Gideon Maltz

🌍 Building on the momentum from the recent #ClimateMobilitySummit in New York, where global leaders and stakeholders convened to address the nexus of climate change and human mobility, #Guatemala is leading the way in the Central American region. The country is advancing efforts for integrating climate-related mobility into public policies and conducting consultations and forums to promote this critical agenda. 📢 The Third National Forum on Migration and Climate Change held in Ciudad de Guatemala in July, co-hosted by Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN), Ministerio Relaciones Exteriores Guatemala (MINEX), IOM - UN Migration and CGIAR, was a significant millestone for the country and the region.   📊 This forum underscored the critical importance of inclusive and coherent policymaking, community engagement and integrated solutions in addressing compounding risks as well as the generation of more granular data to guide interventions and support access to the Loss and Damage Fund.   🔍 The dialogue also shed light on firsthand experiences of how climate change is exacerbating displacement and migration, presenting the real struggles faced by communities in San Marcos, Chiquimula, and Izabal. We explored grassroots innovative solutions aimed at fostering resilience and social cohesion from within the communities themselves.

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Check out USAID's latest article, "On the Hook," about fighting illegal fishing and promoting sustainable practices. Learn how we can keep our oceans healthy for the future! 🔗 Read here: https://lnkd.in/erG9DT-q

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Latin America’s digital transformation offers opportunities to accelerate regional economic growth and improve education, health care, and other public services. We are thrilled to partner with Almudena Fernandez and UNDP PNUD en América Latina y el Caribe to find ways to broaden access to these digital tools, and expand workforce training, in a region with a persistent and systematic “digital divide.” Fortunately, despite high levels of polarization, there is broad consensus on the importance of the digital transformation and the need for laws, regulations, and incentives that would increase private sector investment in critical digital infrastructure. The Wilson Center Wilson Center Latin America Program Wilson Center Brazil Institute Vrio Corp. DIRECTV Latin America SKY Brasil Carlos Magariños

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Reflecting on my time as a USAID Foreign Service Officer, I often think about the Mission Directors Conferences, where we exchanged insights on confronting challenges, identifying emerging trends, and sharing best leadership practices. Though those days are over for me, the excitement and importance of such conferences remain ever relevant. Last week, USAID held its second Mission Directors Conference under Administrator Samantha Power’s leadership, emphasizing the crucial role of communications and engagement in today’s complex geopolitical landscape. Her keynote speech (https://lnkd.in/eRRJd46H), especially at the 13:15 mark, underscores the significance of "development diplomacy" amidst increasing geostrategic competition. The necessity for strategic engagement in development work is more pressing than ever. In regions like the Sahel, we face significant challenges. For instance, while USAID’s announcement of increased humanitarian assistance for Burkina Faso was a critical development, it was overshadowed by Russia's diplomatic maneuvers in the area. This scenario highlights the urgent need for the development community to enhance and strategically leverage our partnerships with governments and communities to ensure our efforts are visible and impactful. Development diplomacy isn't just a term; it’s an essential practice that can shape the success of our initiatives and ensure that our efforts in global health and development are recognized and prioritized. Now, as the President of URC, a key USAID implementing partner, I see firsthand the profound impact of development diplomacy. During a visit to Mali, I briefed a former colleague on USAID’s community health initiatives. His remark that I had seen more of Mali in a week than he had in two years speaks volumes about the depth and breadth of engagement required in our work. Security concerns are real, but the call for engagement and communication is clear. As Administrator Power articulated, the dedication of USAID’s foreign service and FSNs to engage more deeply with the communities we serve is critical. 

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The challenges that the Organization of American States is facing in addressing the current crisis in Venezuela highlight a central challenge to the Inter-American Defense of Democracy Regime—the inability to address threats to democracy until there is a major crisis. The inability to respond before a crisis has been evident in several recent cases of democratic crisis in the region. Efforts to strengthen democracy before full blown crises emerge are necessary for ensuring the defense of democracy. Check out my latest article with Diplomatic Courier: https://lnkd.in/eK47x5r8.

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My insights on Haiti, shared during briefings at the U.S. Congress and U.S.G. Agencies here in DC in the last few weeks, have been very much in line with Georges Fauriol's analysis. Haiti is at a crossroads, and there is indeed a need for U.S. leadership in advancing sustainable peace and good governance. To Georges' recommendations, I would just add: 1) Strengthening oversight of both the Haitian transitional authorities and the Multinational Security Support Mission, by setting verifiable benchmarks and accountability systems to ensure fair play and achieving milestones; and 2) Promoting some soul-searching among foreign commentators and media outlets, who exacerbate the crisis by legitimizing gang leaders, thus undermining efforts to restore stability.  The agenda-setting power of the media comes with the responsibility to refrain from amplifying sensationalism and signal boosting those who have inflicted suffering and destruction at an unimaginable scale.

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