Carter Center Featured Partner: USAID

The Carter Center Health and Peace Programs appreciate the continued support of our foundation, government, and corporate donors and are pleased to highlight their contributions in these regular Web features.

Featured November 2009

USAID Supports Election Observation in Sudan, Post-ConflictPeace Building in Nepal and Liberia

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides international aid from the U.S. government, is an ongoing partner of The Carter Center. Since 2006, USAID has contributed more than $3 million towards a variety of peace initiatives. USAID's support has enabled the Center to observe elections in Africa and Asia and to address conflicts around the world.

The Carter Center Sudan Election Observation mission is well under way as staff prepares for the 2010 Sudan national elections. The Carter has been in-country since 2008 as pre-election monitoring activities were launched. The elections are seen as a key step in continuing to solidify the peace agreement that was signed in 2005 by the Sudan government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army movement, officially ending the country's long-running civil war.

USAID has contributed more than $1.6 million to the Carter Center's operations in the country to help build democratic governance and assist as Sudan takes steps toward meeting the requirements of the peace accord. Since February 2008, Carter Center staff have travelled throughout Sudan to monitor electoral preparations, track the progress of related political developments, and inform those in Sudan of the Center's role in observing all aspects of the electoral process as we move closer to the election date.

USAID has also supported past Carter Center observation missions in Indonesia, Liberia, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In addition to supporting Sudan elections and other past election missions, USAID has also assisted The Carter Center's peacebuilding work in post-conflict/post-election situations. In Nepal, USAID provided $500,000 to support the Center's efforts to advance the peace and constitution-drafting processes.

In Liberia, USAID recently approved funding for the Conflict Resolution Program's efforts at strengthening peace and security in Liberia. The project will strengthen traditional structures of conflict resolution at the national level and in five counties to effect people-to-people and inter-communal conflict resolution.

We are thankful for the support USAID has provided as the Center advances the goals of waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope.