USAID still without Administrator

Paul Farmer, the widely praised physician and humanitarian, who was believed to be the White House’s top choice for next USAID Administrator will not be appointed to run the organization by President Obama.

According to Nicholas Kristof, Farmer is currently in the field in Rwanda; the sort of place he believes he can get more good work done than in Washington. It seems that the President’s infamous vetters apparently agreed with Dr. Farmer’s assessment, perhaps finding themselves at odds with his past criticisms of U.S. policies.

Aid boost for Haiti

Acting USAID Administrator Alonzo Fulgham meanwhile is doing his part to provide interim leadership. He recently made a trip to Haiti, a country much maligned by American policy, according to Farmer, in a bid to boost investment to the impoverished Caribbean nation. 

Prior to his departure, Fulgham passed through Miami to make an appearance at the Haitian Diaspora Unity Conference alongside Former President Clinton and Haitian Prime Minister Michelle Pierre-Louis. He announced a $2 million contribution from USAID to the Haitian Diaspora Marketplace, a public-private venture focused on encouraging Haitian expatriate entrepreneurs to develop ventures that involve businesses in Haiti. USAID and Fondation Sogebank, the philanthropic arm of the Haitian commercial bank Sogebank, will offer grants – with USAID offering between $50,000 and 100,000 to each successful applicant – to those who are willing to share some of the cost and present viable long term business plans detailing the proposed commercial activity in Haiti.

Policy shift in Africa?

In the wake of the 2008 food crisis, restoring Africa’s agricultural self-sufficiency has been on the minds of many policy makers and analysts. The G-20, thanks in part to efforts on the Preisdent’s behalf, claims to be devoted to helping Africa increase agricultural production now more than ever.

Speaking at a recent symposium about the global financial crisis hosted by the Liberian Chamber of Commerce, USAID Country Director Pamela White put in her two cents on the topic, claiming that USAID and other development organizations haven’t done enough in the past. Criticizing developed countries for not sufficiently funding long term development, White offered a remedy for the problem, urging international development organizations like USAID to do more to help African farmers afford tractors and other farm related machinery.

Is Chevron trying to stop Angola from doing a Nigeria?

Madam White’s remarks came a day after USAID and the oil company Chevron announced a Memorandum of Understanding, pledging to work together increase technical, financial and logistic support to farmers in Angola and other small businesses in order to help diversify the Angolan economy.  The deal, a $6 million supplement to $56 million the oil company has already donated towards farm aid in Angola, is Chevron’s way of doing its part to try and maintain stability in an oil rich country wracked by corruption and poverty  that was mired in a 27-year long civil war not so long.

Whether or not Chevron and USAID’s joint agricultural effort is more “business as usual” in terms of food aid remains to be seen. The company will want it to work, though, as Chevron execs cringe at the thought of Angola becoming the next Nigeria. Its Tombua-Landana Project alone is reported to be worth $3.8 billion, and peak production is not expected to be reached until 2011. 

Not-so-hidden Dragon 

There has also been talk that, not unlike Chevron’s aid, the recent attention the United States has been paying Africa, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit, is a move to promote American interests in African markets that have been increasingly patronized by Chinese investors. If any non-English speaking Angolans or Chinese do want to ask Madam Secretary what the White House’s opinion is on China’s concerns in the region, the State Department may want to make sure the interpreter isn’t prone to international-incident sized blunders. Perhaps there is something to be said for a stringent vetting process after all.