Food security and agricultural development

Food security refers to sufficient access to nutritious food - and living without fear of hunger. One of the keys to addressing chronic hunger and meeting the world’s growing need for food is increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring rural people have access to markets, especially in poor countries. There is growing interest in global agricultural development, by the U.S. government as well as nonprofit organizations, multilateral development institutions and newly forming business coalitions.

President Obama has announced a U.S. commitment to investing in food security and his administration is working closely with G-8 countries and other donor institutions on a coordinated global strategy for agricultural development.

IGD is well positioned to facilitate greater business input into the formulation and implementation of U.S. development policies and has been invited to share business recommendations on the emerging U.S. food security strategy. IGD will work with its partner network to identify barriers to agricultural development, opportunities for investment and business models to reduce poverty and hunger around the world.

Legislative update

Legislation introduced in the House by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) instructing the President to devise a National Strategy for Global Development has garnered 115 cosponsors since its introduction, evidencing strong support in congress for fundamental reform of U.S. development policy.

In the Senate, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) introduced legislation in late July to rebuild the expertise and capacity of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The bill currently has 13 cosponsors and is scheduled to be marked up in committee later this month.

Both bills are intended to be step one in a longer process of comprehensive foreign assistance reform.

Reviews of development policy launched by President Obama and Secretary Clinton

IGD commends President Obama for issuing a Presidential Study Directive (PSD) that requires a review of the full range of U.S. development efforts and an updating of strategic priorities. Co-chaired by National Security Advisor Gen. Jim Jones and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers, the review will include all aspects of development - aid, trade, investment and more - and will result in a series of recommendations issued in late January. This comprehensive study is a critical step in the process of creating a smarter and more effective development strategy. IGD attended a White House meeting to solicit private sector input into the PSD process and looks forward to helping provide concrete recommendations on how to incorporate a commitment to broad-based, sustainable economic growth as a U.S. development priority.

The Presidential Study Directive builds on House and Senate bills that would initiate broad reform of U.S. foreign aid as well as the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review process recently launched by the Secretary of State.

IGD is encouraged by this momentum for smarter and more coherent U.S. development policy.

U.S. development agenda lacks leadership

In a recent letter to the President, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN) expressed their concern that nine months after President Obama’s inauguration, an administrator for the Agency for International Development (USAID) has not yet been nominated. They state that the current "leadership vacuum" is seriously hampering USAID’s ability to plan and implement development programs.

"Not only does U.S. development lack clear leadership at the top, but increasingly we believe that key development voices are being shut out of major policy decisions and interagency processes," they added, underscoring the concern shared by many in the NGO community that U.S. leadership on global development is lacking.

IGD urges the President to move expeditiously in nominating an administrator for USAID and supports its restoration as an empowered, professional development agency.

Read more about this issue at the Center for Global Development's Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance blog.

Frontier 100

The Frontier 100 program adds a new dimension to IGD’s efforts to reduce poverty - a business-to-business approach to help unlock economic growth in the next emerging or “frontier” markets.

Frontier 100 is a network for CEOs to share knowledge and develop targeted initiatives that drive business, improve profitability and reduce poverty. The network includes CEO members from the United States and nine African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

The network has launched its first targeted initiative, which seeks to increase access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Additionally, to facilitate knowledge sharing, we are launching a web-based platform for members to connect.

Member profile: Ali Mufuruki, Chairman and CEO, Infotech Investment Group LTD, Tanzania

Infotech Investment Group has controlling interests in a number of advertising, retail, IT and telecommunications companies in Tanzania. Mr. Mufuruki is Chairman of The CEO’s Roundtable of Tanzania, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI) and a member of the Presidential Investors Roundtable.

View the list of all Frontier 100 member CEOs.

IGD in the news

U.S. aid must be transparent, accountable and show results
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 17, 2009
Op-ed by Gerald Grinstein and William D. Ruckelshaus. (Originally appeared in The Seattle Times, July 21, 2009)

IGD network notes

IGD is honored to welcome the following new members to its Leadership Council: Kemal Dervis, Henrietta Holsman Fore and Harold W. McGraw III. The Leadership Council is a diverse group of leaders that advises IGD on strategic direction.

IGD is pleased to announce that Jumaane Tafawa has joined its staff as manager of private sector initiatives, including Frontier 100. Jumaane brings a variety of experience to IGD from the private, government and nonprofit sectors.