Miami Herald - Thursday, October 23, 2008
*John Danilovich - www.MCC.gov

Through the assistance these women and thousands like them around the world receive from the U.S. government in partnership with host-country governments and civil-society partners, Americans are helping fight poverty and forging a more prosperous future. American development aid is changing lives in El Salvador and around the world precisely because the nature of American aid itself has changed.

During the past eight years, the United States has fundamentally transformed its approach to international development. Our nation has adopted bold, new principles rooted in the belief that our country, together with partner nations, can and should administer aid by linking resources with good policies and tangible results.

President Bush has led this new vision for international development since he took office in 2001. It is a vision for raising global living standards that emphasizes the essential role of economic freedom, political liberty, the rule of law and human rights. Most important, this accountability-based approach is delivering help and hope around the world.

The White House Summit on International Development convened on Tuesday spotlighted the successes and challenges of this visionary approach and explored ways to sustain this new era in international development. It explored principle-based policies and results-driven programs -- including innovative efforts launched by the president such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the President's Malaria Initiative.

These efforts, and other U.S. responses to food security, health and education issues, are producing historic results and impacting millions of lives.

Through innovative investments, strategic partnerships and expanded trade, America is helping strengthen developing nations and extending new opportunities to men and women around the globe. Our aid to developing nations now is channeled to countries that are committed to good governance, not mired in corruption and respect the rights of all citizens.

The president's new approach to international development also emphasizes the principle of partnership -- and our assistance supports partner countries' own plans for development. To ensure the sustainable impact of our investments the United States works with governments and local organizations to build partnerships and support effective homegrown solutions to sustain economic development well into the future.

Moreover, the United States works to leverage the partnership with the private sector on smart, stimulating investments that bolster economic growth and extend the aid we provide.

Americans share a belief that to whom much is given, much is required. Americans also believe that our help is best used when it goes to those working hard to help themselves. Through these convictions, the United States has delivered unprecedented assistance to individuals and nations taking tough actions to overcome the challenges of poverty. This is a legacy that America can be proud of and must continue to embrace.

The women of La Palma know the impact of American assistance. Theirs is a success story duplicated in many other corners of the globe through U.S. development dollars.

On behalf of the millions of lives impacted -- and millions of lives saved -- we must sustain this new era in international development.

*John Danilovich is the chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and formerly served as U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica and Brazil.
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