Speeches

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 - 1:00pm

When criminals exploit human beings to pursue profits in the global seafood market, they also disregard the environment in the process, damaging fisheries and destroying ecosystems. That is why at USAID, we strongly believe that we must look at these enormous challenges in an integrated way–working both to improve the sustainability of our oceans and increase respect for the rights and dignity of the people working in this industry around the world.

Saturday, September 10, 2016 - 9:30am

On behalf of the donor community and the USAID mission in Kenya and East Africa, I am delighted to join CIMMYT on this auspicious occasion to mark the 50 years they have devoted to ensuring that smallholder farmers and their families can meet their need for food and nutritional security. This is a daunting but critical task in this part of the world. So first of all, I want to say thank you for your dedicated work.

Thursday, September 8, 2016 - 2:15pm

Over time, our vision for literacy has naturally evolved. Globalization and technology have not only increased the complexity of literate environments, but also influenced the challenges to learning. And in today’s rapidly changing world – a world where knowledge is power – being able to recognize words on a page is simply not enough. It is only the first step.

Children need essential skills like problem-solving and creative thinking to be able to write the future. They need “transformative literacy.”   The 2030 Agenda on education recognizes this need. By committing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the world came together to recognize that learning is more than just getting children in school; that education is a driver for progress in other sectors; and that literacy is one of the keys to ending extreme poverty.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016 - 12:30pm

I’m extremely confident, and I pledge to you that the United States, USAID – led by Beth Dunford, who leads our Bureau for Food Security – will continue to deliver on our commitment to food security. Together, I believe we can and should invest political capital in this effort, but not politics. We’ve learned in the U.S. that it works when it’s a national project. That we need to keep driving with evidence – the beauty of this effort is we can show people results, and the science and the facts that got us there.

Monday, August 29, 2016 - 8:30am

As Cambodia moves towards virtual elimination of HIV, it is ever more important to identify what elements of the national program are producing the desired results and which elements require adjustment.  The importance of evaluating innovative approaches to programming and finding efficiencies is heightened.  And this is where research and evaluation play critical roles.

The USAID HIV Innovate and Evaluate Project aims to provide relevant information to Cambodia's decision-makers at the policy, implementation, and community levels. This information will inform,  interventions relevant to key populations around such priorities as HIV prevention and testing, new case finding, links to HIV care and treatment, and ART adherence among key populations.

Friday, August 19, 2016 - 1:00pm

We’ve seen in recent weeks that people here in Ethiopia want to be heard. I would like to urge everyone—both within the Government and on the streets—to find peaceful ways to talk to, and listen to each other. No one should ever die for peacefully voicing his or her opinion.

Thursday, August 18, 2016 - 9:30am

I am thrilled to have this opportunity to talk to you this morning. The part of my job that I enjoy the most is meeting with young people like you, who early in life have demonstrated strength and perserverance in achieving your goals. I hope my words can inspire you as much as you inspire me.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016 - 3:30pm

Your Excellency, Dr. Fareeda Momand, Minister of Higher Education; Dr. Hamayoon, Kandahar Provincial Governor; Mr. Hakimi, Chancellor of the Afghanistan National Agriculture Science and Technology University; Distinguished Colleagues; Ladies and Gentlemen:

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 - 7:00am

As you know, India and the United States have a long and successful partnership in the energy sector that has grown stronger and deeper under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and President Obama.  It’s a testament to our common interest that our leaders have visited one another seven times over the past 20 months  – and where clean energy and climate change were always a key component of their talks.  As I have been telling people for many months, our work together on climate and clean energy may be the single biggest pathway of US/India cooperation in the years ahead. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016 - 11:30am

This issue could not be more important.  There are more than one million orphans in Ghana, and too many of them are languishing in unlicensed, inadequate orphanages.  These children are all too often subjected to violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.  They are not even guaranteed the most basic necessities—things like food, water, clothing, education and health care.  In these conditions, they are robbed of the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.

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