Global Poverty

Yesterday, NDN hosted a special forum in New York City at which Douglas Alexander, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for International Development, argued that governments aiding failed and fragile states must do more than work to support economic growth and provide basic services such as clean water, health and education; they must now "support political institutions and processes -- parliaments, political parties, civil society and the media."

In his address to the NDN forum, Alexander underlined the U.S. and British experience in Afghanistan, where U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited yesterday. NDN President Simon Rosenberg introduced Alexander at the New York City event.

Using Afghanistan, Somalia and other countries as examples of why a fresh approach to development work is needed, Alexander outlined a four-point plan aimed at building peace and functioning states in nations plagued by civil war and conflict:

• Support for secure political settlements that will build the legitimacy of the state -- practical and lasting agreements on power-sharing.

• Help to build effective juvenile justice systems and to reform the policy and army to offer people genuine safety and ways to resolve disputes.

• Assistance to ensure states can survive on their own by helping governments to raise tax revenues and to encourage civil society.

• Increased support for states to deliver basic services like health, education and water to meet the expectations of their citizens.

In his speech, Alexander said:

"I need hardly suggest to an audience such as this that politics matters in all societies. But in fragile states, politics can make the difference between violence and the path to prosperity...

"...Yet in the past, aid agencies have too often been afraid to engage in building political institutions for fear of being accused of interfering in a developing country's politics. But our experience teaches us that we cannot address the challenges we face in fragile environments, in particular, through technocratic solutions alone."

To read the full text of Secretary Alexander's speech, please click here. A video of the event will be available in the coming days right here on the NDN Blog.

The New Policy Institute is excited to release a compelling new paper, Harnessing the Mobile Revolution, by Tom Kalil.

In recent years, the use of mobile phones and other mobile communications in developing countries has skyrocketed, and Tom takes a look at the power of mobile technologies in addressing some of our most pressing challenges, such as reducing the huge inequities in life expectancy between rich and poor countries, fostering inclusive economic growth, and promoting vibrant democracies.

The New Policy Institute is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) affiliate of NDN.

In the paper, which you can read in its entirety here, Tom urges the next President to promote mobile technologies as a tool to improve global health care outcomes, combat global poverty and strengthen democratic institutions.

"...the next Administration should launch a major new initiative to harness the confluence of new technologies and innovative business models as a key component of its global development agenda. This initiative would be designed to serve as a catalyst for policy reforms in developing countries, promote an increased capacity for innovation by developing country entrepreneurs to meet local needs, and stimulate additional investments by philanthropists, foundations and companies.

Such an initiative could reduce poverty, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve global health outcomes.  It could also help restore some of the damage to America’s international reputation, boost America’s 'soft power,' and position American businesses and workers to benefit from the growth of emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America...."

As Tom further notes in the paper:

"There is no doubt that mobile communications are having a significant impact on the way Americans live, work and communicate with each other. But the impact is no doubt more keenly felt by the African mother who can call ahead to determine whether a doctor is available to treat her sick child before traveling for hours."

Tom is a chair of the Clinton Global Initiative, the Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Science and Technology at the University of California Berkeley and a former senior Clinton Administration official. To read more about Tom, please click here.