, who in spite of the hardships had one thing in mind: guide their young daughter in the right direction. And it has certainly paid off. Basha'er is driven, polite and charming, and is slowly changing the way many Palestinians see women and youth in local politics.

Since late January 2011, she has been heading the Youth Shadow Local Council (YSLC) in Illar and has been actively involved in empowering youth by being engaged in her community. And while the YSLC seeks to prove the potential of youth at the local level, Basha'er has gone a lot further, making her mark regionally and nationally. Within a year of her term presiding over the YSLC, Basha'er expanded their reach by coordinating activities with regional and national stakeholders. She presented Illar's YSLC achievements to the Minister of Local Government and Minister of National Economy at the Youth Summit, held in 2011. She also led efforts of a number of YSLCs in joint activities and campaigns and coordinated with Al-Najah University in Nablus and the American University in Jenin.

At the moment, the young shadow mayor is completely focused on what she needs to learn and what the people around her should learn as well. Basha'er hopes that by participating in the YSLC, she will be able to fulfill her dream. And I am confident that with the support and guidance she needs, she will get there. It is inspiring people like Basha'er that fill me with hope that in the future we will in fact be able to see better days not only for the Palestinian people, but for the whole Middle East.]]> Mon, 13 Aug 2012 10:25:10 EDT 1765437 <![CDATA[Georgia Sheds Its Soviet Past for a New Generation]]>
For years, Georgian civil society organizations and children's advocates pressured their government to close these relics of the Soviet past and develop a better system. Not only had the whole country suffered decades of oppression, these particular children had known further trauma by losing or being displaced from their families during conflict or being taken from them because of abuse or neglect by family members.

After years of research and planning, the Georgian government, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), decided to adopt a child welfare model similar to one adopted in Poland after the fall of communism. The model calls for a system based on group homes that house a small number of children along with live-in caregivers.

CHF International began rehabilitating conflict-damaged schools in Georgia after the 2008 war with Russia. Following on from this, USAID funded us to implement a program called Bavshvi, focused on repairing schools and old-style orphanages across the country. As the new child welfare model came online during the summer of 2010, our quick-witted and talented CHF Georgia staff moved with adeptness and flexibility to create and implement a new plan based on the new model.

Over the course of 20 months, we were able to renovate 25 small group homes and 50 schools. Once the homes were designed, built, and furnished by CHF, local partners such as SOS Georgia provided trained and dedicated caregivers to staff the homes, and child protection specialists from UNICEF offered overall technical assistance and guidance.

Today, all 25 of the old institutions have been closed and all of the children have been returned to their families or relatives, or are living in brand new small group homes. They will stay in the homes until they are of legal adult age. Each house has eight to 10 children and at least five caregivers. All of the children attend school, which is most often a school recently renovated by CHF. Staff members of the schools are aware of which children come from these homes and work in partnership with their caregivers on their overall welfare. Additionally, the homes are embedded into residential neighborhoods to offer the children a chance to build relationships and interact with the surrounding community, a key element missing in the old system. Skeptical of the new homes and their residents at first, members of these communities have now embraced the children and often pitch in with household needs.

As we completed the program this spring and turned each of the completed houses over to the Georgian Ministry of Health and Education, I was amazed at the difference that can be made in 20 short months. Children who once fell through the cracks of a crumbling system are now receiving dynamic, individualized care from highly trained specialists dedicated to their welfare. The change itself is also evidence of a civil society that has developed the capacity to demand better services and attention from its government for those who need it most, setting the example for the next generation of leaders.

Georgia's efforts to better the lives of its children are to be applauded. For in a region of the world scarred by its past, Georgia's actions on behalf of its most vulnerable citizens have ensured a better, more stable and brighter future.]]> Tue, 3 Jul 2012 10:05:02 EDT 1638209 <![CDATA[The Real Story in Liberia]]> was found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity by supporting rebels in Sierra Leone in return for "blood diamonds." His sentence is scheduled to be announced on May 30. Although the Taylor verdict is drawing attention to Liberia once again, it is also a reminder of how far Liberia has come since that dark era. Liberia today has very little to do with Charles Taylor and the crimes he committed in the past. Instead, the story of Liberia today has everything to do with the Liberian people who, after enduring 14 years of civil war, have for a second time chosen 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as their president and are ready to work together to continue rebuilding a country that was not long ago considered by many to be a lost cause.

Just a few weeks ago, three members of my CHF International team in Washington were in Monrovia to work with their Liberian colleagues on a variety of projects from water and sanitation to youth engagement and female entrepreneurship -- and they were enthused by what they saw. They met with businessmen and women, students and community health workers, private contractors and government officials and were inspired by their stories and strong sense of purpose. All of these individuals were reassuring signs of how fast Liberia is moving toward a better future.

Take James Mulbah, president of Compost Liberia, a company that operates the country's first waste segregation and recycling center, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. After receiving training in waste management and composting through CHF International, James and his friends won the bid to manage the recycling facility. At 26, James and 24 of his youth group friends are now proud business owners. Although in operation for only for a couple months, they have expanded their business to collect and recycle cans, bottles, paper bags and organic waste. Despite their young age, these young people have a vision and a strategy. James also has the passion and drive needed to succeed. In their mid-20s, many of them still remember the war and the many opportunities they may have lost. But with so much to achieve, there is no time to waste and they move forward quickly and firmly.

In another part of town, Shirley Kais, 30, manages 10 staff in Monrovia's top beauty salon. The young entrepreneur has ambitious plans to open the country's first full-service spa in the near future. A decade ago, Shirley and her family lost all they had due to the civil war; so instead of going to college, she started working straight out of high school. But that did not deter her, and with the money saved, she opened a small salon. As demand for her services increased, she opened a bigger salon, two years ago, where her company has flourished. Bur Shirley wants more. Just a few months ago, she graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Certificate Program for Women Entrepreneurs. The Monrovia native is living her dream, as she always wanted to have her own business while helping young women, much like herself, to get jobs and provide for their families.

So while Charles Taylor's trial and sentencing may be temporarily in the media spotlight, we should not lose sight of the Liberia of the present and the future. Based on what we have seen after working in the country for more than five years, I consider the real story of Liberia to be about James Mulbah and Shirley Kais and all the Liberians who, like James and Shirley, are passionate about their community and share a strong commitment to rebuilding their country through resilience and hard work. The story in Liberia today is not about the past, but about the future and the many opportunities that lie ahead.]]> Thu, 24 May 2012 10:58:34 EDT 1539745 <![CDATA[Ghana -- the Gateway to Africa]]>
Some recent reports have suggested that Ghana was the fastest growing economy of 2011, with reports of over 20 percent growth. Everywhere in and around Accra there are visible signs of this explosive growth. Multiple hotels are under construction to accommodate the rising number of foreign business visitors. Huge, glass office towers have sprung up in the middle of fields and there is business construction everywhere you go. Our CHF International staff in Ghana, and those of our local partner organizations, mostly young Ghanaians, are emblematic of the growing middle classes -- smart, well educated and enthusiastic, with a commitment to improving conditions in their own country and communities.

To say the people in Ghana are tremendously friendly is an understatement; everywhere I went I was greeted by beaming faces and infectious smiles. According to the research of the recent Gallup and Meridian International Center U.S. Global Leadership Project, Ghana is the country in the world with the most positive view of the United States, with a 92 percent approval rating. Ghana is, indeed, a gateway to Africa and a very visible symbol of the emerging economies of that great changing continent. Its combination of rapid economic growth and a large population makes it an emerging consumer market for private sector investment. As a welcoming country that is embracing the future, Ghana is well positioned for such future investment.

Of course, with this huge growth come challenges. Ghana is one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in the world. Half of its 24 million people now live in cities and this population is urbanizing at 3.4 percent a year, triple the rate of population growth. Naturally, much of this urban growth is taking place in informal settlements and one-third of the population lacks access to municipal services such as water, sanitation and sewage removal. That is where we at CHF International are focusing our attention.

We are working with the United States Agency for International Development to extend the reach of water and sanitation services into slum communities, and with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to encourage sustainable growth in youth employment, particularly in the waste management and recycling industries. Most recently we began a program with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that is working to create systems for improving revenue collection for the local government to pay for much-needed public services. We also work with a local bank, HFC Bank, to provide essential credit to entrepreneurs and home-buyers, often providing microloans to slum dwellers to start up their own small businesses. With these and other partnerships in the local community, we can work to assist the slum populations to fully participate in the benefits that Ghana is experiencing from its economic growth.

The Ghanaian people are rightly optimistic about their future, and that optimism can be felt throughout all levels of the country and its communities. It is a country on the move and a place to watch in the future.]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:08:18 EDT 1448936 <![CDATA[The 21st Century Urban Disaster: How Do We Respond?]]>

Recently, Courtney Brown, CHF's Director of Humanitarian Assistance, released an issue brief detailing the challenges of the 21st century disaster. Brown argues that two distinct but intertwined trends are becoming readily evident in the 21st century: the world's growing population is concentrating in urban centers; at the same time, the number of reported natural disasters is increasing. These two trends mean that the numbers of people affected by those disasters is also increasing. The intersection of these two trends will shape the face of disaster response in the 21st century: humanitarian responses will increasingly be mounted in complex urban environments, more frequently than in rural environments, which dominated disaster response in the 20th century.

What are some of the key differences between rural and urban disasters? Rural residents in low-income countries are most often farmers who make their own food and sell what surplus they have to their neighbors. Very few people in urban environments grow their own food. They are reliant on a complex of markets and distribution chains. Likewise, rural livelihoods are based around the household farm. But in cities livelihoods are commerce-based and inter-related. We have to focus on supporting markets, not bypassing them, and supporting these urban livelihoods. This means that in responding to disasters, the unit of intervention cannot be at a household level -- it has to be at the neighborhood level.

CHF recently piloted a project to work on this level in Port au Prince, Haiti. Our initial focus in disaster response in Haiti was on rubble removal and shelter construction. As we implemented these programs, we began to imagine a more integrated approach where the holistic needs of a neighborhood would be met and where long term reconstruction goals could be implemented at an early stage of disaster recovery. Funded by USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Katye (Haitian Creole for "Neighborhood") is a project currently being implemented in the Ravine Pintade neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, one of the areas most badly affected by the 2010 earthquake. Two-thirds of the nearly 1,000 families living in the area were left homeless by the disaster. CHF has worked with the local community to map the neighborhood, redesign housing, street layouts and drainage to house people effectively and to minimize harm from future disasters, as well as to allow access to the neighborhood for industry and services. We have also worked, for example, to create a rental market and document land tenure. You can read more about this case study in the issue paper. We view this program as part of an ongoing evolution in disaster response; CHF, governments, other NGOs and donors can learn from it, build on it, and together improve the world's response to the impending urban disasters we will unfortunately see in the 21st century.

The 20th century image of relief agencies driving trucks through dusty landscapes and throwing branded sacks of food and water to starving families will gradually fade from our television screens and disappear from our newspapers. In the urban disaster, food and water will come from proximate, less affected markets, as the urban economy shifts and adjusts to the shock of the disaster and vendors find new suppliers. The agro-pastoralist with his starving livestock will be seen less frequently; the impacted citizen may be a plumber, a taxi driver or a day-laborer. And flooded rivers will not destroy just farmland; we will see images of drowned slums and residents paddling boats between roofs and floating cars.

Regrettably, disasters are inevitable. But with continued investment in disaster risk reduction activities, municipal governments can mitigate the impact of those disasters when they do occur. Where families and neighborhoods are affected, the humanitarian community, in close cooperation with host governments, is adapting to the new world around us to mount aid programs that are designed around the unique complexities of the urban environment.
]]> Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:17:48 EDT 1383540 <![CDATA[NGOs, Corporations and the Changing Geography of Poverty]]> economic powers. The BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- are profoundly shaking up the G8.

All of these newcomers give aid to developing countries. And yet some still receive substantial international aid themselves from the U.S. and other multilateral and bilateral donors. This apparent schizophrenia is the symbol of the new world order into which we are entering, a world of multi-polar powers, where half of the G8 will still have significant poverty within their borders. The current recession and growth of emerging economies is irrevocably changing the world.

So where will international aid organizations -- NGOs -- fit into this changing world?

Let's examine first the issue of funding. NGOs receive funding from a variety of donors; the public, governments, multilateral institutions, foundations and corporations. Of late, the focus has increasingly been on corporations as a source for development funds. USAID, for example, is increasingly emphasizing private sector engagement in the programs they fund; and the State Department has led a series of initiatives such as Partners for a New Beginning, which are entirely focused on private sector investment in developing countries, involving multinationals such as Coca Cola and Middle Eastern enterprises such as Souktel. Accenture recently released a report about "Convergence" which details the emerging relationship between NGOs and corporations. No longer is it enough, Accenture argues, for the traditional model of a corporation's corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm to fund programs here and there. Corporations are looking to partner with NGOs who understand their business in a partnership that meets both community and commercial needs. CSR is becoming an integral part of corporate strategy.

CHF International's own experience suggests that this may well be the case. Our work with the private sector locally has long been a form of convergence. In Haiti we worked with Caterpillar's local affiliate, HAYTRAC, to create a training center for Caterpillar heavy equipment operators.

HAYTRAC were able to use local labor, a far more cost-effective option than importing expensive operators from as far away as Chile, and in turn, since the project launched in October 2009, we have been able to create skilled, long-term employment for over 160 Haitian vehicle operators. The tragic coincidence of the earthquake quickly made these graduates into experienced operators and critical members of the local workforce in their own right.

Multinational corporations are beginning to see this model as the way forward because these once emerging markets are now their growth markets. Haitians, Brazilians, Indians -- these are consumers and stakeholders, not just beneficiaries of charity relegated to the back of annual reports -- and their countries are becoming core new markets that large corporations cannot ignore. Corporations have to be more and more focused on instituting higher labor standards; local employees working in what were once sweatshops are now becoming consumers of the products their factories make.

From the point of view of our work and missions, these changes mean opportunities and challenges for NGOs. We should celebrate the emerging economies which are growing and beginning to outpace our own. This is, in many ways, what we have been working towards -- a more equitable world. We should also be seeking the opportunity to work with corporations to ensure that their work does have a positive impact on local communities and that they are making social as well as financial investments. At the same time, we have to be careful that in this new world we, and other organizations like ours, do not suffer mission-creep. Our missions of social progress, improving livelihoods and creating greater equity must remain our focus and we must not allow ourselves ever to become agents of exploitation. Each situation must be judged on its merits, according to the mission and values of the NGO and the work of the corporation. Commercial needs can only be met if they genuinely service the community and lead towards greater equity and economic empowerment. Where corporations truly recognize this, we see effective convergence.

The future for NGOs is working side by side with the private sector. And as the line between developing and developed becomes more blurred, the future will include working in G8 countries. Even if the geography of poverty is changing, our missions are not. NGOs, whether in the richest countries of the world or the poorest, have the role of working with the unheard voices, with those communities that are left behind. We have to be the enablers of progress, global citizens who operate with creativity, care and authenticity in the poorest of communities. And as the gap between the USA and China, for example, lessens, we may find new approaches to some of our own domestic issues. Post-financial crisis, does microfinance have a role in low-income communities in the USA? Can models of community engagement forged in post-conflict Middle East work with gangs in our own urban environments? These are the new questions we must ask, as we experience a convergence of developing and developed economies and of the NGO and corporate sectors.]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:13 EST 1269354 <![CDATA[Gold -- the Color of Impending Starvation]]>
December's rains were disappointing. The distribution of rainfall was uneven; some areas of Kenya received enough, others, such as this one, received little. The river beds have already completely dried up, leaving behind dust and rocks. The only plants really thriving are the massive cacti that dot the landscape, as well as rough shrubs that are well adapted for the semi-arid climate. Three years have gone by since this part of the world saw any substantial rainfall. The next rains are not expected until April, by which time the meagerness of the harvest will be felt intensely by the people living in this region -- there will, once again, be hunger and starvation.

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This is what David Humphries, CHF's Director of Communications, described to me after his trip to Kenya a week ago. It doesn't have to be this way. There are crops that can survive these kinds of conditions. Every season, based on the predictions of rain, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) stipulates which hybrid form of corn will likely produce the best harvest. But many of these farmers have no way of knowing what KARI recommends -- they buy whatever seed they can get hold of. CHF International, with funding from USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, has been working in this region for the last five months. We have provided education to whole communities and given seed vouchers, for the KARI certified seed, to 616 of the most vulnerable families and farmer groups in the region. Some of the education is basic -- how far apart to plant the corn seeds, planting beans between them to enrich the soil with nitrogen - to more advanced, such as which types of crops are most likely to survive these kinds of weather conditions and how to capture atmospheric moisture. Everyone faces the same challenges -- the lack of rain, insects preying on their crops, fungal infections in the soil -- but those who received the certified crops and education find themselves in a far better position. Their crops have produced a harvest, enough to get by until the next rains. Most importantly, they are armed with the knowledge of how to avert a catastrophe in the future.

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Knowledge is the most important facet here in avoiding future disasters. Joyce and Esther (pictured right), for example, are members of chwindiaa, the widows' association in Kitui. Despite their age and vulnerability, they and their fellow widows have managed to harvest enough to live by and enough to sell a little at the market. Muthoki Mutiso, another widow who attended CHF's community education program, has taken the responsibility of educating the rest of the community in how to plant and raise corn and other crops effectively. She is well known in the community for her hands-on training, vigilantly supervising the younger generation as they plant the crops.

Providing seeds averts immediate starvation, but education changes lives and livelihoods in the long term. This is said to be the worst drought in East Africa in 60 years. But compared to the famine in Ethiopia of 1983-85 which sparked worldwide action, the number of people who have died is much reduced. The current famine is thought to be affecting 13.3 million people and while the instability in Somalia makes it difficult to determine the exact number of people that have died, all reports agree it is significantly lower than the 400,000 lost in the Ethiopian famine. This is cause for optimism. Education makes a difference. The disaster risk reduction activities by governments and NGOs over the last 28 years have proven to be an effective investment in the Horn of Africa. Otherwise we would be seeing many millions more in a catastrophic situation.

The international community should not be satisfied with putting off the crisis for a few months at a time, or even a few years. If we continue to invest time, money and effort now into the education of farmers in the Horn of Africa, we can avert future famines and, in turn, avert refugee crises, conflict and instability in the region. Every cent invested in education now will make a profound difference in the long term. Although the drought in the Horn of Africa has long since faded from the headlines, unless we continue to plan long term we may never be very far away from the next crisis. But if the will is there, despite climate change and the worsening situation, we could begin to see an end to such headlines for good.]]> Mon, 6 Feb 2012 10:53:56 EST 1252955 <![CDATA[Now Is the Time to Invest in the Middle East and North Africa]]>

David Weiss, President of CHF International, Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist, and Elissa McCarter, Vice President for Development Finance discuss lending the in the Middle East and North Africa.

Supporting entrepreneurship and the growth of small businesses is one of the most effective ways of helping the people of the region in these turbulent times. More sustainable businesses and a healthy private sector will accelerate more equitable economic growth and job creation. In Egypt, for example, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are already the driving force in the economy, representing 90 percent of businesses, representing approximately 80 percent of the country's GDP and growing at an annual rate of six percent from 2006 to 2008. However, despite a number of interventions and credit enhancement schemes to try to increase access to finance, SMEs in MENA at large still suffer from a lack of the financing needed to expand, grow and create new jobs.

According to a recent IFC / McKinsey study, there are between 1.9 and 2.3 million formal SMEs in the MENA region, and the SME financing gap is estimated to be in the range of $110 billion to $140 billion. SME lending as a percentage of total lending for banks in MENA averages eight percent -- far below OECD countries where SME lending averages 27 percent of total lending. This is despite the fact that most major banks in the region hold abundant loan capital and are generally underleveraged. Although more than half of the formal SMEs in MENA maintain bank accounts, most do not have access to credit.

Microenterprises on average only employ a few people -- but they do create job opportunities where very few exist. Last month, I had the opportunity to moderate a discussion between Elissa McCarter, CHF International's Vice President for Development Finance and Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist.org, at an event at the National Press Club where we discussed the role of socially responsible lending in the Middle East. As Craig stated, "The best thing you can do for another person is help them get a job. Microfinance makes that happen -- in very real and sustainable ways."

CHF International supports microentrepreneurs and SME's across the Arab world, and the jobs these programs create change lives. One individual we supported was Jassim, a young Iraqi entrepreneur who was the sole supporter of his three younger siblings after his father, who worked in plumbing and auto shops in Baghdad, was killed by a criminal gang.

The young man began to work in a small car repair shop near his home, but without much training. When he heard about the financial products CHF offers to small businesses, he immediately applied for a business loan. With the money, he bought extra tools and decorated his work shop. A few months later, business had grown enough to hire three new workers. After fully paying off his first loan, Jassim applied for a second loan to buy a new car painting machine. This was the first time Jassim had access to capital, and that's all it took to get him to start one of the most popular auto shops in his town. As a young business owner, he is providing sustainable employment to members of his community and bettering the quality of life for his family and the families of his employees.

Across the region, our repayment rates are above 98 percent, despite the constant upheaval in countries such as Iraq and Lebanon or territories like Gaza. This may seem to contradict expectations and it is important to remember that the people receiving loans are from the working class. In times of tumult and political change they cannot flee, cannot move overseas. They have to live and earn a living throughout any and all circumstances. Their determination, focus and honesty are unparalleled. The transformation taking place today in MENA is a signal that now is the time to invest, and to invest in people that matter most. It is people like Jassim who, hardworking and courageous, when given the right tools will contribute to the development of their countries. With change come tremendous opportunities for us to engage more deeply with both new policy makers and young entrepreneurs alike, to work toward positive permanent change and stability.

Learn more about lending in the Middle East and North Africa.
]]> Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:38:07 EST 1092304 <![CDATA[Peace Corps - 50 Years of Service and Legacy]]> Peace Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary, its approach to development and its work around the world remain more relevant than ever. Over the last five decades, the "Peace Corps model" has had a tremendous amount of influence on organizations working in the developing world. At CHF International, we are proud of this heritage. Our community-based approach, our grassroots engagement with the communities we serve, our model of cooperation and intercultural understanding - these are all concepts that were pioneered by the Peace Corps and are central to effective development.

In fact, CHF International has a special bond with the Peace Corps, as many of our own staff are Peace Corps alumni, both returned Peace Corps volunteers and Peace Corps staff, who have served in places as diverse as Namibia, Honduras, Sri Lanka and Bahrain. All of them bring to our organization the skills they learned while serving their country overseas and improving the lives of people in the developing world. They bring a strong commitment to building a better world, one project at a time. CHF also has a global agreement with the Peace Corps that enables us to utilize Peace Corps Volunteers in our program and projects.

Across society, the spirit of the Peace Corps lives in entrepreneurs, journalists, diplomats and government officials: Chris Matthews, host of Hardball; former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd; and Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix, were all Peace Corps volunteers. They will tell you that much of their success can be attributed to the valuable lessons they learned while in the Peace Corps, where they came to understand the importance of international cooperation.

Today, as CHF approaches celebrating its own 60th anniversary, we are proud to be working with the Peace Corps again, in Rwanda. Under our global agreement with the Peace Corps, CHF's Rwanda team works with 15 Peace Corps volunteers who play a very important role within our organization and are engaged in different activities, such as teaching English to at-risk youth and building the capacity of our local partner organizations. Our programs focus on reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS and other health challenges of the most vulnerable populations in Rwanda by empowering local organizations, promoting health-seeking behavior, building family-level assets, increasing financial literacy and improving the livelihoods and food consumption of the very poor, especially women.

In the tumultuous world that we live in today, the model pioneered by the Peace Corps is more relevant than ever. A world which values cooperation and understands different cultures is a world that is likely to be more stable and prosperous. A world where we work on the grassroots level in partnership with local communities is a world which is far more likely to see sustainable development, owned by the people of those communities. For the U.S., as with any country, our best and brightest people are our most important exports and our best diplomats. And Peace Corps Volunteers, like CHF employees, bring back understanding of their countries to share with Americans.

Finally, on a personal note, the Peace Corps had a substantial impact on my life. As a teenager growing up in India, my family often had young Peace Corps Volunteers as guests in our home. I came to know a young man working at the American Embassy who took a special interest in the kids. That young man was Dick Celeste, who later became Director of the Peace Corps, for whom I worked as his Special Assistant. It was the start of my career, and what ultimately led me to where I am today.
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