within the agency. When we discover possible unintended environ- 

 mental impacts, we change our programs. 



The second key element of our work in Africa is to focus on the 

 direct links between the environment and economic growth, espe- 

 cially as it affects the rural poor. We know we can make a dif- 

 ference because we are already doing so. In Mali, Francois 

 Coulibali and his family have doubled, in some cases tripled, yields 

 on their land while enhancing its capacity to continue producing in 

 the future. They have done so with our help but, more importantly, 

 they have done so for well over a decade now. And thousands of 

 their neighbors have adopted similar practices, to the benefit of 

 both the people and the environment. 



We now have enough experiences as an agency to know what 

 works. Some of the key lessons learned include the following: first, 

 the importance of an enabling environment that is environmentally 

 friendly. If laws, policies and incentives are not environmentally 

 sensitive, results are unlikely. 



Second, the need for collaborative strategic planning. None of the 

 problems we have discussed today can be resolved if tnose involved 

 in attempting to address them fail to cooperate. Nor will solutions 

 be sustainable unless they reflect priorities established by Africans 

 themselves. As donor resources decline, coordination becomes even 

 more important. 



Third, incentives make a difference. A farmer who does not have 

 secure use of the land and who could be forced off it tomorrow has 

 little incentive to invest in the future. A community that does not 

 benefit from the wildlife with which it must co-exist will have no 

 stake in the future of that wildlife. 



Finally, and most importantly, empowering people makes a dif- 

 ference. 



As I said. Madam Chair, the challenges are great and the out- 

 come by no means certain. Much remains to be done. What I can 

 tell you is that the process, however slow it may seem, does pay 

 off and that is why it is so important to stay the course, to remain 

 engaged with Africa as it makes the transition to a more environ- 

 mentally sustainable and productive future. 



Thank you very much. Madam Chairman. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Bombardier appears in the ap- 

 pendix.] 



Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much. 



Gary, it has been stated that many of the problems in Africa are 

 not necessarily inappropriate government policy but rather the im- 

 plementation and the execution of those policies. What sort of effort 

 is your agency making to improve the quality of the implementa- 

 tion of the policies of environmental protection in African coun- 

 tries? 



Mr. Bombardier. We spend a lot of time thinking about capacity 

 building in African countries. 



Ms. Ros-Lehtinp:n. Capacity building? 



Mr. Bombardier. Capacity building. 



First of all, what we are trying to do is two things. One is to get 

 people in African countries to focus on the environmental problems 

 they face, to identify what they think the priorities are, to set those 

 priorities for how limited donor resources are going to be used and 



