WASHINGTON, D.C. – The White House announced at the Seventh Summit of the Americas that starting this year, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will invest $35 million in a new higher education program designed to strengthen the capacity of technical training institutions in the region to provide market-relevant training for disadvantaged populations in Central America and the Caribbean.  

This program builds on lessons learned from the $50 million initiative Scholarships for Education and Economic Development Program, a 2009 Summit of the Americas initiative, which provides scholarships to marginalized individuals for training opportunities in the United States.  

Promoting social development is a key aspect of the United States’ comprehensive approach to partnerships in the Western Hemisphere.  Achieving regional stability and long-term prosperity in the global economy depends on equipping youth with the skills they need to compete in the 21st century workforce.  There remains a significant need in Central America and the Caribbean for youth to access high quality education and vocational training.  Through $68 million in new funding from USAID the United States is expanding education, training, and employment programs for youth throughout Central America and the Caribbean.

Additional information on the Seventh Summit of the Americas announcements can be found on the White House Fact Sheet.