Urge Congress to fully fund the Global Fragility Act
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating conflict and instability, worsening an already dire global humanitarian crisis. COVID-19 has exacerbated many factors underlying global instability, leaving more communities vulnerable to violence and conflict. Initial Mercy Corps analysis shows how the pandemic is fraying trust, proliferating disinformation, expanding the influence of armed and violent extremist groups, and increasing resource competition.
This year, 235 million people globally will depend on humanitarian assistance and protection to survive largely due to violent conflict. Extreme poverty is on the rise for the first time in two decades, nearly 80 million people are displaced, and 77 million struggle with severe hunger. COVID-19 is now projected to ignite conflict in 13 more countries through 2022, pushing conflict to its highest point in the past 30 years. The United States must take immediate action to prevent this crisis from escalating.
Fortunately, Congress passed the Global Fragility Act (GFA) of 2019 to do just that. Under this innovative law, the U.S. government has adopted a new approach — the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability — to address the causes of conflict before they balloon into crises. However, implementing this new approach requires resources. It is essential that Congress provide the funding necessary to ensure the success of this important new law.
Please urge your Senators and Representative in Congress to support the implementation of the Global Fragility Act, specifically by providing funding for the Complex Crises Fund, Prevention and Stabilization Fund, and the Multi-Donor Global Fragility Fund. With 1 in 33 people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection worldwide largely as a result of conflict, we cannot afford to maintain the status quo. Now is the time to prioritize conflict prevention. Now is the time to fully fund the Global Fragility Act.
Here is the letter we’ll send to Congress on your behalf:
Dear Member of Congress:
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to support the successful implementation of the bipartisan Global Fragility Act of 2019 by ensuring its three authorized accounts are fully funded. Specifically, I request that you support an appropriation of $50 million for the Complex Crises Fund, $200 million for the Prevention and Stabilization Fund, and $25 million for the Multi-Donor Global Fragility Fund in the fiscal year 2022 Appropriations Act.
This year, 235 million people — 1 in every 33 — globally will depend on humanitarian assistance and protection to survive largely as a result of violent conflict. Extreme poverty is on the rise for the first time in two decades, nearly 80 million people are displaced, and 77 million struggle with severe hunger. COVID-19 is now projected to ignite conflict in 13 more countries through 2022, pushing conflict to its highest point in the past 30 years. Despite this global crisis, the international community and the United States are supporting a reactive approach by treating the symptoms, not the causes, of conflict. Only 2 percent of official development assistance to fragile states go towards conflict prevention.
Fortunately, in December 2019, a bipartisan group in Congress came together to pass the Global Fragility Act (GFA). This innovative new law reorients U.S. foreign policy and assistance by ensuring that U.S. diplomatic, development, and defense agencies collaborate to reduce violence in at least five high-priority, fragile countries over the next decade. The law requires the U.S. government to adopt a new government-wide plan to prevent conflict, and in December 2020, the U.S. Department of State released the first U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. Through this new strategy, the U.S. government will invest in efforts, such as civil society empowerment, conflict resolution, justice sector reform, good governance, civilian security, and security sector reform, to prevent violence before it occurs.
Now it is up to Congress to ensure that the U.S. government can implement this bold new law by ensuring it is fully funded. We know that investing in prevention is a strategic investment. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, for every $1 spent on prevention, $16 can be saved in crisis response. That is why I urge you to fund the three accounts authorized by Global Fragility Act: $50 million for the Complex Crises Fund, $200 million for the Prevention and Stabilization Fund, and $25 million for the Multi-Donor Global Fragility Fund for the purpose of Global Fragility Act implementation.
To save lives, we must treat the root causes of conflict rather than the symptoms. I sincerely hope that you will stand with the vulnerable communities around the world and provide funding for the implementation of the Global Fragility Act.
Sincerely,