Economic Development and Reconstruction - Related

Leading from Behind in Public-Private Partnerships?

jdunton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

European countries have consistently been significant contributors of international official development assistance (ODA); in 2010, the EU and its member states spent €53.8 on ODA, nearly 60 percent of global development aid.

The Private-Sector Role in Public Health

jdunton — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In recent decades, there has been a decided evolution in perspectives on the roles and responsibilities of business in society. The classic position was Milton Friedman’s 1970 pronouncement that the only responsibility a business has is to return a profit to its shareholders.

Middle East Notes and Comment: The Arab Decade?

dholodnik — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

One year ago, the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square proved that Tunisia was not a fluke. Until January 2011, Tunisia didn’t resonate much in the Arab world. It was too small, too Francophile, and too socially liberal.

The Significance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations

sherry — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership?

Corporate Engagement in Natural Disaster Response

jdunton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Corporate engagement in natural disaster response has grown significantly in both scale and diversity during the last decade. Today, it is a central component of the international response machinery.

A New Security Architecture for the Arctic

jdunton — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Arctic will experience extraordinary economic and environmental change over the next several decades. Commercial, human, and state interaction will rise dramatically. More drilling for oil and gas in the region and growing shipping and ecotourism as new shipping routes come into existence are just a few of the examples of increased human activity in the Arctic.

PacNet #2 - The Time Has Come for Economic Reform in Myanmar

ellise — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On the eve of a critically important IMF Article IV Consultation Mission to Myanmar, the basic question is: where's the beef on economic reform? After over a year of post-election policy debate, meaningful economic reform initiatives have been meager.

Haiti’s Future—Two Years after the Quake

ecurran — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In the 30 seconds that it took for a 7.0 earthquake to level Port-au-Prince, Haiti captured the world’s attention. With death toll estimates at more than 200,000 persons, and injured men, women, and children reaching double that number, Haiti would lose 5 percent of its population.

Critical Questions for 2012

ian — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

From international security and regional study to global challenges, CSIS experts will address many of the world's most difficult policy concerns and critical questions in 2012. To kick off the new year, we asked 25 of our scholars to identity what worries them most and what are the biggest opportunities in their respective areas of study.

USAID's New Partnership Sets the Stage for a Post Assistance Relationship with India

ecurran — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Over the next several years, foreign assistance is going to come under increasing pressure. Hard questions from taxpayers and elected officials are going to put a premium on innovation, effectiveness and resources leveraged/catalyzed. At the same time, this period of retrenchment provides the foreign policy and development communities to rethink US relations with middle income countries.

Japan Chair Platform: Operation Tomodachi in Miyagi Prefecture: Success and Homework

ecurran — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

On March 11, 2011, at 2:46 p.m., a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Miyagi Prefecture and generated a tsunami that advanced more than three miles inland from the seashore.

Challenges for Korean Unification Planning

jdunton — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This conference report chronicles the progress of the CSIS–University of Southern California joint project on Korean unification. Now in its second year, the project’s primary purpose is to frame a discussion on the long-term tasks involved in the eventual unification of the Korean Peninsula.

Energy and Development Trends

jdunton — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

One of the least understood but potentially important trends in the energy field is how emerging economies’ development priorities are shaping energy markets.

The Role of FTA Negotiations in the Future of U.S.-Egypt Relations

jdunton — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Egypt, a long-time ally with profound influence on U.S. security, is facing the daunting prospect of making the transition from decades of authoritarianism to democracy.

Sharing Risk in a World of Dangers and Opportunities

jdunton — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The changing nature of international development has produced an increasing interest in the use of development finance instruments. As the availability of soft grant money decreases and there is an increasing acceptance of the central role of private-sector-led growth, official development assistance–led development is shifting to focus on investment and trade. In this context, the U.S.

Role(s) of Vaccines and Immunization Programs in Global Disease Control

jdunton — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Much of the substantial progress seen in global health over the past several decades can be ascribed to the beneficial impacts of various vaccines and immunization programs on the control of serious disease among both individuals and populations.

Governance and Militancy in Pakistan’s Chitral District

jdunton — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Chitral, the northernmost district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Province, lies at the extreme northwest of Pakistan. It shares a border with Afghanistan’s Badakhshan, Nuristan, and Kunar Provinces to the north and west, with Gilgit-Baltistan region to the east, and with the Kohistan, Swat, and Dir Districts to the south.

Reauthorization of OPIC

sherry — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

As Congress continues to struggle to pass appropriations bills for fiscal year 2012, it has an opportunity to strengthen the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) by passing a permanent or long-term authorization of the agency. Prior to 2007, OPIC was reauthorized on a five-year basis. Since then it has struggled under yearly reauthorizations.

Why Go to Myanmar?

ian — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Why should Hillary Clinton go to Myanmar? The short answer is to encourage the best chance at real political change in a country that effectively cloistered itself under harsh military rule for nearly five decades. Myanmar, or Burma, has been the virtual political ball and chain of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which it joined in 1997.

Middle East Notes and Comment: Politics of Piety

ian — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Many in the United States—and in the Middle East—worry that religious extremists in the Arab world are on the cusp of something big. Across the region, groups that blend religion and politics are injecting more religion into more open politics.

The Dominican Response to the Haiti Earthquake

jdunton — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

In the immediate aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Dominican Republic launched a massive cross-border emergency assistance mission, providing critical medical assistance, logistics support, and humanitarian aid.

Bringing Realism to Paris in Busan

jdunton — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Between November 29 and December 1, 2011, the major donors and most recipients of foreign assistance, together with various multilateral organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), consultants, and others will gather in Busan, South Korea, for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

India and Afghanistan: Positioning for Withdrawal

NLombardo — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Today, with U.S. and NATO forces beginning their withdrawal from Afghanistan, the historical sequel to the Soviet Union’s 1989 withdrawal from the country is unfolding. The newest wrinkle in this story is that India is now actively involved and trying to position itself accordingly.

The Focus on the Horn of Africa Should be on the Famine in Somalia

sherry — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Once again famine rages in Somalia. Experts say at least 30,000 children have already died in this crisis and 750,000 more Somalis, mostly women and children, are in acute need and will begin to die between Thanksgiving and Christmas unless they receive assistance. The famine in the early 1990s killed more than 250,000 Somalis, and this one is projected to kill several times more.

The U.S.-Russia Investment Fund and the $75-million Question

ecurran — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A final decision is about to be reached by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Congress regarding a sum of approximately $150 million in liquidated assets from the U.S.-Russia Investment Fund (TUSRIF). In an ideal scenario half of the $150 million would go to the U.S.

Seizing the Opportunity in Public-Private Partnerships

jdunton — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

This report examines opportunities and challenges for using public-private partnerships in development, specifically through the lens of the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Although other agencies in the U.S.

USTDA: Good Value for Development Dollars

ian — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Often underappreciated and underutilized, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is an independent federal agency with a big role in the future of international development.

Governance and Militancy in Pakistan’s Swat Valley

jdunton — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In 2009, the Swat Valley became a focal point of Pakistan’s war against militancy and terrorism. The government signed a peace agreement effectively ceding control of the district to the local Taliban faction, allowing it to enforce its interpretation of Islamic law.

Seeing Through the Fog: Transitional Governments in Libya and Elsewhere

dholodnik — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On October 6, 2011, Dr. Jon Alterman delivered a talk at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, VA, entitled “Seeing Through the Fog: Transitional Governments in Libya and Elsewhere.” The talk drew on experience with transitions around the world to caution patience, identify the perils of U.S.

The 2010 Flooding Disaster in Pakistan

jdunton — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The catastrophic flooding in Pakistan in 2010 laid bare the multiplicity of fault lines that beleaguer the country as perhaps no other single event in its history.

Biofortification: A Partial Solution to Global Malnutrition

sherry — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In September, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that food prices are 26 percent higher than a year ago and that the prices for staple grains, the main foods for the world’s poor, are 36 percent higher than 12 months ago.

Pay to Play Leadership: Why Investment in the Multilateral Development Banks Is Critical to U.S. National Security

ian — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Obama administration has made a request to Congress for an extraordinary contribution to a number of the multilateral development banks (MDBs).

Iraq and US Strategy in the Gulf

ecurran — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

During the coming months, the US must reshape its strategy and force posture relative to Iraq and the Gulf States. It must take account of its withdrawal of most of its forces from Iraq, and whether or not it can give real meaning to the US-Iraqi Strategic Framework Agreement.

PacNet #51 - Taking Stock of Japan Six Months After 3/11

bMizuno — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As Sept. 11 nears, the US prepares to remember the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC. For Japan, the date marks six months since the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit. While Japan continues to grapple with a multitude of problems unleashed by the disasters, coverage of Japan’s daily struggles has all but disappeared from global media.

Japan Chair Platform: Funding Japan's Recovery: The Centrality of Recovery Bonds

sherry — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Four months after the Tohoku region in Japan was struck by the triple disasters (earthquake, tsunami, and radiation leakage) of March 11, the Japanese government finally disclosed the overall reconstruction plan to the public on July 29. Total reconstruction costs were estimated at ¥23 trillion ($288 billion ) including ¥10 trillion ($125 billion) for issuing recovery bonds.

Afghanistan Win or Lose: Transition and the Resource Crisis

ecurran — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The US confronts a wide range of challenges if it is leave a stable Afghanistan and Pakistan, to win the Afghan conflict in any meaningful sense:

Still Adrift: Will Haiti Find its Anchor?

ecurran — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

After 100 days in office, the government of President Michel Martelly should be better organized to accomplish key tasks.

Next Steps in Libya (Egypt, Tunisia, and Other States with New Regimes)

ecurran — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Qaddafi’s fall is certain to be accompanied by a wave of euphoria over the end of one of the most repellant dictatorships in the Middle East. American strategy, however, cannot be based on a triumph of hope over experience. We need to recognize that Libya -- like all of the other states that have become increasingly unstable since early 2011 -- is not going to suddenly emerge

Drought in the Horn of Africa

ian — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The humanitarian emergency in drought-affected regions of the Horn of Africa has taken a turn for the worse. The United Nations has declared that a famine is under way in the two hardest-hit areas of Somalia, the southern Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions. The strict benchmarks that must be surpassed in order for famine status to be reached give a hint to the scale of the crisis.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Art of the Possible

jdunton — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

On June 14, 2011, more than 200 policymakers and experts participated in an invitation-only, full-day working meeting at CSIS to discuss a constructive, realistic way forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The main topics were Afghan governance, the Afghan security sector, and Pakistani cooperation.

PacNet #34 - The Risks of 'Disaster Nationalism'

bMizuno — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

A common sight seen throughout Japan these days are signs that read Ganbaro Nippon (translated “Don’t give up Japan”). It has become the battle cry among Japanese for dealing with the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake-triggered disasters.

Assessing Risks to Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa

jdunton — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The report Assessing Risks to Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa provides an overview of the CSIS study series Stress Testing African States that examines the risks of instability in 10 African countries over the next decade: read more

Japan Chair Platform: Turning Disaster into Opportunity

sherry — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Japan is struggling in the face of a tough and complex crisis involving an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant accident.

Ethiopia