The First Ten Years: An Assessment of the Office of Transition Initiatives

The United States Agency for International Development's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) was established in 1994 to respond to post-conflict opportunities and challenges— to provide development assistance in fragile, emerging democracies more rapidly and with fewer restrictions imposed by long-term development priorities.

It has operated leanly in the field and in Washington. Its weaknesses— tight budgets and limited permanent staff— have led to innovation and focused insertion into the appropriate niches of needy countries.

OTI enters its second decade on a wave of success, and with positive lessons from its legacy that should stand it well as this decade becomes as dangerous and crisis ridden as OTI's first.