79.5 million people have fled violence and conflict globally. Over 550,000 civilians die every year due to violence and conflict.
To reverse these alarming trends, Congress passed the Global Fragility Act of 2019 (GFA). The GFA was signed into law on December 20, 2019 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act.
About
The GFA will reorient U.S. foreign policy and assistance to address the root causes of violence. It requires government agencies to work together to create the first-ever Global Fragility Strategy. The United States Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability was released on December 18, 2020.
Thanks for Participating!
Take Action
In summer 2020, STAND called upon Congress and executive agencies like the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Defense to make sure they implement the GFA according to best practices, and with the input of local and international organizations.
Here’s how you can help:
- Use this call script to call your representatives, especially if they are one of our targets on the map below.
- Write an op-ed or letter to the editor using this guide. Here’s an example.
- Sign Mercy Corps’ petition.
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok (@gfagoodforall) for the latest asks and posts to share.
- Read our blog series.
Targets
Priorities
We are asking Congress to appropriate (set aside in law) the funds that the GFA authorizes (establishes). These include the Complex Crises Fund, the Prevention and Stabilization Fund, and the Multi-Donor Global Fragility Fund.
We are asking for:
- $50 million a year for the Complex Crises Fund, an account that allows USAID to respond quickly and flexibly to violence and crises.
- $200 million a year for the Prevention and Stabilization Fund, an account that allows the State Department and USAID to support stabilization of conflict affected areas and counter global fragility, including through the Global Fragility Strategy, as well as to provide assistance to areas liberated or at risk from or under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or other terrorist organizations, or violent extremist organizations.
- $25 million for the Multi-Donor Global Fragility Fund, an account that allows the State Department to leverage, receive, coordinate, and program funds provided by other donors and private sector partners to carry out the purposes of the Global Fragility Strategy to increase partners’ contributions as well as to enhance donor coordination.
- Legislative report text that ensures a substantial portion of the Complex Crises Fund and the Prevention and Stabilization Fund is made available for implementation of the Global Fragility Strategy.
We are also asking the government agencies that are writing the Global Fragility Strategy to emphasize key issues:
- Interagency cooperation and an emphasis on learning
- Locally-led with emphasis on local youth peacebuilders and youth-led organizations
- Select priority countries or regions that are relevant, have potential for U.S. action, and led by relevant data
- Address long-term causes of fragility and violence while adapting short-term programming reform that will allow for flexibility
- Take a conflict sensitive and multisectoral approach