Press Releases

August 3, 2010

Washington, D.C. - Today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), joined President Obama at the White House for the President's Town Hall with young African leaders to discuss their vision for Africa for the next 50 years.

The115 young men and women are in Washington for the President's Forum with Young African Leaders. These young leaders, representing civil society and the private sector, are already playing a key role in shaping their countries' future security and prosperity

August 3, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - As part of President Obama's commitment to partner with and strengthen African institutions, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African Union signed their first long-term assistance agreement to advance prosperity, peace, and stability in Africa. The agreement extends through 2013 and covers programs worth approximately $5.8 million through FY 2011.

August 3, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the flooding in Northwest Pakistan, the U.S. Government has rushed food, clean water and rescue supplies to the affected region as part of an initial $10 million pledge for immediate humanitarian aid.

August 3, 2010

Washington, DC - USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe & Eurasia Jonathan Hale has met with Armenian Minister of Economy Nerses Yeritsyan to discuss potential collaboration with the private sector on Information Technology (IT) projects.

August 3, 2010

Washington, DC - Today, Charles North was sworn in as Mission Director of the USAID Mission to Russia at a ceremony officiated by Hilda Arellano, Counselor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

July 30, 2010

Washington, DC - USAID Administrator released a statement today about the U.S. strategy to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

The Obama Administration's strategy for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), "Celebrate, Innovate, and Sustain: Toward 2015 and Beyond", lays out a determined, strategic and results-focused plan that promises to both reenergize efforts to achieve the MDGs and strengthen the United States' voice in the global development dialogue.

July 28, 2010

Washington, D.C. - The Partnership for Supply Chain Management (PFSCM), a partner of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has won two prestigious awards for groundbreaking work on PEPFAR's Supply Chain Management System (SCMS). PFSCM received the Supply Chain Innovation Award and Best Value Supply Chain Provider Award during the European Supply Chain and Logistics Summit held in Prague.

July 27, 2010

Washington, DC - Mubarak Hamed pleaded guilty in federal court on June 25, 2010, for his role in a conspiracy to illegally transfer over $1 million to Iraq in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to obstruct the administration of the laws governing tax-exempt charities, according to Howard "Ike" Hendershot, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

July 27, 2010

SAN SALVADOR-The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signed a public-private alliance July 14 with Microsoft El Salvador and the Sagrera Palomo Foundation to bring educational opportunities to low-income, at-risk youth in El Salvador.

"We truly believe that students can achieve their dreams, and we imagine a generation pursuing their ideals and making a daily effort to meet their academic objectives and other personal goals," said Director of USAID El Salvador, Larry Brady, during the signing ceremony.

July 21, 2010

Following the commitment by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev at the June 24th U.S.-Russia Summit to promote energy efficiency and green technology, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Russian Energy Agency (REA) on July 21 signed a Protocol of Intent to deepen collaboration on energy efficiency, "smart grid" technology, and clean energy. The agreement will foster partnerships with U.S. and Russian utilities, regulators and others to share information and best practices.

July 20, 2010

Following is the text of a joint statement by AusAID Director General Peter Baxter and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States Agency for International Development and the Australian Agency for International Development on June 10, 2010.

July 17, 2010
Build Haiti’s Local Capacity for Disaster Response During Week-Long Training in Northern Haiti

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) facilitated Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) training to twenty-five volunteer first responders in Haiti this week to help build Haitian local capacity for disaster response, USAR experts from Fairfax County (VA) and Los Angeles County (CA) trained first responders from fire departments throughout the West Department from July 12-18, 2010. Those selected to attend the specialized training – nine from Cap-Haitien, eight from Carrefour, six from Limbe, two from St. Marc, and one from Delmas – are all volunteer firefighters.

July 15, 2010

Washington D.C. - This week, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) gathered many of the world’s leading scientists and development thinkers, along with leaders of key federal science agencies to help map out a bold new Science, Technology and Innovation strategy for USAID. The conference, entitled “Transforming Development Through Science Technology and Innovation” was the first step in helping USAID to identify “grand challenges” and explore how science, technology, and innovation can be used to solve them.

July 13, 2010

GUATEMALA CITY, 13 JULY, 2010. Director of the USAID Mission in Guatemala, Wayne R. Nilsestuen, was awarded the country's highest honor, the Order of the Quetzal, in a ceremony on July 13. The Minister of Exterior Relations, Ambassador Haroldo Rodas Melgar, represented the Guatemalan Government and presented the award in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Stephen G. McFarland and other members of the diplomatic corps, Government of Guatemala officials, representatives of donor agencies, and USAID staff and partners.

July 9, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah released the following statement on the six-month commemoration of the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010:

"Today, we pause to reflect on the tragedy that struck Haiti six months ago and claimed the lives of more than 230,000 people. In the wake of the devastation, countless more were left injured and 1.5 million were displaced and moved into spontaneous settlements across greater Port-au-Prince.

July 9, 2010
Examines Project Sites, Meets with Government of Haiti, NGO Leaders, and Applauds Efforts of Americans Providing Relief

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - Just before the six-month commemoration of the earthquake that struck Haiti last January, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), traveled to Haiti today to see relief and recovery projects, speak with civil society members, review the progress of USAID's efforts and meet with U.S., Haitian, UN and NGO leaders. As part of the visit, Dr. Shah also met with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, who is also co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC).

July 2, 2010

Washington, D.C. - In response to the deadly overnight attack on the compound of Development Alternatives, Inc., a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implementing partner in Afghanistan, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah has issued the following statement:

June 25, 2010

Washington, D.C. - Today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, met with the United Kingdom's (UK) Secretary of International Development Andrew Mitchell, marking Shah's first meeting with the UK's new coalition government leadership.

June 21, 2010

WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development has won the 2010 Communicator Awards Gold Award of Excellence for a video on the problems faced by miners working with alluvial diamonds in the Central African Republic and a USAID program that helps them find solutions through technology and training.

Pages