WASHINGTON, DC - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will make his first trip to Africa as Administrator today, visiting both Kenya and Sudan. During his six-day visit he will focus on the development and progress of President Obama's Global Health Initiative and Food Security Initiative, while gaining a deeper understanding of U.S. bilateral and regional investments in agriculture, health, and democracy and governance. He will engage with USAID and U.S. government Country and Regional Team officials and staff, and discuss the context of Sudan humanitarian, development and peace building missions.

In Kenya, Dr. Shah will meet with U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger and senior Government of Kenya officials to discuss development priorities. While there, Administrator Shah will visit one of the many sites where USAID is implementing President Barack Obama's ground-breaking Global Health Initiative and will hold working group meetings with USAID staff on mission programs.

Administrator Shah will also visit Sudan during a critical time, following the April 2010 elections, and as Sudan prepares for the landmark 2011 referenda. The United States Government remains the largest donor of life-saving humanitarian assistance to conflict -affected persons throughout Sudan, including Darfur.

In Sudan, Administrator Shah will visit both Darfur and Juba to see the efforts of USAID partners to implement health, water and sanitation programs. In Darfur, he will meet with Internally Displaced Persons Camp leaders and local civil society leaders. He will also engage with United Nations humanitarian, development, and peacekeeping teams to learn about the political, security and logistical challenges faced by implementing partners supporting humanitarian assistance for the millions of conflict-affected persons in Darfur. In Juba, he will launch a new five-year, $55 million Food, Agribusiness, and Rural Markets (FARM) program and meet with Government of Southern Sudan officials.

Throughout the trip, Dr. Shah will be posting his thoughts and impressions on USAID's new Impact blog, http://blog.usaid.gov. The blog provides a forum for direct communication between USAID, the Administrator and the public. Featured content on the blog will include updates from our missions and partners around the world told through images and personal stories. Administrator Shah will give his personal insights and views on a variety of issues and sees this blog as contributing to our overall mission of creating more transparency throughout the agency. The blog will be a forum for continued engagement with the public and encourages feedback and discussion.