Africa Development Strategy: Connecting the Chronically Poor to Economic Development International Food Aid Conference Kansas City, Missouri April 8, 2009 April 8, 2009 Office of Capacity Building and Development Foreign Agricultural Service

Are We Achieving Our Goal of Helping the Chronically Poor?

Overview Why are we discussing Africa? What is the U.S. Government approach? What shapes USDA’s development approach for Africa? How does USDA support this? Will an integrated strategy connect the chronically poor to promote economic growth?

Why Are We Discussing Africa? Food Insecurity Environmental Threats National Security Interests

What Is the U.S. Government Approach? Children eating in a school repaired by International Partnership for Human Development in Guinea-Bissau funded by USDA’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program. A cassava fermenting tank constructed by the South- East Consortium for International Development through USDA’s Food for Progress program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Our Whole-of-Government Approach Is Linked to… Millennium Development Goals Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger A school in Mozambique

Our Approach Is Linked to… The African Union/New Economic Partnership for Africa Development/ Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (AU/NEPAD/CAADP)

A successful business owner assisted by FINCA International, through USDA’s Food for Progress program in Uganda. Three biosafety regulators from Senegal and Burkina Faso visit a Tuskegee University sweet potato testing facility as part of a two-week training organized by the USDA’s Cochran Fellowship Program. What Is USDA’s Approach to Africa’s Development?

How Does USDA Support Its Development Approach? Our approach includes: –Increasing food security –Boosting bilateral and regional trade capacity –Promoting economic growth and reducing poverty –Combating environmental threats through supporting agricultural research and strengthening institutions –Ensuring food safety and controlling animal and plant diseases

We Use USDA’s Unique Tool Box Cochran Fellowship Program Borlaug Fellowship Program Extensive Network of University Partners Links to Agribusiness Faculty Exchange Program E m b a s s y S c i e n c e F e l l o w s P r o g r a m Government-to-Government Relationships Scientific Cooperation Exchange Program P V O ’ s / N G O ’ s I n t e r n a t i o n a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t s o f A g r i c u l t u r e Food For Progress McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program

Provide Technical Expertise From the Ground Up

USDA Partners With Foreign Governments PVOs/NGOs U.S. Agribusiness Trade Associations USAID, State Department, Peace Corps Other USG agencies Land-Grant Universities  Agricultural development  Credit guarantee programs  Rural credit, microfinance  Technical assistance programs  Regulatory and policy capacity building  Educational Improvement  Trade missions  Scientific research  Economic analysis  Post Harvest/Marketing Systems

Will an integrated approach connect the chronically poor to economic growth?

Road Will Be Bumpy

With… Political will at all levels Effective use of all forms of food aid for both short-term emergency situations and long- term sustainable development Partnerships to leverage resources, including active and effective collaboration amongst all stakeholders

We Can More Effectively Connect The Chronically Poor to Economic Growth Carla Do Vale, a rice geneticist from Mozambique, does research at a laboratory in Texas A&M University in Her 6-week scientific training program in the U.S. was organized by USDA’s Borlaug Women in Science Fellowship Program. Ten Nigerians visit a poultry processing facility in Alabama. The visit was part of a two-week training organized by USDA’s Cochran Fellowship Program. The training covered topics in live bird management, avian influenza, and vaccine development.

Thank You BOA ME NA ME MMOA WO "Help me and let me help you" Akan symbol of cooperation and interdependence