This week, I had the pleasure of moderating a discussion about progress, promise, and peril debating a generation of change for civil society in Europe & Eurasia. We were fortunate to be joined in Washington DC by prolific leaders: Doug Rutzen, President and CEO of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law; Nadia Diuk, Vice President [...]
Tag archives for Civil Society
Active Dialogue with Civil Society for More Productive Development Partnerships
In 1997, I attended an event held by the Society for International Development (SID) to discuss the emerging concept of “civil society.” A panel of scholars and practitioners discussed key issues, including the 72 definitions for civil society that one panelist tried to pare down. Flash forward to last week, when I had the honor [...]
Building Civil Society in Nicaragua
As the leader of an important development project in Latin America, I had the chance to document the experience through video, highlighting aid beneficiaries’ civic passion and pride that characterize the current challenges in Nicaragua. The video, USAID: Building Civil Society in Nicaragua, captured the activities in Managua while showing scenic footage of the vibrant [...]
How Free is Your Media? A USAID-Funded Tool Provides Insight
On May 3, the world celebrated World Press Freedom Day. Reflecting on the day’s events, a few important questions arise about what role the media plays in a community and in a democracy. First, how does freedom of the press compare to freedom of speech? Not only do journalists need freedom to speak and write [...]
Deputy Administrator Announces Initiative to Include Women in Peace Processes and Meets Returnees in Southern Sudan
In a speech at Ahfad University for Women in Omdurman, Sudan, on April 9, USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg announced a new USAID global grant initiative to increase women’s participation in peace processes. Grants of up to $2 million each, totaling up to $14 million, may be made available for projects that support UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for women’s involvement in all aspects of peace and security, recognizing their leadership in peacemaking, and ending sexual violence in conflict.
From the Field
In Senegal, we will launch a new training curriculum on Value Chain and Agri-Food Business in collaboration with Michigan State University. The 4-semester Master’s Degree program is mainly aimed at regular fourth-year agricultural engineering students and includes tailor-made short-term training modules for working people. The overall objective is to promote excellence beyond national boundaries and [...]
