March, 17 2009, 04:33pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lurma Rackley,Public Relations Director,Phone: +1.404.979.9450 (Atlanta),Mobile: +1.404.394.8298,E-mail:,lrackley@care.org
CARE Joins Call to Prioritize and Modernize Foreign Assistance
Fighting Poverty Critical to Global Stability
WASHINGTON
CARE, a long-time implementer of U.S.-funded foreign assistance,
joined 140 influential organizations and individuals in calling on the
president and Congress to elevate global development as a national
priority and modernize our foreign assistance tools. ''We believe that
development is as important to U.S. foreign policy as defense and
diplomacy,'' said Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE. ''The United
States must reform and reinvigorate our assistance efforts in order to
make more strategic, sustainable and effective contributions to the
fight against global poverty.''
In an open letter to President Barack Obama and congressional leaders published in today's Politico,
the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) states, ''Poverty
breeds instability in many countries, which then creates fertile
environments for extremism and terrorism. In other countries,
governments are striving to fight poverty and establish democracies,
but face daunting challenges.''
As a member of MFAN, CARE
believes as the letter states, ''America's global leadership in
tackling these challenges is more important than ever - for our own
national security, for our economic prosperity, for the stability of
our allies and for the well-being of those around the world who
struggle to lift themselves up out of poverty.''
MFAN is a
broad-based coalition advocating for the elevation of development and
foreign assistance modernization. It's comprised of an unprecedented
network of organizations and individuals representing the international
development community, foreign policy experts, concerned citizens and
private sector companies.
CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.
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