§9804 Selection of priority countries and regions

Summary

The President, working with the Secretary of State, the USAID Administrator, and the Secretary of Defense, must pick certain countries and regions as priority places for the Global Fragility Strategy. Choices must be based on U.S. national security interests and on clear signs of fragility or violence. These signs include rankings on recognized fragility lists (for example, OECD States of Fragility, Fund for Peace Fragile States Index, World Bank Harmonized List, Global Peace Index, Holocaust Museum Early Warning Project), U.S. conflict and atrocity watch lists, high levels of violence (from armed groups, state actors, extremists, gender-based violence, and violence against children and youth), and vulnerability to climate and environmental shocks (like rising seas, floods, droughts, wildfires, desertification, deforestation, food shortages, and displacement). They must also assess whether local governments and civil society can work with U.S. agencies, whether they are willing to strengthen institutions and human rights, and whether U.S. help is likely to reduce fragility, prevent extremism, and stabilize areas. At least five countries or regions must be chosen, and at least two must focus on preventing conflict rather than stabilizing ongoing fighting. Before final decisions, officials from State, USAID, Defense, and other agencies must brief the relevant congressional committees and consider their input.