Rebuilding communities through social services and conflict resolution. Long-standing conflicts between illegal armed groups had exacerbated tensions in Aguachica, and the coexistence center provided a place where those tensions could be diffused.
With support from USAID, Citizen Coexistence Centers around Colombia are helping communities grow and achieve a greater sense of peace and restore a sense of belonging. More...
Office of Democracy and Governance
USAID
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20523
Tel: 202-712-1892
Expanding the global community of democracies is a key objective of U.S. foreign policy. Today the world is a much smaller place, and its problems confront us in more immediate ways. The United States is vigorously engaged in all corners of the globe, acting as a force for peace and prosperity.
Measuring the impact and effectiveness of USAID democracy and governance assistance programs The Office of Democracy and Governance’s long term initiative, Enhancing Democracy and Governance Evaluations (EDGE) is a comprehensive plan to measure the impact and effectiveness of various approaches to democratic development and incorporate the findings into USAID programs through training and field support. Read more...
Joint Statement on Security Sector Reform (PDF, 628kb): In early January 2009, USAID, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense issued a joint statement on Security Sector Reform (SSR). This paper responds to a gap in current foreign assistance approaches to security and development. U.S. security assistance programs have sometimes focused too exclusively on providing equipment and training to security forces. However, forces enhanced through traditional assistance can better carry out their responsibilities if the institutional and governance frameworks necessary to sustain them are equally well-developed and equipped. Similarly, development assistance has generally excluded security-related assistance. Yet, development cannot thrive without basic security. The increasingly complex threats facing our partners and our own nation urgently require that we address the linkages among security, governance, development, and conflict in more comprehensive and sustainable ways.
In addition to building professional security forces, SSR supports the establishment of relevant legal and policy frameworks; enhanced civilian management, leadership, oversight, planning and budgeting capacities; and improved coordination and cooperation among security-related and civil institutions.
The paper identifies key principles and recommendations for joint activity. It will be followed by Agency-specific implementation guidelines.
DCHA/DG Publications:
The DG Office's publications enable USAID to more effectively reach missions and other audiences with the latest technical knowledge in the field of democracy and governance. Below you can search our database of publications.