News & Publications

With its inaugural project to help Guyana prepare a National Development Strategy drawing to a close, The Carter Center's Global Development Initiative (GDI) hopes to take its innovative model of participatory economic and social planning to Albania, Mozambique, and Mali.

"W will encourage an even greater degree of grassroots involvement and input from all sectors of society in development planning in these countries than we did in Guyana," said Gordon Streeb, associate executive director of The Carter Center. "Not only does it create broad-based national consensus on development goals, but citizen participation strengthens democracy and respect for human rights."

Although these countries face different economic and social challenges, government officials in each agree a comprehensive strategy would help ensure that donor assistance supports economic priorities set by citizens themselves. The Carter Center will organize a process in each nation involving representatives from civil society, business, government, and other sectors who would participate in crafting the strategies. "Our goal is to help each government create a policy that all key stakeholders in society buy into, that reassures donors a plan is in place for the responsible use of foreign aid, and that gives developing nations more influence in the use of the aid offered them," Dr. Streeb said.

GDI projects are in the design phase in Albania, Mozambique, and Mali pend-ing funding for full implementation.