In 2005, Congress passed the overwhelmingly bipartisan Water for the Poor Act, sending a strong signal to the Administration that both parties believe that water and sanitation for the poor is a strategic priority for US foreign policy. The Administration was to come back with a strategy within 180 days.

As we approach World Water Day on March 22, CARE, NRDC and WaterAid have published a report card on how well the Act has been implemented seven years down the line. The bad news is that a strategy has still not been released. The good news is that there are signals that it could be released soon. Leadership from Secretary Clinton and USAID Raj Shah has given new life to solving one of the world’s great crises.

In the absence of a strategy, USAID has gone ahead with water, sanitation and hygiene programs, but much of the effort and dollars have not gone to benefit the poor. Only 33 percent of USAID funding for water, sanitation and hygiene in fiscal year 2010 went to low income countries based on the most recent State Department report to Congress. International organizations and advocates would like to see that figure closer to 70 percent.

SEE ALSO: Water, sanitation and bipartisanship

Why doesn’t the money go to the poor? It’s a complex question, but at its heart is likely the tension between aid for geostrategic priorities and aid for the benefit of those in need. In this case, Congress was clear. The law states that priority countries should be those in which the need is greatest and where assistance will have the most impact.

In September 2010, the Government Accountability Office did an analysis of how aid for water, sanitation and hygiene was being targeted and found that the choice of high priority countries was “not linked to verifiable analysis.” In other words, USAID is likely responding to political and geostrategic priorities rather than need or expected impact. And this problem is only being compounded by the lack of a strategy to spur concerted targeting.

We can hope that the release of a strategy in the near future will resolve some of these issues. In the meantime, to obey the spirit of the law USAID should:

By taking these steps, USAID can ensure that US investments under the Water for the Poor Act are in fact benefiting the poor.

Note: ONE together with a coalition of over 40 organizations, is supporting Congressional co-sponsorship of the Water for the World Act, a bill that will strengthen implementation of the Water for the Poor Act and spur US leadership.

Standing on the corner of Fillmore St. and Geary Blvd. in San Francisco, you can just feel the history around you. The Fillmore Theatre has provided a stage for artists and causes for over four decades — and last Friday, the majestic space once again hosted artists, activists, humanitarians and Bay Area constituents as we ignited the weekend with a festival of peace and action.

CARE’s second annual Power to the Peaceful Global Action Forum & Celebration kicked off with two short films: one on Michael Franti’s recent visit to CARE programs in East Timor and the second, an excerpt from “A Powerful Noise,” a documentary depicting a Malian girls’ education crusader who beat insurmountable odds to stand up for the rights of powerless girls in her community.

Before an incredible performance by Michael Franti, attendees engaged in an intriguing panel discussion moderated by Cheryl Jennings, co-anchor of the ABC 7 News in San Francisco and featured CARE’s executive director of Access Africa initiative Lauren Hendricks and Director of CARE’s Basic & Girls’ Education Unit Sarah Bouchie. The discussion focused on allocating resources into the hands of those who “bring it back” to the community: women and girls.

Roscoe with performer Michael Franti

Essentially stating: when women control the money, it goes directly into the community, since they bring it back. But we can’t put the burden on women alone. We must continue to educate men to help change their attitudes of women in their communities. We can’t let men off the hook. It is for no other reason that sexual violence against girls in schools reverse the goal of enrollment and retention for the next generation.

It is a message that rings in the hearts of ONE members in the San Francisco Bay Area. Headlining the evening was Michael Franti, whose organic performance revived the spirit of the historical theater and the hearts of the humanitarians who gathered in determination. The event encouraged us to bang the drum for peace, not war.

Friday’s CARE event builds on our goals as ONE members. We must support women and girls (and men) with smart health solutions. We can virtually eliminate vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child by 2015, and we can eliminate TB and malaria by encouraging Speaker Nancy Pelosi to support a full replenishment of the Global Fund.

ONE asks people to elevate the conversation to their representatives until poverty is made history. From all walks of life we all plead with our policy makers to keep their promises made to us and end the needless injustice of extreme poverty. A special thank you to Giulia McPherson with CARE for inviting ONE to participate.

Join local ONE members in the Western Region on Facebook or follow Roscoe on Twitter.

One of my favorite parts of the conference was when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the keynote address to the group. Secretary Clinton discussed the importance of development as part of our foreign policy, and noted that a sound foreign policy focuses on the three D’s: defense, diplomacy and development. Secretary Clinton stated that, “We believe by creating conditions that families and communities can thrive we can promote stability, opportunity and progress far beyond one community or even one country.” For me it’s really exciting that the Secretary of State has prioritized development and recognizes the links it has to our overall work around the world.

Check it out:

Secretary Clinton wasn’t the only person at the conference with experience as a first lady either. The first ladies of Mozambique, Sierra Leone and the wife of the Prime Minister of Kenya all participated in the conference as well. Women are agents of change and these first ladies are using their influence to push for advances in maternal health, women’s empowerment and girls’ education in their countries.

Overall I had an amazing experience at the CARE Conference and am reminded not only of the importance of fighting extreme poverty but also that there are so many other like-minded folks across the country working for the world’s poorest people.

Find out more and RSVP by clicking the links below—and don’t forget to tell your family and friends to sign-up, too!

May 5-6
Save the Children
Advocacy Day 2010

May 11-12
CARE
2010 National Conference and Celebration

June 2-4
InterAction
Forum 2010: Moving at the Speed of Change

June 14-18
Global Health Council
Dateline 2010: Global Health Goals & Metrics

June 15
Bread for the World
Lobby Day 2010

June 20-22
RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund
Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future: 30 Year of RESULTS

July 21-22
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
2010 Washington Conference

Click here to register.

Tickets for the conference package are $125 ($40 for students), but ONE will cover the registration fee for the first two people who comment on this blog post. Make sure to enter a valid email address when you leave a comment so we can notify you if you win.

Day one of CARE’s National Conference and Celebration will feature a keynote address from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; discussions with experts from the development world—from rebuilding Haiti to educating girls; a screening of Christy Turlington Burn’s new film “No Woman No Cry;” and a marketplace filled with goods made by women artisans from all over the world.

On day two, CARE will take you to Capitol Hill where you will be able to ask your members of Congress to support policies that help lift women, their families and their communities out of poverty for good.

Don’t miss this chance to learn with CARE and to meet, interact and share with hundreds of others the best ways to improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. Register now.

To learn more, check out this video with CARE CEO and President Helene Gayle:

Inspired by stories from the critically-acclaimed book “Half the Sky” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, CARE’s Half the Sky event – in nearly 500 movie theatres for just one night – will feature an uplifting night of music, celebrity discussion and film. With performances and appearances by India.Arie, Maria Bello, Michael Franti, Dr. Helene Gayle of CARE, Angelique Kidjo, Nicholas Kristof, Marisa Tomei, Sarah, Duchess of York, Sheryl WuDunn and other notables, as well as the world premiere of “Woinshet,” a powerful short film directed by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone, this night will move you to empower women and girls in the fight against poverty and oppression.

Check out a short video about the Half the Sky event:

CARE’s Half the Sky event will take place at 7:30 pm in all time zones in nearly 500 movie theatres in the U.S. and Canada. Tickets are approximately $10-$12.50 depending on the theatre and a portion of ticket sales goes to support CARE. To find a theatre near you and purchase tickets today visit www.halftheskylive.com.

-Stephanie Libby, CARE

On Thursday, February 11 in NYC, don’t miss the chance to see an exclusive sneak peek of CARE’s 2010 International Women’s Day star-studded event, Half the Sky LIVE.

Inspired by moving stories from the critically-acclaimed book “Half the Sky” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Half the Sky LIVE will feature an uplifting night of music, celebrity discussion and the world premiere of “Woinshet,” a powerful short film directed by Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone. The film chronicles the struggles of an Ethiopian woman who triumphs over violence and discrimination. Half the Sky LIVE will also feature appearances by India.Arie, Maria Bello, Michael Franti, Dr. Helene Gayle of CARE, Angelique Kidjo, Nicholas Kristof, Andrea Mitchell, Marisa Tomei, Sarah, Duchess of York, Melanne Verveer, Sheryl WuDunn and other notables.

Half the Sky LIVE will take place at 7:30 pm at NYU’s Skirball Center (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South). Ticket price is $25—and tickets are limited, so click here to purchase your ticket today.

We look forward to seeing you! And if you can’t make it on February 11, Half the Sky LIVE will screen on March 4 at 7:30pm in theatres nationwide (including NYC). For more information, visit www.halftheskylive.com and check out the trailer below:

-Stephanie Libby, CARE

Last week on Capitol Hill, I joined Paul Barker, CARE’s Country Director of Tanzania, as he spoke to legislators about the problem of child marriage in Tanzania. It is estimated that over the next decade, more than 100 million girls in the developing world will be married before they are 18. The millions of girls who become child brides face daunting odds: they are less likely to finish school, have fewer economic opportunities and face a multitude of health problems, including premature pregnancy, complications in childbirth and a high risk of physical and sexual abuse from husbands and in-laws. But beyond this overwhelming statistic, there are individual stories, too, which help convey both the tragedy and the hope surrounding the issue of child marriage.

One such story is that of Mukeshwari. She was 15 years old and living with her grandfather in an isolated village in India when he arranged for her to marry to a man in a neighboring village. Child marriage is common in India, where close to 50% of girls are married before they are 18.

Fortunately Mukeshwari’s story ends well. With the support of a CARE trained volunteer health worker, her situation was brought to the attention of the village council. They voted to stop the marriage, in line with India’s marriage age law. The case also inspired the village to form a committee on early marriage, which now works with the families of adolescent girls in the village to discourage the practice.

Mukeshwari’s story is inspiring, but it also provides valuable lessons on some of the actions needed to address the problem of child marriage. This includes support for community-based mechanisms and programs for girls and their families. US policy makers have a chance to support such solutions by passing the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act. This legislation, which has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, requires the President to develop a multi-year strategy to help prevent child marriage in developing countries. It also requires the Department of State to address child marriage in its annual Human Rights Report, to integrate child marriage prevention strategies throughout U.S. foreign policy initiatives, and to scale up successful approaches to prevent child marriage.

The time is now for leadership from Congress on this issue—on behalf of Mukeshwari and girls just like her around the world. Policymakers have to make difficult decisions every day. Passing this legislation should not one of them. Ask your representatives today to co-sponsor the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009.

-Erin Kennedy, Policy Advocate, CARE USA

Photo credit: © Ami Vitale/CARE

American Red Cross
Read a situation report from President and CEO Gail McGovern.

AmeriCares
Chief of Staff Carol Shattuck recounts her experience on AmeriCares first emergency airlift to help Haiti with earthquake and humanitarian relief.

CARE
A story from the field by Rick Perera.

Catholic Relief Services
CRS turns a golf course into a relief camp in Port-au-Prince.

Concern Worldwide
Program Officer Susan Finucane offers a video update of Concern’s work on the ground in Port-au-Prince.

Leon H. Sullivan Foundation
“In the aftermath of the largest earthquake to hit the Caribbean nation of Haiti in more than two centuries, the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation has initiated a relief effort to help meet the population’s immediate needs and participate in long-term efforts to restore normalcy to a country plagued by natural disasters.

“To merely replace the unsound buildings and feed people temporarily will not be enough. My organization is working on projects to help Haiti and its people become more self-sufficient over the long term,” said Hope Masters, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Sullivan Foundation. “We who have so much must never forget to help those who have so little.”

Mercy Corps
Cassandra Nelson, Director of Multimedia Projects, talks with CNN.

Oxfam America
A blog update from staff member Coco McCabe on the ground in San Juan. Also, a video on distributing water in Haiti.

Partners in Health
An on-the-ground update from Dr. Evan Lyon, who has been working at the general hospital in Port-au-Prince since Saturday.

Physicians for Peace
A blog update and photos from Dr. Lisbet Hanson in Haiti. Also, Physicians for Peace will be holding a collection drive in Norfolk, VA this Saturday.

Save the Children
Save the Children sets up child friendly spaces in Haiti.

TransAfrica Forum
An online resource for the latest news on the earthquake and its aftermath. TransAfrica Forum also held a candlelight vigil at the Haitian Embassy in Washington DC earlier this afternoon.

World Food Programme
“Within the next week, we aim to move the equivalent of 10 million ready-to-eat meals so that people whose homes have been destroyed, and who have no access to cooking facilities, can feed their families,” said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran. “We are also procuring 4.2 million rations of supplementary ready-to-use foods specifically designed to give children the calories and nutrition they need each day.”

CARE:

CARE is attempting to contact our country office in Haiti and assess the humanitarian situation following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck near the impoverished nation’s capital city. Initial reports indicate the disaster could be a major catastrophe.

World Vision:

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a region about 14 miles from Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince, according to media reports. World Vision staff members are assessing the situation and determining a potential emergency response.

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer interviews a World Vision official:

Save the Children:

WESTPORT, Conn. (Jan. 12, 2010) — Save the Children is verifying the safety of staff just hours after a major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, near the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

Houses are down in the area surrounding the Save the Children office, which was also damaged in the quake, according to Ian Rodgers, the agency’s Emergency Response Advisor, who is currently in Port-au-Prince.

An estimated 1.8 million residents were violently shaken by the earthquake and aftershocks affecting the densely populated areas near Port-au-Prince.

Save the Children has worked in Haiti since 1985, primarily in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and the Central Plateau region, providing health, education, protection and food security programs to vulnerable children.

Right now, Save the Children is assessing staff and program safety, which will be complicated by the onset of evening. Employees who were in the office at the time are uninjured, though about half of program staff were elsewhere. The agency plans to deploy emergency teams and begin relief efforts soon.

American Red Cross:

Our thoughts and support are with Haiti. We have pledged an initial $2oo,ooo and are accepting donations to the International Relief Fund.

For the most updated Red Cross information about the earthquake, visit our Disaster Online Newsroom.

We are releasing all our supplies located in a Panama warehouse, from kitchen and cooking sets to mosquito nets.

We expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.

Mercy Corps:

I’ve been on the phone for most of the last three hours figuring out the best way we can respond to the news in Haiti.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake has toppled buildings, including at least one hospital, and we assume there are significant casualties (the news has been slow to trickle out).

We do not currently have staff in Haiti, but we do have extensive experience responding to earthquakes — most recently in Padang, Indonesia last September. My colleagues and I have been canvassing our own emergency operations team as well as veteran relief workers from throughout the agency to determine the most qualified and immediately deployable staff.

We will begin deploying our team tomorrow and working now to line up resources to respond.