International Network for Economics and Conflict

Armed conflicts and natural disasters are frequent occurrences in the developing countries where microfinance institutions (MFIs) operate. This SEEP Network Practitioner Learning Program case study discusses the experience of Action Contre La Misere (ACLAM), an MFI in Haiti, working simultaneously in both of these environments.

This report summarizes the U.S. Government’s response to the child protection emergency in Haiti and the role played by the the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005 secretariat. We also report on progress on priorities identified in last year’s annual report. Progress on several priorities was slower than planned due to the imperative need to devote most of our small team to the Haiti crisis.

This paper is a summary of lessons learned gathered at a conference of the Disaster Management Alliance in 2008. Conference participants looked at the success stories as well as the areas for ongoing growth that the DMA should focus on, and specific support that each of the member countries required as part of an overall plan through 2012.

Hear about USAID's efforts with the Community Development Council in Afghanistan from Administrator Shaw and other USAID officials.

While women take an active role in agricultural production and processing and marketing of food products their identity as farmers is highly contested within the agricultural development framework in Ethiopia. This has led to a series of structural barriers, augmented by local cultural perceptions, that have largely precluded women’s participation in the agricultural extension process. In addition, women’s access to land, technology and decision making power is critically impeded. Unless these structural and cultural barriers are actively addressed by agricultural development programs women’s location within the agricultural production process will continue to be marginalized hampering efforts to obtain household food security at a regional and national level.

A decade ago, USAID launched a credit guarantee program that expanded the horizon of possibilities for sustainable financing for a wide range of development activities. Under the Development Credit Authority (DCA), USAID missions have entered into partnerships with private financial institutions around the world to facilitate access to capital. To date, over 200 guarantees have made $1.8 billion of loans available to borrowers in 62 countries. This report describes the last ten years of this program.