Partnering for Democracy: New Approaches for Reform!

28 March 2023  08:30 - 04:30

In Person Event | Organised by USAID | Held in DC (EST), Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Horizon Ballroom. in English
Defending against authoritarianism
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Dear Colleagues,
The second Summit for Democracy is quickly approaching! To preview the Summit, USAID is thrilled to invite you toPartnering for Democracy: New Approaches for Reform. This is an in-person event on March 28, 2023 beginning with coffee at 8:30 AM EDT at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Horizon Ballroom.
This event will explore USAID’s efforts to forge new partnerships, initiatives, and approaches that strengthen democracy, rights, and governance. At 9 am, Administrator Samantha Power will open the day, followed by four panel discussions featuring dedicated reformers, democracy defenders, and heads of state who are taking on tough challenges in their countries – from satisfying citizens’ economic and justice needs to overcoming corruption and polarization. Please find here a summary schedule.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR IN PERSON ATTENDANCE: If you’d like to attend any of the sessions in person, simply click on ‘Register Now’ below. You are welcome and encouraged to attend as many panel discussions as you would like. We just ask that you indicate which sessions you realistically plan to attend. Please register soon as space is limited.
NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE: If you’re unable to attend in-person, don’t worry. You do not need to register for virtual attendance. The day’s events will be livestreamed on March 28 on the USAID YouTube page. We will send a link once it’s available.

Presenters

Panel 1: Government Reformers Making a Difference
9:10 am – 10:15 am
This session will highlight the work of democratic governments to overcome development challenges and deliver for their people, as well as the ways international partners such as USAID and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation can help reformers succeed. Government leaders from multiple countries will share their ambitions to empower citizens and improve economic governance to tangibly improve people’s lives and demonstrate that democracy delivers.
Panel 2: Advancing People-Centered Justice and the Rule of Law
10:45 am – noon
The rule of law and justice are fundamental pillars of democratic societies. An estimated five billion people have unmet justice needs globally. People-centered justice is premised on the idea that justice institutions must, first and foremost, meet the day-to-day justice needs of the populations they are mandated to serve. This panel will discuss how justice systems can become more people-centered to close the justice gap, build trust in democratic societies, and better respond to the needs of the people and communities they serve. This session will feature USAID’s new Rule of Law Policy and its people-centered justice approach, and will announce the Rule of Law and People-Centered Justice Cohort’s Declaration and Call to Action.
Panel 3: From Polarization to Unity: Strategic Approaches to Building Trust and Bridging Divides
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
People’s trust in each other and their institutions is fundamental to an effective democracy. The absence of trust can provide an opening for autocrats to exacerbate polarization and mobilize violence to serve narrow interests. Addressing persistent inequality and exclusion can help to strengthen social trust, support stability, and advance development outcomes. This panel will highlight strategic approaches to building trust and bridging divides in service to social cohesion.
Panel 4: Accelerating Anti-Corruption Progress & Moving to Action
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm
The same financial systems that have enabled democracies to achieve decades of economic growth remain vulnerable to exploitation by kleptocrats, criminals, and corrupt officials who exploit deficiencies in countries’ anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) frameworks to hide, move, or launder the proceeds of their graft. Effective partnership and coordinated action are needed to prevent these actors from misusing anonymous shell companies, opaque transactions, and poorly or unevenly regulated financial gatekeepers to facilitate their corruption. During this session, representatives of USAID, the State Department, the Brookings Institution, and the Open Government Partnership – as co-leads of the Summit for Democracy Financial Transparency and Integrity (FTI) cohort – will highlight progress made during the Year of Action, showcase the achievements of the FTI Cohort, consider further collective efforts to advance progress on transnational corruption, and announce a Pledge and Call to Action to mobilize partners. Representatives of USAID will also describe how these activities align with the Agency’s effort to modernize its approach to anti-corruption.
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