WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Gayle Smith will travel to Brussels, Belgium October 4-5 to participate in the historic Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, co-hosted by the European Union and the Government of Afghanistan. The Brussels Conference serves as an opportunity for the Afghan Government and over 70 donor countries to highlight progress on key reforms andlay out their strategy for continued development for the next four years.

On Tuesday, October 4, Administrator Smith will deliver a keynote speech at the "Empowered Women, Prosperous Afghanistan" event, alongside the First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani. This event will provide a platform for the Afghan government to detail the progress they have made in supporting Afghan women and girls and their plans to build upon these advances. 

Administrator Smith will be accompanied by USAID's Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs' Assistant to the Administrator William "Bill" Hammink and USAID Senior Advisor to the Administrator Donald L. "Larry" Sampler. 

The conference will be broadcast live here and covered on social media via #AfghanConf.