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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
Statement of Constance Berry Newman
Assistant Administrator-designate
Bureau for Africa, USAID
Before a Hearing of the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
November 7, 2001
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I am honored to appear before you as President Bush's nominee for Assistant Administrator for the Africa Bureau of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). I am equally honored that USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios recommended me for a position that will place me on the team of the Administrator and Secretary of State Colin Powell concentrating on sub-Saharan Africa. If confirmed, I will be pleased to work closely with Congress and particularly with this Committee on the challenging foreign assistance matters facing this Nation.
I would like to take a few minutes to make the following four points: (1) Africa is a great continent, important to the world since the beginning of time; (2) sub-Saharan Africa is important to the United States; (3) USAID is important to building the proper and strong relationship between these two continents; and (4) I am seeking confirmation because of my interests in Africa, my experience and because I believe that my priorities for the Bureau will add value.
1) Africa is a great continent that has made important contributions to the world.
Africa is rich in mineral resources, possessing most of the known mineral types of the world. From diamonds to oil, the vast resources of Africa help support the economy of the United States. The art of Africa (such as the terra-cotta sculptures of Nigeria, the Ndebele murals and bead work, carved masks from the west coast of Africa, the beaded jewelry of the Masaai and the stone carvings of Zimbabwe) has undeniably inspired art in the rest of the world. Africa is the home of such scenic wonders as Cape Town's Table Mountain and the mountains of Lesotho, Victoria Falls, the Serengeti, and Mount Kilimanjaro. But most important, Africa has diverse, hard-working, ethical, intelligent, creative and beautiful people - many of whom are now deprived of an opportunity to create a decent life, but more about that later.
Are there problems on the continent of Africa? Yes there are. Before recognizing the most serious of the problems let me share my view of the good news.
- The New Partnership for Africa Development Initiative steered by African leaders signals a fresh and more promising approach to addressing the challenges on the continent. This is because the African leaders have a common vision that it is their duty to eradicate poverty and to place their countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development, and at the same time to participate actively in the world economy and body politic.
In my view, constructive and sustainable change will happen because the African leaders are determined to chart their own destiny and call on the rest of the world to complement their efforts. Having said that, it will always be necessary for United States foreign assistance to be guided by the best interests of the United States.
- The overall trend in Africa toward building freer democratic societies and transparent accountable governments remains positive, and despite constant challenges and numerous setbacks, Africans increasingly advocate for political rights and civil liberties. In 1989, the Freedom House Index rated only two African countries "free," with fifteen "partly free." In 2000 - a decade later-the number of free states increased to nine, and the number of partly free states grew to twenty-four. Democracy is emerging in countries like Ghana and Nigeria and consolidating in Senegal and South Africa. And Botswana still stands as the best example of what is possible when democratic practices are strong. Free market reforms are delivering real benefits to people in places like Ghana, Uganda, Senegal and Mali, among others.
- Since 1992 there is an increase in the number of countries experiencing economic growth, and in the number of countries becoming successful trading partners with the United States. Per capita GDP growth rates were positive for about 30 countries for the second half of the 1990s. U.S. total trade with sub-Saharan Africa grew 17% in the first six months of 2001, compared to the first half of 2000. U.S. exports surged 36%, and imports increased by 12% during the same period.
- Sub-Saharan countries are working to protect the environment and preserve their extraordinary natural resources. There are interesting examples of people in the villages of Guinea co-managing the forests with the national government leading to the preservation of the forests.
- Countries are now beginning to value the role that girls and women play in every aspect of society. The global commitment to tap into the full capabilities of Africa's human resource is paying off. The number of African women entrepreneurs as well as elected and appointed officers is on the rise. In Malawi, the percentage of girls enrolled in primary school has improved from 60% in 1992 to 99.7% in 1997. The percentage of women in the parliaments of Africa is 11.8%, compared to the worldwide average of 13.9%.
- Countries in Africa that have a relatively low rate of HIV prevalance (3% or less) are Senegal, Mali, Ghana, the Gambia, and Eritrea. Also what is most encouraging is that through strong and creative leadership and partnerships, Uganda has brought about a significant decline in the incidence of HIV/AIDS from 28% in 1991 to 8.3% in 1999, particularly among young adults. Containment of the spread of HIV/AIDS is a critical part of the fight against this pandemic. The challenge for USAID is to help the governments of Africa maintain their low rates.
There are serious problems on the continent. Some of the problems have come totally by fate, such as the 1984 drought in East Africa where over 300,000 died and over 7 million people were affected. Some of the problems are totally man-made such as the corruption. According to the 1999 Transparency International's corruption perceptions index survey, on a scale of 10 as minimal corruption, nine sub-Saharan countries received a score of 3 or less. Other problems are mean-spirited violent conflicts leading to the death and disruption of millions of people, as in the eastern Congo, Sudan and the genocide in Rwanda. It is a fact, that over one-third of sub-Saharan Africa's countries have experienced violent conflict in the past five years. Violent conflict in sub-Saharan Africa threatens the health and livelihoods of millions, threatens investments and advances in development, and requires costly humanitarian assistance. For example, between 1970 and 2000, the United Nations Secretary General reported there were 8 million refugees as a result of conflict.
Additional statistics covering mortality rates, illiteracy rates, and school enrollment levels tell more of the story of the desperate lives of many people on the continent of Africa. For example,
- Half the population lives on less than US $1 per day.
- The mortality rate of children under 5 years of age is 140 per 1000, and life expectancy is only 54 years. The female adult mortality rate is such that out of 1,000 women who reach age 15, 383 will die before age 65.
- Only 58 percent of the population has access to safe water.
- The rate of illiteracy for people over 15 is 41 percent. Adult illiteracy for females 15 and older is 49% in 1998, down from 72 percent in 1980.
- Immunization levels are declining and under-five mortality levels are increasing in a number of sub-Saharan countries.
- More than one-third of Africa's children do not have access to schooling.
And then there is the pandemic of HIV/AIDS that is beyond labeling, given the number of people dying each day. Over 13 million children are already orphans as a consequence of HIV/AIDS. Also, HIV/AIDS will have a serious impact on the economic viability of many African countries with the erosion of their human resource base resulting in the loss, for example, of valuable teachers, health care workers, and agricultural workers. In South Africa the pandemic is projected to reduce the economic growth rate so that by the year 2010 the gross domestic product will be 17 percent lower than today -- wiping the equivalent of $22 billion off the country's economy.
Whatever the causes, caring and wise women and men of the world must participate in solving the problems of sub-Saharan Africa and participate in removing the despair and raising the standard of living of the children and their families in every part of the continent. This is even more compelling since September 11, which leads me to my second point.
2) The countries of sub-Saharan Africa are important to the United States in the following ways:
- As partners in ensuring peace and security around the world.
- As a potential growth area for United States trade and investment partners. Congress and the Administration have expressed a commitment to this point through the passage and implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The most recent AGOA Forum in Washington and the Corporate Council on Africa meeting in Philadelphia highlight the importance of Africa's trade and investment with the United States. Also, according to the United States Trade Representative, AGOA has resulted in $4 billion trade and investment in the region.
- Because of the values of the United States, coupled with our leadership role in the world, there is the opportunity, yes even the responsibility, to help improve the lives of the people on the continent.
- We will use our technical expertise and resources to assist in eliminating hunger, as well as illness and death from HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Because of our leadership role, our experience and our resources we will assist the people of sub-Saharan Africa in building democracies and ridding their countries of conflict and corruption that always leads to a miserable life for so many people.
3) USAID is important in furthering the United States' interests about and in Africa.
On the recognition of the 40th anniversary of USAID, Secretary of State Colin Powell said: "USAID is an important part of our country's foreign policy team. Its work is at the core of our engagement with the world ..… Over the long-term, our foreign assistance programs are among our most powerful national security tools." Administrator Natsios said on the same occasion: "The U.S. Agency for International Development has a proud history. As a great power, America's foreign assistance serves to both accomplish our foreign policy objectives and express the deep humanitarian instincts of the American people."
4) The final topic I would like to discuss: Why should you consider confirming me for this position, and what would I want to accomplish if confirmed?
In order to help you answer that question I would like first to talk about my interests and experience. And then about what I would hope to accomplish if confirmed.
I have had a strong interest in Africa and in pursuing the United States' interests in Africa for a long period of time. In fact, I believe that I have been in a 20-year maybe 30-year training program for this position to add value to the work of the extraordinary people at USAID, Department of State, and private voluntary organizations here and abroad, as well as individuals both here and in Africa.
From 1987 to 1988 I lived and worked in Lesotho on a World Bank project for the Cooperative Housing Foundation. My objective was to establish a housing corporation by merging two existing corporations. There I had borne out the theory that outsiders are only effective when they work with, and I emphasize "with," the people who know their country, what expertise they already have and where they want help. There I had confirmed the principle that people are the same the world over - they want something better for their children; they want an adequate standard of living for themselves; they want fairness; they want peace and freedom, including freedom from corruption and conflict.
Since that time, I have had other opportunities to work on issues affecting Africa. Among the most relevant were advising members of the government of South Africa about civil service policies and helping on a country assessment of South Africa for the World Bank prior to Nelson Mandela becoming President. Also, I participated in the observance of two elections in Nigeria in February 1999.
In addition to the Africa-specific experience, I have had extensive experience managing large and complex organizations: as Director of the Office of Personnel Management; as an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; as Director of VISTA, and as the chief operating officer of the Smithsonian Institution.
My experiences as a consensus builder should come in handy in working with the many partners addressing African issues. I served as a member and later Vice Chairman of the District of Columbia Financial Authority, where much of the time we were attempting to build consensus within the government and between the government and the public.
Furthering the interests of the United States in Africa will require effective partnerships - with the African people, their governments, private voluntary organizations, multi-national organizations, the business sector, and other governments. Partnerships have a greater opportunity to be real if the partners listen to one another, respect one another, and are not concerned about who gets the credit. I can do that. I have served on many a board and committee working with others (e.g., at the Brookings Institution, the National Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy for Public Administration).
If confirmed, among my priorities would be furthering the work in Africa in the context of USAID's three program pillars: economic growth, trade and agriculture; global health; and democracy, conflict and humanitarian assistance. In particular, Africa will benefit from targeted activities based in an understanding of the interrelationship and interdependence of economic growth and agricultural development, environmental sustainability, and basic education. The ultimate goal will be to create and cultivate viable market-oriented economies. As you know, sub-Saharan Africa has among the most serious health problems in the world. Therefore, it will be in the interest of the Africa Bureau to work with the new global health pillar bureau on maternal and child health, nutrition, women's reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and programs that address other infectious diseases such as malaria, polio and tuberculosis.
The Africa Bureau should continue its work in democracy building efforts. The Administrator has emphasized the importance of the work in this pillar area. It is his view that by facilitating citizen's participation and trust in their government, our democracy efforts can help stop the violent internal conflicts that lead to destabilizing and costly refugee flows, anarchy and failed states, and the spread of disease.
Also, it is going to be important to have the Africa Bureau increase the efforts of serving as a catalyst to mobilize the ideas and resources of other donors, education institutions, faith-based organizations, other non-governmental organizations and private corporations through many vehicles, including Global Development Alliances.
What this means is that the Africa Bureau will need to continue work to target the limited resources. Some of the technical expertise and resources will come from the field, some from the agency pillar bureaus and some from within the Africa Bureau. The Agency is working through what makes sense on a region-by-region determination. I look forward to contributing to the discussion, if confirmed, that will lead to a most effective way of managing the foreign assistance efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
To summarize, if confirmed, my priorities will be:
- To ensure that United States' policies and interests are being advanced by the actions of USAID in Africa. This will require working closely with Congress, other bureaus and offices in USAID, with Department of State and National Security Council officials.
- To ensure that the USAID policies and programs are responsive to the needs and interests of the African people, as expressed by African leaders through the African New Partnership for Africa Development, and by individual governments, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and informal communication. Based on my present understanding of the analyses from the Africa Bureau staff in the missions and in Washington, the following topics should be on the list:
- HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases (prevention and care);
- Building democracies that are conflict and corruption free, where the human rights of all the women and men are protected, and where the nations do not become breeding grounds for terrorism and other transnational threats;
- Strengthening and in some cases building educational systems;
- Providing the necessary resources to ensure that the African Growth and Opportunity Act is successful; and
- Ensuring that the African people are food-secure. This means building a competitive agriculture infrastructure. This also means paying attention to environmental issues.
- To analyze, and where necessary, change the present distribution of personnel and other resources between the field and headquarters and between the various missions in sub-Saharan Africa; and
- To understand the flow of money and be assured that the money flows and is used effectively within the planned period of time.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this Committee. I would be pleased to serve in this important position at this time. If confirmed, I would work closely with Congress, the stakeholders in sub-Saharan Africa, other donors and potential donors, and people with an interest in Africa. I will commit to you that at all times my goal would be to ensure the effective use of foreign assistance dollars, and that whatever the Africa Bureau does would support the foreign policy objectives of the United States.
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee I welcome your questions and comments.
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Last Updated on: January 02, 2009 |
