GDI evolved from a 1992 Carter Center conference to find ways to improve the development aid process. Former President Jimmy Carter and U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali co-chaired the meeting, sponsored by the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government.

"Developing countries often have limited human and institutional resources to use external aid effectively to get development underway," said Uma Lele, GDI director and graduate research professor at the University of Florida. "Under President Carter's leadership, GDI is working with the donor community to help young democracies meet those challenges."

The first test case is Guyana, where Center staff are working with the government, donor agencies, and citizens to create a long-term devel-opment strategy following national elections in 1992. It was the nation's first democratic election in 28 years.

"You have to make sure that a new democratic government, if it has little experience in governing, is capable; that its long-range plans are comprehensive; and that it works in harmony with other elements within the country," said President Carter, who had led an international delegation that observed the elections. The delegation represented the Council of Freely Elected Heads of Government, based at The Carter Center of Emory University.

In January, President Carter to the World Bank's Caribbean Group for Cooperation in Economic Development (CGCED) meeting. The CGCED meeting was an opportunity for international financial institutions, bilateral donors, and other agencies to take a comprehensive look at development in Guyana. President Carter also called on the nation's political parties, private businesses, environmentalists, students, women, and ethnic groups to help chart a path toward sustainable development. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Dr. Lele accompanied him on the trip.

"I am here to help my friends in Guyana and my friends in the donor community understand one another and build upon the good work that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and others are doing," President Carter said.

The meeting was successful. All parties agreed that GDI should work closely with the government, other Guyanese, and donors to assure that current aid funds are spent efficiently and to help form an economic development strategy. In a surprise decision, bilateral donors agreed to commit $320 million in new aid to Guyana over the next three years.

President Cheddi Jagan described the decision as the "successful end" to an important conference and thanked President Carter and his delegation for the "excellent" help they gave Guyana at the forum.

"We want Guyana placed proudly among those countries that have been able to carve out for themselves a nation ready to meet the trials and prospects the new millennium will bring," President Jagan said. The Guyanese leader honored President Carter with the Order of Excellence, the nation's highest honor, for his contribution to the restoration of democracy in Guyana.