Press Releases

Women's empowerment in India - Half the Sky video image
September 13, 2012

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as part of its continued support of women, girls, and families launched a series of 18 short educational and advocacy videos aimed at increasing global awareness and bringing about social change for critical health, and gender equality and empowerment as part of the Half the Sky Movement.

The Half the Sky Movement is a multi-donor, multimedia platform based on Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s best-selling book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Through the FHI 360-managed Communication for Change (C-Change) project, USAID provided support to the Half the Sky Movement which is developed by Show of Force in collaboration with Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and in partnership with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the Independent Television Service (ITVS).

September 13, 2012

 

On September 12, U.S. Ambassador to South Sudan Susan D. Page and President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit inaugurated South Sudan’s 192-kilometer-long Juba-Nimule Road, the largest infrastructure project ever built in South Sudan, and the young nation’s first paved highway.

The inauguration comes one day after the two governments signed a new bilateral assistance agreement, which provides the legal framework for the U.S. Government's provision of development assistance to South Sudan.

September 13, 2012

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Together with the Philippines’ major mobile money service providers, the U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today launched the Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (SIMM) Project.  This project, first announced on June 8 during a meeting between President Benigno Aquino III and (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah in Washington, is the first full-scale mobile money project supported by USAID in the Philippines.

September 12, 2012

This is a truly historic moment. Thirty years ago, 46,000 children died every single day. As we see from today’s announcement that number has fallen below 19,000. While this progress is extraordinary, a child dying anywhere in the world is a tragic loss and undermines peace and stability. 

This year, the United States co-hosted a Child Survival Call to Action that challenged the world to reduce child mortality to below 20 child deaths per 1000 live births in every country by 2035. Assuming countries already on track continue to make progress at their current rates, achieving this target will save an additional 5.6 million children’s lives every year. That means 50 million more children will survive and thrive. 

September 11, 2012

The Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Science program, a partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), has issued a second call for proposals that includes new countries and special funding opportunities.

September 11, 2012

The Governments of the United States and Brazil today formalized a partnership with the Government of Honduras to increase agriculture production, decrease undernutrition, and promote renewable energy in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

September 7, 2012

Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners World Vision and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) announced 32 winning innovations for All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development grant competition during an International Literacy Day celebration at USAID headquarters in Washington, DC. The competition to create innovative solutions to improve early grade reading in the developing world elicited more than 450 proposals from more than 75 countries.

September 5, 2012

On September 7, “International Literacy Day”, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will announce the award nominees for its grant competition focused on literacy called “All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development”.  USAID is hosting this event, in collaboration with the Global Partnership for Education, the Brookings Institution and Lions Clubs International, to highlight the vital role literacy plays in fostering development and growth.  Thirty-two innovators were selected from 450 applications for grant financing of activities to address illiteracy in more than 20 countries.  All grantees will showcase their innovations at a DevelopmentXChange.

September 4, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Karen Hilliard was sworn in today as the new Mission Director for Armenia for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg administered the oath of office.

As Director of the Mission, Dr. Hilliard will have the primary responsibility for overseeing programs that aim to increase development, strengthen democratic institutions, governance, and civil society, and improve the quality of health and social services.

September 3, 2012
Administrator Shah to Participate in Yemen Donor Conference and Travel to Refugee Areas along the Jordanian Border

From September 3rd-5th Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Amman, Jordan. In Riyadh Administrator Shah will be leading the U.S. government delegation to Yemen’s Donor Conference.  The conference is co-hosted by the World Bank, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Government of the Republic of Yemen.

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah swears in Chris Milligan as Burma Mission Director
August 29, 2012

Today, T. Christopher Milligan was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Burma. Assistant Administrator for Asia Nisha Biswal presided over the ceremony and USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah administered the oath of office to Milligan.

August 28, 2012

Today, Peter Natiello was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for Colombia. Beth Hogan, Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, administered the oath of office.

August 22, 2012

On behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development, I join President Obama in extending my heartfelt condolences to the family of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and to the people of Ethiopia. Under Prime Minister Meles’ leadership, Ethiopia made strides in advancing food security, economic growth, health, and education. Prime Minister Meles was a key driver in the development of comprehensive agricultural and economic development plans in Ethiopia and throughout East Africa that have contributed to broad-based growth in agriculture, industry, and services.

August 20, 2012

The United States is pleased to support kick-off workshops for implementation of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition Cooperation Frameworks in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Tanzania. Announced by President Obama in May 2012 prior to the G8 Summit at Camp David, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition represents a commitment by G8 nations, African partner countries and private sector partners to lift 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years through inclusive and sustained agricultural growth.

August 16, 2012

On Thursday, August 16, USAID Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg met with a visiting delegation of government officials from the Republic of South Sudan. Led by Minister of Cabinet Affairs Deng Alor, the delegation included Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Kosti Manibe and Minister of Petroleum and Mining Stephen Dhieu Dau. The meeting focused on identifying methods to strengthen South Sudan's financial management systems, improve government transparency for donors and investors, and address rising food insecurity and the prevention of humanitarian crises. Both USAID and South Sudan are committed to strengthening their long-standing partnership and will explore ways that maximize U.S. investments for the benefit of the South Sudanese people.

Dr. Jim Barnhart is sworn in as USAID/Albania mission director. Credit: Patricia Adams/USAID
August 14, 2012

 

Today, Dr. Jim Barnhart was sworn in as the new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Albania.  Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg administered the oath of office.

In his role as Mission Director, Dr. Barnhart will have primary responsibility for supporting Albania’s progress toward European Union accession, overseeing programs that aim to strengthen democratic institutions and governance, and accelerate private sector-led growth.

Dr. Barnhart most recently served as Mission Director for Lebanon. Prior, Dr. Barnhart was Associate Mission Director for Economic Growth and Education and the Acting Economic Growth Office Director in Pakistan. Dr. Barnhart also served in USAID’s Jordan Mission managing the Office of Economic Opportunity and in Zambia.

August 14, 2012

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched its plan for implementing the U.S National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), directing implementation of the United States’ first-ever National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. USAID developed the plan to specify how the Agency will implement the NAP. In doing so, USAID will seek to better engage, empower, and ensure the protection of women and girls in countries affected by or emerging from conflict or crisis, those experiencing high levels of insecurity at national or sub-national levels, those recovering from a natural disaster, or those experiencing a significant political transition.

August 14, 2012

Today, Alexandria Panehal was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for the Dominican Republic. USAID Administrator Raj Shah administered the oath of office.

August 11, 2012

Today in Istanbul, Secretary Clinton announced the United States is providing an additional $5.5 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by the ongoing Syrian conflict, bringing the total U.S. contribution for this crisis to nearly $82 million.

United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally
August 10, 2012

Today, the United States launched its strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally. The strategy outlines four key objectives: to increase coordination of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts among United States Government (USG) agencies and with other stakeholders; to enhance integration of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts into existing USG work; to improve collection, analysis, and use of data and research to enhance gender-based violence prevention and response efforts; and to enhance or expand USG programming that addresses gender-based violence. The Strategy was congressionally requested and was drafted by USAID, the U.S. Department of State and other relevant U.S. agencies.

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