[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 863 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 863

Recognizing the importance of local capacity building within developing 
 countries to create sustainable, long-term international development.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 19, 2004

Mr. Farr submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the importance of local capacity building within developing 
 countries to create sustainable, long-term international development.

Whereas ``local capacity building'' means investing in the people, institutions, 
        and practices of developing countries to enable the countries to achieve 
        and independently sustain development;
Whereas local capacity building improves local and national government 
        institutions by stimulating the involvement of the people in the 
        development process and by encouraging democratic participation in local 
        governmental activities;
Whereas local capacity building expands human resource potential by transferring 
        technical knowledge in such areas as agriculture, teacher education, and 
        small business development to people through education and training;
Whereas a society is more likely to sustain development programs after foreign 
        assistance is no longer available if the society is involved in, and has 
        ownership of, the development programs;
Whereas foreign assistance that is focused on grassroots development results in 
        local capacity building, the empowerment of local peoples, and more 
        effective development programs;
Whereas according to the 2002 National Security Strategy of the United States, 
        ``Poverty does not make poor people into terrorists and murderers. Yet 
        poverty, weak institutions, and corruption can make weak states 
        vulnerable to terrorist networks and drug cartels within their 
        borders.'';
Whereas according to the United States Agency for International Development 
        (USAID), investment in the people of developing countries is essential 
        to sustainable development;
Whereas according to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 
        (IBRD), local capacity building must be a component of development 
        assistance programs to effectively reduce poverty;
Whereas programs funded by the IBRD are required to focus on creating and 
        transmitting knowledge and capacity to the people of developing 
        countries;
Whereas according to section 102(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
        U.S.C. 2151-1(b)), United States assistance ``shall be used in support 
        of, rather than substitution for, the self-help efforts'' of developing 
        countries and ``should focus on establishing and upgrading the 
        institutional capacities of developing countries in order to promote 
        long-term development'';
Whereas the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) 
        established the Millennium Challenge Corporation to provide United 
        States assistance for international development ``in a manner that 
        promotes economic growth and the elimination of extreme poverty and 
        strengthens good governance, economic freedom, and investments in 
        people.'';
Whereas according to both the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Millennium 
        Challenge Act of 2003, increased local participation helps establish 
        appropriate priorities, increases local ownership, and results in 
        sustainable development programs; and
Whereas local capacity building in developing countries is essential to reducing 
        poverty, fostering entrepreneurial spirit, and creating economic 
        sustainability: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to create 
        and support development programs that promote local capacity 
        building;
            (2) urges the Department of State, the United States Agency 
        for International Development (USAID), and the Millennium 
        Challenge Corporation to focus on the creation of development 
        programs that increase recipient-country participation in the 
        planning of programs, promote recipient-country ownership of 
        programs, and build local capacity within the recipient-
        country; and
            (3) recommends that the Millennium Challenge Corporation, 
        when revising the indicators used in the selection of countries 
        eligible to receive assistance from such Corporation, give 
        special consideration and weight to the efforts and commitment 
        of a country to build local capacity and increase local 
        management and ownership of development programs.
                                 <all>