With the government's blessings
Gamal Essam El-Din assesses the USAID-Egyptian relationship and speaks with the new USAID Mission Director Kenneth Ellis about the organisation's place in a post - 9/11 world and its role in Egypt
After the 11 September attacks there was a lot of debate in the US about the need to review USAID programmes in the Middle East. Some, like Liz Cheney, deputy assistant secretary of state of the Near East and the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, said they wanted USAID to focus on promoting a new education curriculum, analysing religious discourse and boosting democratisation. How does this apply to Egypt?
I don't think there will be a dramatic review of USAID economic assistance programmes in the near future; only minor changes. We have, however, a genuine interest in helping the Arab world solve some of its chronic problems. The UN 2002 Arab Human Development Report, authored by independent Arab economists, provided a critique of the Arab world's "freedom deficit", and embraced many of the reforms now backed by the United States such as freedom of speech, democratisation, economic openness, increased political role for women, and modern education systems.
Let me, however, emphasise that our aid programmes in Egypt are implemented in close association with the government. We are not supporting activities that the government itself does not endorse. We are not trying to encourage opposition to the government in any way. The allegation that we are trying to change the education curricula is more a fear than a reality; it is entirely unfounded. It is quite illogical for some to assert that America is trying to amend education in the Islamic world. As a matter of fact, we have increased our funding to the education sector (by $200 million by 2009) in Egypt because the government asked us to.
We are designing our programmes to meet the needs of the government.
And the programmes for democratisation in Egypt?
We are coordinating with the government with regard to the form and kind of democratisation programmes which are needed to create a strong civil society in Egypt.
We believe civil society organisations can play a positive role in boosting development and embracing reforms and changes in Egypt. We give money to civil institutions like the Egyptian parliament, syndicates and NGOs, and all of this is in coordination with the government.
Since USAID donations pass through many bureaucratic channels before reaching their target, would it not be better to give money directly to civil society organisations?
This is not possible because, as I said before, all of our activities must be implemented in coordination with the government.
USAID has been gradually cutting back on economic support programmes in Egypt over the past few years. Will this trend continue?
I hope that the previous level of assistance will be restored. Egypt used to receive more than $800 million a year in direct economic support from USAID, and this amount has been reduced to around $600 million. The aim is to reduce it to US$400 million by the year 2009. This amount will be maintained from then on for an indefinite period, and then we will coordinate with the government on selecting activities which will be most beneficial to the Egyptian people.
As you see, our aid programme in 2009 will be limited compared with the past, but it will remain one of the biggest and most important USAID programmes in the world. We will not be able to fund major infrastructural projects like we used to in the past, like projects in relation to telecommunications, power, wastewater treatment and agriculture. We will move on to setting up micro-lending projects, launching school pilot programmes and supporting rural girls' literacy programmes, establishing income-generating rural projects and water treatment services.
There has been a lot of criticism from the Egyptian government that a large portion of the USAID money goes to American consultants. Is this why USAID projects in Egypt produce poor results?
I understand the reaction of people in this respect. This is something I have heard both in Egypt and Latin America. The American consultants have a very high level of technical expertise and knowledge. In other words, you are buying knowledge and hope that this knowledge will be useful for the environment you want to develop.
Over the past 25 years, American consultants have managed to transfer substantial expertise and know- how to generations of Egyptian technicians and workers in a wide range of areas ranging from telecommunications, power, water supply and wastewater treatment, agriculture, basic education and business development. As programmes mature, we are helping Egypt to develop a knowledge base, thereby reducing dependence on American consultants.
For example, in the Minya water-treatment project (which we just visited) most of the technicians are Egyptian. This proves that our technology transfer programmes are now bearing fruit. Most of these technicians have acquired their experience from American consultants and through field training in the US.
How do you evaluate the performance of USAID in developing the governorate of Minya, which used to be a breeding ground for Islamist militants in the early 1990s?
The USAID is doing an excellent job in Minya to improve the lives of residents there. Governor of Minya General Hassan Hemeida and his administration have been very active in so many areas to improve the quality of life, and USAID has been pleased to provide assistance.
We are providing a lot of assistance for vital projects such as water treatment facilities, health care, hospitals and family planning services. The US assistance for water and wastewater facilities in Minya governorate for the period of 1998 to 2005 is projected at US$65 million and will benefit four million residents.
Some members of parliament have said that the USAID should not fund family planning projects in Egypt.
This is quite strange. As I said before, our family planning programme is organised in association with the Egyptian government.
As far as I know, President Hosni Mubarak is always warning people of the negative effect of a spiraling population growth on development within Egypt. This is in addition to the fact that the family planning and health services in Minya are offered by Egyptian doctors and with the blessing of religious clerics.
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 30 October - 5 November 2003 (Issue No. 662)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/662/ec3.htm