“The Kojo Nnamdi Show,” broadcast on WAMU 88.5 FM, the Washington, D.C. NPR affiliate, came to InterAction’s Forum 2010 for a lunchtime show on Thursday featuring two one-hour panel discussions focused on international development.
Kojo Nnamdi, the host of the show, also received InterAction’s Award for Excellence in International Reporting during the luncheon. Nnamdi, who immigrated from Guyana in 1968 and has been a TV and radio host since 1985, said that during his time living in the U.S., “my primary concern has been the welfare of human beings around the world. I only hope that the small contribution that I have made in that regard indeed helps with that situation.”
The first panel discussed the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. While there has been progress in areas such as child mortality and education in sub-Saharan Africa, the panel agreed that there is still a lot of work to be done ahead of 2015, the deadline for completing the goals.
Ambassador Mark Green, Director Malaria No More Policy Center, former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania and a former member of Congress (R-WI) stressed the “moral obligation” of the U.S. working towards these goals. “As we face fiscal challenges," said Green, “there will be voices that ask if we are spending money wisely. But if you look at the success stories, to me the answer is yes.”
He also mentioned that the reduction of poverty and illness in the developing world is important for the U.S.’s security and economic interests. Green said, “It’s the smart thing to do. it is in our interest as much as the interest as those who receive foreign assistance”
The second panel focused on the importance of agriculture in the fight against poverty in the developing world.
“We have become over-reliant on humanitarian assistance because we did not focus on agricultural development,” said Josette Lewis, Director of Agriculture for USAID, “Agriculture is a really important tool for income generation, which is where long term development happens.”
Jude Banatte, Head of Program, Catholic Relief Services, Les Cayes Office gave the Haitian perspective on this development tool. He mentioned that, after the earthquake, the rural regions of Haiti have experienced a huge influx of people fleeing Port-Au-Princes. He said that securing agricultural production will be vital to the survival of these people.
Banatte also discussed a grafting technique that has increased the yield of mango production for Haitian farmers. He said this was an important example of “how information can drive behavioral change.”
