Alliance For Peacebuilding – 7 January 2020 – The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) commended the 46 bipartisan Congressional co-sponsors of the Global Fragility Act (GFA) which was passed by Congress as part of the 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act and signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2019. Congressional and White House approval of this bill represents a historic victory for the peacebuilding field, which has long advocated for the GFA as a game-changing way forward to prevent and reduce violent conflict. The GFA will create the first-ever comprehensive U.S. government strategy to tackle and prevent spiraling global conflict.
AfP President and CEO Uzra Zeya noted, “The Alliance for Peacebuilding looks forward to working with the U.S. Administration, the U.S. Congress, and civil society partners to ensure meaningful GFA implementation, rooted in evidence and local leadership. The GFA is proof of a growing bipartisan consensus for elevating peaceful prevention in U.S. foreign policy and assistance, and signals that the status quo and securitized approaches of the last two decades have not delivered and need a reboot.”
An ongoing, 30-year peak in wars and violence has triggered the worst displacement and refugee crisis ever recorded, displacing more than 70 million people. Just fifteen years ago, approximately 80% of humanitarian aid went to helping the victims of natural disasters, but today that ratio is reversed, with 80% of aid going to meet the needs of victims of violent conflict. Violent conflict also fuels violent extremism and remains the primary driver of terrorism, with over 95% of deaths from terrorism occurring in countries already in conflict. When combined with countries with high levels of political terror, the number jumps to over 99%. By addressing the drivers of violent conflict and taking a sustained, whole of government approach, the GFA can help prevent conflict from occurring or spreading in fragile states, obviating the need for costly military interventions and saving lives and taxpayer dollars.
What the GFA Accomplishes:
- Focuses U.S. foreign assistance on preventing violence and conflict in fragile countries;
- Saves U.S. taxpayers money by addressing the prevention and the causes of violent conflict rather than the costlier approach of containing it;
- Increases transparency and accountability by mandating biennial reports to Congress and the American people;
- Strengthens research to identify the foreign assistance programs and diplomatic approaches that are most effective at preventing violence and conflict;
- Dedicates $1.15 billion over the next five years for conflict prevention and peacebuilding in countries at risk of violence and conflict.
Passing this legislation took determination and collaboration from Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle. We applaud the bi-partisan leadership of the Global Fragility Act’s lead sponsors, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), as well as Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Other original co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Todd Young (R-IN) and Representatives Bill Keating (D-MA), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Ann Wagner (R-MO). A bipartisan group of 26 Senators and 20 Representatives co-sponsored the bill, and their support was key to the Global Fragility Act’s success.
The Alliance for Peacebuilding and Mercy Corps co-lead a non-partisan coalition of 67 peacebuilding and development organizations that are dedicated to the passage and successful implementation of the GFA. The GFA Coalition is committed to ensuring successful implementation in 2020 and will work closely with both Congress and the Administration.
Global Fragility Act Coalition
- Alliance for Peacebuilding
- American Friends Service Committee
- American Jewish World Service
- The Borgen Project
- CARE
- Carl Wilkens Fellows
- Catholic Relief Services
- CDA Collaborative Learning
- Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
- Center on Conscience & War
- Charity & Security Network
- Chemonics
- Church of the Brethren, Office of Public Witness
- Conciliation Resources
- Conference of Major Superiors of Men
- Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces
- Cure Violence
- Educators’ Institute for Human Rights
- The Episcopal Church
- Food for the Hungry
- Foreign Policy 4 America
- Franciscan Action Network
- Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
- Futures Without Violence
- Generations for Peace
- Global Communities
- Global Water 2020
- Grace Initiative Global
- The HALO Trust USA
- Humanity United Action
- i-ACT
- In Defense of Christians
- Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy
- InterAction
- International Alert
- International Civil Society Action Network
- International Crisis Group (ICG)
- International Medical Corps
- International Rescue Committee
- Jewish World Watch
- Karuna Center for Peacebuilding
- Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego
- Leadership Conference of Women Religious
- Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
- Mercy Corps
- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
- National Latino Evangelical Coalition
- Never Again Coalition
- Nuru International
- ONE Campaign
- Pax Christi International
- Pax Christi USA
- Peace Direct
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- PRBB Foundation
- Saferworld
- Save the Children
- Search for Common Ground
- ShelterBox
- STAND
- Stop Genocide Now
- United Church of Christ
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Women for Afghan Women
- World Learning / School for International Training
- World Relief
- World Vision
