(G) Increasing the technical and managerial capacity of sub-Saharan African individuals to manage the economy of sub-Saharan Africa. (H) Ensuring sustainable economic growth through environmental protection. (4) The African Development Foundation has a unique congressional mandate to empower the poor to participate fully in development and to increase opportunities for gainful employment, poverty alleviation, and more equitable income distribution in sub-Saharan Africa. The African Development Foundation has worked successfully to enhance the role of women as agents of change, strengthen the informal sector with an emphasis on supporting micro and small sized enterprises, indigenous technologies, and mobilizing local financing. The African Development Foundation should develop and implement strategies for promoting participation in the socioeconomic development process of grassroots and informal sector groups such as nongovernmental organizations, cooperatives, artisans, and traders into the programs and initiatives established under this title. (c) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.-— (1) IN GENERAL.-Section 496(h) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293(h)) is amended-17 (A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: "(3) Democratization and conflict resolution capabilities.-Assistance under this section may also include program assist ance "(A) to promote democratization, good governance, and strong civil societies in sub-Saharan Africa; and "(B) to strengthen conflict resolution capabilities of governmental, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental entities in sub-Saharan Africa.". (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 496(h)(4) of such Act, as amended by paragraph (1), is further amended by striking "paragraphs (1) and (2)" in the first sentence and inserting "paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)”. SEC. 128.18 ASSISTANCE FROM UNITED STATES PRIVATE SECTOR TO PREVENT AND REDUCE HIV/AIDS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. It is the sense of the Congress that United States businesses should be encouraged to provide assistance to sub-Saharan African countries to prevent and reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in subSaharan Africa. In providing such assistance, United States businesses should be encouraged to consider the establishment of an HIV/AIDS Response Fund in order to provide for coordination among such businesses in the collection and distribution of the assistance to sub-Saharan African countries. 17 For text, see Legislation on Foreign Relations Through 2004, vol. I-A. 18 19 USC 3738. SEC. 129.19 SENSE OF THE CONGRESS RELATING TO HIV/AIDS CRISIS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. (a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds the following: (1) Sustained economic development in sub-Saharan Africa depends in large measure upon successful trade with and foreign assistance to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. (2) The HIV/AIDS crisis has reached epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 21,000,000 men, women, and children are infected with HIV. (3) Eighty-three percent of the estimated 11,700,000 deaths from HIV/AIDS worldwide have been in sub-Saharan Africa. (4) The HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa is weakening the structure of families and societies. (5)(A) The HIV/AIDS crisis threatens the future of the workforce in sub-Saharan Africa. (B) Studies show that HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa most severely affects individuals between the ages of 15 and 49-the age group that provides the most support for the economies of sub-Saharan African countries. (6) Clear evidence demonstrates that HIV/AIDS is destructive to the economies of sub-Saharan African countries. (7) Sustained economic development is critical to creating the public and private sector resources in sub-Saharan Africa necessary to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.-It is the sense of the Congress that (1) addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa should be a central component of United States foreign policy with respect to sub-Saharan Africa; (2) significant progress needs to be made in preventing and treating HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa in order to sustain a mutually beneficial trade relationship between the United States and sub-Saharan African countries; and (3) the HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa is a global threat that merits further attention through greatly expanded public, private, and joint public-private efforts, and through appropriate United States legislation. SEC. 130.20 STUDY ON IMPROVING AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. (a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with American Land Grant Colleges and Universities and not-forprofit international organizations, is authorized to conduct a 2-year study on ways to improve the flow of American farming techniques and practices to African farmers. The study shall include an examination of ways of improving or utilizing— (1) knowledge of insect and sanitation procedures; (2) modern farming and soil conservation techniques; (3) modern farming equipment (including maintaining the equipment); (4) marketing crop yields to prospective purchasers; and 19 19 U.S.C. 3739. 20 19 U.S.C. 3740. The Secretary of Agriculture shall submit the study to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry_of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives not later than September 30, 2001. (b) LAND GRANT COLLEGES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS.— In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agriculture is encouraged to consult with American Land Grant Colleges and not-for-profit international organizations that have firsthand knowledge of current African farming practices. SEC. 131.21 SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING EFFORTS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES. (a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds that (1) desertification affects approximately one-sixth of the world's population and one-quarter of the total land area; (2) over 1,000,000 hectares of Africa are affected by desertification; (3) dryland degradation is an underlying cause of recurrent famine in Africa; (4) the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that desertification costs the world $42,000,000,000 a year, not including incalculable costs in human suffering; and (5) the United States can strengthen its partnerships throughout Africa and other countries affected by desertification, help alleviate social and economic crises caused by misuse of natural resources, and reduce dependence on foreign aid, by taking a leading role to combat desertification. (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.-It is the sense of the Congress that the United States should expeditiously work with the international community, particularly Africa and other countries affected by desertification, to (1) strengthen international desertification; cooperation to combat (2) promote the development of national and regional strategies to address desertification and increase public awareness of this serious problem and its effects; (3) develop and implement national action programs that identify the causes of desertification and measures to address it; and (4) recognize the essential role of local governments and nongovernmental organizations in developing and implementing measures to address desertification. 22 The remaining titles of this Act, relating to trade, may be found in Legislation on Foreign Relations Through 2004, vol. III. (3) Africa: Seeds of Hope Act Partial text of Public Law 105–385 [H.R. 4283], 112 Stat. 3460, approved November 13, 1998 AN ACT To support sustainable and broad-based agricultural and rural Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a)1 SHORT TITLE.-This Act may be cited as the "Africa: Seeds of Hope Act of 1998". (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.-The table of contents is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings and declaration of policy. TITLE I-ASSISTANCE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Sec. 101. Africa Food Security Initiative. Sec. 102. Microenterprise assistance. Sec. 103. Support for producer-owned cooperative marketing associations. Sec. 104. Agricultural and rural development activities of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Sec. 105. Agricultural research and extension activities. TITLE II-WORLDWIDE FOOD ASSISTANCE AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS Subtitle A-Nonemergency Food Assistance Programs Sec. 201. Nonemergency food assistance programs. Subtitle B-Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act of 1998 Sec. 211. Short title. Sec. 212. Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust Act. Sec. 301. Report. TITLE III-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SEC. 2.2 FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY. (a) FINDINGS.-Congress finds the following: (1) The economic, security, and humanitarian interests of the United States and the nations of sub-Saharan Africa would be enhanced by sustainable, broad-based agricultural and rural development in each of the African nations. (2) According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the number of undernourished people in Africa has more than doubled, from approximately 100,000,000 in the late 1960s to 215,000,000 in 1998, and 1998, and is projected to is projected to increase to 17 U.S.C. 1691 note. 222 U.S.C. 2293 note. 265,000,000 by the year 2010. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the term "under nutrition" means inadequate consumption of nutrients, often adversely affecting children's physical and mental development, undermining their future as productive and creative members of their communities. (3) Currently, agricultural production in Africa employs about two-thirds of the workforce but produces less than onefourth of the gross domestic product in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Bank Group. (4) African women produce up to 80 percent of the total food supply in Africa according to the International Food Policy Research Institute. (5) An effective way to improve conditions of the poor is to increase the productivity of the agricultural sector. Productivity increases can be fostered by increasing research and education in agriculture and rural development. (6) In November 1996, the World Food Summit set a goal of reducing hunger worldwide by 50 percent by the year 2015 and encouraged national governments to develop domestic food plans and to support international aid efforts. (7) Although the World Bank Group recently has launched a major initiative to support agricultural and rural development, only 10 percent, or $1,200,000,000, of its total lending to subSaharan Africa for fiscal years 1993 to 1997 was devoted to agriculture. (8)(A) United States food processing and agricultural sectors benefit greatly from the liberalization of global trade and increased exports. (B) Africa represents a growing market for United States food and agricultural products. Africa's food imports are projected to rise from less than 8,000,000 metric tons in 1990 to more than 25,000,000 metric tons by the 2020. (9)(A) Increased private sector investment in African countries and expanded trade between the United States and Africa can greatly help African countries achieve food self-sufficiency and graduate from dependency on international assistance. (B) Development assistance, technical assistance, and training can facilitate and encourage commercial development in Africa, such as improving rural roads, agricultural research and extension, and providing access to credit and other resources. (10)(A) Several United States private voluntary organizations have demonstrated success in empowering Africans through direct business ownership and helping African agricultural producers more efficiently and directly market their products. (B) Rural business associations, owned and controlled by farmer shareholders, also greatly help agricultural producers to increase their household incomes. (b) DECLARATION OF POLICY.-It is the policy of the United States, consistent with title XII of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, to support governments of sub-Saharan African countries, United States and African nongovernmental organizations, universities, businesses, and international agencies, to help ensure |