20-9-2023 (WASHINGTON) The United States has pledged $225 million in investments to bolster emerging democracies amidst a growing global trend towards autocratic governance. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), made the announcement during an event held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
A significant portion of the funding, amounting to $110 million, will be allocated to private-sector projects in Nepal. The country has made strides in stabilizing its political system following a peace agreement in 2006 that ended a civil war causing over 17,000 casualties. The assistance for Nepal, facilitated by the US International Development Finance Corporation, will include support for small businesses and sustainable transportation initiatives in the Himalayan nation.
Additionally, the aid package includes $145 million in US government funding designed to foster job creation and enhance transparent public finances, among other elements crucial for democracy.
The assistance program encompasses grants from organizations like the Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation. These grants will back civil society groups, rural electrification projects, and climate initiatives in countries including Moldova, Tanzania, and Zambia.
USAID emphasized its commitment to ensuring that democracy benefits all citizens, with a focus on delivering essential services and tangible progress in nations undergoing democratic transitions.
Secretary Blinken and Administrator Power initiated the “Democracy Delivers” project in response to concerns that democratic systems are under threat from authoritarian regimes like Russia and China, especially in light of events like the Ukraine conflict. Several emerging democracies have experienced significant setbacks, with the military in Niger overthrowing the elected government in July and Sudan witnessing military intervention in 2021, leading to a violent power struggle among competing generals.
