Sustainable Economies

USIP Supports Workshop on Regional Solutions for the Great Lakes Crisis
June 2009 | Workshop
USIP’s Center for Sustainable Economies partnered with Emory University and the Carnegie Endowment to organize a workshop in Bujumbura, Burundi on 4-5 June 2009 for leading scholars from Central Africa to consider regional solutions for the Great Lakes crisis; which has the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at its epicenter. 
 
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for the DRC Alan Doss (photo) explained that weak governance, misuse of natural resources, instability and socio-economic fragility would persist in the absence of effective regional solutions.  Recognizing the importance of prudent management of the DRC’s abundant resources, he called for “credible state institutions capable of safeguarding the country’s resources and the rights and interests of its people.”
 
The scholars agreed that breaking the cycle of violence is daunting but not insurmountable.  They recommended regional collaboration to promote conflict-sensitive trade in and around the DRC, effective local mechanisms to uphold the rule of law and promote peace, collaborative action to stop the illegal exploitation of mineral and agricultural resources, and a collectively beneficial economic regeneration strategy involving the DRC and its neighbors.  In their view, local communities, national governments and international partners must be committed to a sustained strategy that will address violence and use region’s immense wealth to guarantee human security for all citizens.
 
USIP will host a DRC Diaspora Dialogue in September 2009 to consider the finding/recommendations from this event and help develop a blueprint for enhanced resource management and improved governance in the DRC.

Improving Public Finance Management to Enhance Aid Effectiveness
February 11, 2009 | Public Event
Ongoing attempts to modernize U.S. foreign assistance and increase development support would only be effective if developing countries have capable public financial management (PFM) systems in place. Unfortunately, most recipients have weak institutions, fragile policy frameworks and significant human resource deficiencies. Although some progress has been made in many developing countries, very little attention has been paid to resolving the particular challenges facing conflict-affected states. Strategies must be designed to address these shortcomings to ensure aid effectiveness and sustainable post-conflict recovery. This event reviewed recent bilateral, multilateral and private sector programs that provide technical assistance to improve public finance management and discussed the relative efficacy of these efforts in countries affected by conflict and those that are not.

USIP Supports Peace Through Commerce
November 13-15, 2008 | Conference
USIP’s Center for Sustainable Economies supported the 2008 Peace Through Commerce conference convened by George Washington University’s Institute for Corporate Responsibility November 13-15. The event aimed to illuminate the contribution that commerce, trade, and economic development make toward building sustainable peace.  Center director Raymond Gilpin stated, “viable commerce could enhance prospects for lasting peace by generating employment, improving livelihoods and strengthening inter-communal relationships.”