WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announce today the swearing in of Jeff Borns as mission director to South Africa. Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Earl Gast presided over the event and administered the oath to Borns.

As the USAID director for South Africa, Borns will oversee a program exceeding $500 million this fiscal year. Borns will also oversee the administration of the USAID Southern Africa Regional Program with a budget exceeding $17 million this fiscal year. USAID assistance in South Africa focuses on sustaining transformation and development processes throughout Southern Africa, including: strengthening democratic processes, improving education, promoting economic growth, and building civic capacity.

A member of the Senior Foreign Service with more than 20 years of USAID service, Borns began his service working in the Office of General Counsel, followed by postings as a Regional Legal Advisor in Kenya and Ecuador. He then served as the Director of USAID's Office of Democratic Initiatives and Training in Peru, followed by service as the Director of the USAID Office of Democratic Initiatives in Guatemala. Within the Bureau for Africa, Borns served as the Director of the Office of East African Affairs, then as the Director of the Office of Sustainable Development, and finally as Acting Deputy Administrator for the Bureau for Africa. Most recently, Borns served as the Director of the Office of Food for Peace (FFP) within the agency's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA).

Borns holds Master's in National Security Strategy from the National War College and both a law degree and B.A. in political science from the University of Iowa.

For more information about the U.S. Agency for International Development, visit our web site at www.usaid.gov.