The Fundamental Role of Science and Technology in International Development An Imperative for the U.S. Agency for International Development (2006) / Chapter Skim
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1 The Changing Context for Foreign Assistance
1 The Changing Context for Foreign Assistance
Pages 13-38
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Life-sustaining ecosystems throughout the developing world are being damaged beyond repair in quests by both the rich and the poor for immediate utilization of natural resources. BOX 1-1 Despite the efforts of many devel I've been in war, and I've been oping-country governments and local in through a number of hurricanes, stitutions -- supported by international tornadoes, and other relief oper- organizations, bilateral donors, and pri ations; but I have never seen vate organizations -- to moderate these anything like this.
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14 Flows -- , Aid millions) 7,131 10,465 6,151 7,629 6,171 24,146 ($ Net Estonia Federation, ß Mobile people)
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Agency for International Development (USAID) led to the development and introduction of oral rehydration therapy, which became the cornerstone of international efforts to control diarrheal diseases.
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As to direct U.S. benefits from S&T-based foreign assistance activities, modern technologies deployed in distant countries from vaccines to information systems can be important in limiting the extent that problems in these countries adversely affect both local populations and the broader global community.
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international programs -- officials on important trade topics, particularly foreign assistance activities. and technical assistance to pri vate enterprises that are or could The United States benefits on many fronts be involved in international trade.
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In the context of U.S. foreign assistance, S&T are integral to the capacity of the public and private sectors in developing countries to: · Provide technical services that support economic and social development -- such as provision of health care, education, agriculture extension, transportation, communications, maintenance and upgrading of water supplies and sanitation facilities, management of natural resources, and energy and environmental services; · Assess the technical and economic merits of technologies being considered for use in the country of interest and within that context carry out research, development, technology transfer, technology adaptation, and technology application activities; · Produce industrial goods and agricultural products based on technologies and modern management methods that are well suited to the local environment; 3National Research Council.
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special attention to the agency's capabilities to: · Assess the S&T capacity of developing countries to design, manage, and evaluate programs that contribute to the development and maintenance of this capacity; · Evaluate available technologies and encourage development of promising new approaches while incorporating suitable technologies, research findings, and modern management methods in USAID projects -- with special attention to facilitating the transfer of these methods and technologies to the developing countries themselves; · Participate effectively in interagency and international discussions involving S&T-related issues in developing countries while supporting and helping to coordinate U.S. government-wide S&T activities relevant to USAID's development objectives; and · Recruit, retain, and effectively utilize personnel capable of supporting the foregoing activities.
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ning, and child survival. This report emphasizes the impor tance of considering S&T within a broad SOURCE: Report of the NRC field visit to Bangladesh, January 2005.
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. Unfortunately, many developing countries, particularly the poor countries of Africa, do not have the human resources, physical and economic infrastructures, and access to capital to take full advantage of the S&T expertise and achievements of the United States and other industrialized countries.
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:58. For poor countries that cannot sus tain a strong S&T infrastructure in the BOX 1-7 absence of unrealistically large external There certainly are more private assistance programs, regional and other entities and networks that deal approaches may be appropriate for pro with S&T issues.
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Support to Science, Technology, and Knowledge for Development: A Snapshot of the Global Landscape. Canada's International Development Research Center with the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation, 2005.
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A key to effective use of S&T in developing countries is a long-term commitment by political and economic leaders of the governments to building and using technological capabilities as cornerstones of development. As previously noted, there are vast differences in the capabilities of the many poor African countries with only a few trained S&T specialists to use technologies effectively and the technology-skilled middle-income countries where USAID has programs.
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THE CHANGING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT AND APPROACHES TO FOREIGN ASSISTANCE Approaches to foreign assistance by different bilateral donors and international organizations vary greatly. Many are in a state of change in response to new global challenges, but several trends relevant to this study are clear.
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· Development agencies are giving greater attention to private sector development, which may lead to more emphasis on supporting engineering capacity and less attention to support of public sector research capacity. · Local civil society organizations are playing an increasingly important role in the implementation of foreign assistance programs, but few have strong S&T capabilities.
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A particularly important challenge for USAID is to find its appropriate role among the expanding network of dozens of foreign assistance providers. Private financial flows with S&T dimensions are of growing significance; for example, more important than in the past are foreign direct investment by technology-oriented companies, remittances to developing countries sent home by émigrés to support technical education opportunities for family and friends, business and other arrangements between diasporas in industrial countries and colleagues in their countries of origin, and initiatives by multinational companies together with local partners that protect the environment or otherwise benefit local populations.
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Many alliances draw on the technological capabilities of private sector partners. Box 1-10 describes a collaborative effort that USAID considers successful.
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Promote gender equality and empower women; 4. Reduce child mortality; 5.
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government for programs in developing countries are rapidly expanding and diffusing among 40 departments and agencies, with USAID now financing only about 50 percent of the government's international development programs. The independent Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
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AIDS Relief Fund Surveillance Activities Local Developing Countries Contributions World Bank Other and Pharmaceutical Foundations Other Regional Other and Medical and Programs Development Governments Equipment Humanitarian Banks Companies Groups FIGURE 1-1 Organizations involved in combating HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Earmarks and initiatives will undoubtedly continue to play an important role in determining the priorities for USAID and, indeed, in sustaining important programs.
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32 Africa North in Initiative and Development East Hunger Initiatives Partnership End Middle to African Initiative East for Enterprise Broader Africa Initiative Middle Trade and Administration · · · · Teacher Relief in Logging AIDS Initiative Persons in Initiative for Illegal Prosperity Excellence Plan for Initiatives Education for Against Freedom African Anti-Trafficking Centers Training Digital Emergency Initiative Volunteers Presidential · · · · · · · Initiatives Special Center change and dollars) of Foundation climate Development other Earmarks millions development Property of in building supply Earmarks and programs 2005.
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In considering these options, the committee took into account: · The organizational structure and programs currently in place and the likelihood they will continue throughout this Administration; · The earmarks and White House initiatives that range over many topics as noted above; · The steady decline in USAID's internal technical capabilities and the ceilings on direct-hire staff and other personnel embedded in the agency; · The recent decline in long-term institution-building programs financed by the agency; and · The unique capabilities of USAID to provide field perspectives on development issues. In addition, the decisions of the Administration to establish an independent MCC and to assign major responsibilities for HIV/AIDS to the Department of State rather than entrusting these two initiatives to USAID have eroded the
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USAID will, of course, continue to follow the decisions of the Administration and Congress to support program activities in many fields within USAID's established program framework of governance and humanitarian assistance, reconstruction in war-torn areas, global health, and broadly defined economic growth. However, the agency should to the extent possible select a few niche areas within this framework where it could concentrate resources and be an international leader as it has become in its support for democratic governance.
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This chapter has highlighted the potential contributions to international development of modern technologies. Some of these technologies may be within the grasp of developing countries.
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A rapidly expanding budget between 1981 and 1986 facilitated an approach that could increase S&T activities substantially while still maintaining traditional U.S. leadership in child survival, nutrition, food aid, and other household interventions.
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There are, however, constituencies that recognize that even the poor countries want to reap benefits from globalization, and they recognize that S&T must play an important role. We are clearly in another era of robust resources that are available for foreign assistance.
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