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This bill — the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act of 2018 — would require the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish and implement an interagency initiative to stabilize and prevent violence in conflict-prone areas of the world. USAID would coordinate efforts with the Depts. of State and Defense (DOD) to develop a global initiative to prevent the root causes of violence and instability in countries around the world.

The interagency group would develop 10-year plans to coordinate federal efforts under the initiative in 10 pilot countries jointly identified by USAID, the State Dept., and DOD. It would also consult with the U.S. Ambassador, USAID Mission Director, geographic Combatant Commands, relevant interagency country teams in each pilot country, representatives of local civil society and national and local governance entities, nonprofits, intergovernmental organizations, and private entities as appropriate to develop initiatives in each pilot country.

Pilot countries would be identified based on current levels of violence and an assessment of U.S. government activities’ potential to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility within their borders. “Current levels of violence” in each country shall be measured by considering:

Total levels of deaths due to violence and violence-related deaths per 100,000 population;
Total levels of violent injuries and violence exposures levels;
Violent injuries and violence exposure levels per 100,000 population;
Levels of persons forcibly displaced, whether internally or internationally, due to violence or violent conflicts;
Total levels of gender-based violence and violence against children and youth;
Prevalence of physical of sexual violence in the last 12 months;
Mortality levels due to armed group violence;
Levels of citizen support for armed groups;
The country’s ranking on select global fragility lists and select good governance indexes;
The country’s ranking on selected U.S. government conflict and atrocity early warning watch lists; and
The country’s vulnerability to current or future transnational threats.

Finally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and administration would be required to provide regular briefings and reports on this initiative to Congress.

","official_title":"To reduce global fragility and violence by improving the capacity of the United States to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in pilot countries, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act of 2018","popular_title":null,"short_summary":null,"summarized":true,"cost":3000000,"cost_commentary":"The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $1 million a year, totalling $3 million over the 2019-2023 period.","impact":"Conflict-prone areas; international violence; USAID; State Department; DOD; GAO; International affairs; and Congress.","argument_for":"Global violence has high human and economic costs, leading to the loss of lives and economic output. 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Should USAID Develop a Global, Interagency Initiative to Address the Causes of Violence?