Remarks by Acting Millennium Challenge Corporation Chief Executive Officer Mans, October 1, 2009Footnote ¹

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 1, 2009Footnote ²

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $300,000 immediately following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra at 5:15 PM local time on September 30, 2009. This initial money was provided to help with the most pressing emergency needs.

USAID has also set aside an additional $3 million to provide further assistance once rapid assessments help better identify needs. USAID is also deploying a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the affected area to work alongside the Government of Indonesia and lead the U.S. government disaster response effort.

“We extend our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in this earthquake,” said Alonzo Fulgham, Acting Administrator of USAID. “The United States is committed to assisting Indonesia in its time of need.”

Our emergency assistance is in addition to the over $166 million USAID provides to Indonesia for democratic governance, improved education and health care, environmental preservation, economic growth, and tsunami reconstruction.

U.S. Trade and Development Agency Press Release, October 1, 2009Footnote ³

Building on past USTDA success in fostering partnerships that developed the institutional capacity of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), USTDA has awarded a grant to SOFAZ to fund the third phase of a technical assistance program. The first phase of the assistance, which focused on reviewing and refining current asset and risk management guidelines and policies, led to the naming of the Bank of New York as SOFAZ's Global Custodian and contributed to SOFAZ's selection as the recipient of the 2007 United Nations Public Service Award for improvements in transparency, accountability and responsiveness. The second phase of the USTDA-funded technical assistance helped to transition SOFAZ to new investment systems and practices. USTDA is now providing $250,000 to develop a comprehensive risk measurement and monitoring system and an in-house training program for SOFAZ. USTDA has identified these latest activities as having significant potential for mutual benefit given U.S. technology and expertise in these areas.

SOFAZ was created by the Government of Azerbaijan in 1999 in order to accumulate and manage oil-related revenue and maintain it for the purposes of future generations. The three-phase USTDA-funded technical assistance program is designed to assist SOFAZ in developing its human resources and institutional capacity to better manage these revenues. The third phase will involve a review of risk guidelines, development of a complex risk measurement system that can provide the analysis needed for investing in equities and other riskier investments, and training for SOFAZ personnel.

Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Geithner, October 5, 2009Footnote ⁴

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 6, 2009Footnote ⁵

The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced over $10.5 million in grants to seven organizations working in six countries in Africa to extend malaria prevention and control activities in communities most affected by the disease, particularly children under age 5 and pregnant women. The grants were provided through the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), an interagency initiative led by USAID with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as key partners.

The Malaria Communities Program (MCP), a $30 million initiative created under PMI, is providing these grants to support the efforts of communities and indigenous organizations to combat malaria in Africa. The program specifically aims to identify organizations that are new to partnering with the U.S. government and are uniquely positioned to work at the community level. The program also seeks to increase local and indigenous capacities to undertake community-based malaria prevention and treatment activities and to build local ownership of malaria control for the long term. MCP grant recipients will operate within respective PMI country strategies, which have been developed in collaboration with each country's Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program, with in-country partners, and with other donor organizations working in-country.

“I am committed to expanding the work of nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, and other community based entities to reach people with the tools and knowledge to control malaria,” said R. Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator. “The key to saving lives, especially children, is to expand proven approaches and interventions until they reach each and every child who needs them.”

Grantees:

HealthRight International (HRI)— Kenya

HealthRight International will implement a three-year, $1.5 million malaria program targeting more than 200,000 under-5 children and pregnant women in the Northern Rift Valley region of Kenya. Through community education and training activities, the project will reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria in five districts of Kenya by promoting community adoption of positive prevention and care-seeking behaviors and by strengthening community access to quality malaria prevention and treatment services. HRI will build the capacity of 21 target facilities and five District Health Management Teams to deliver appropriate prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services and distribute long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs).

Merlin—Kenya

With a three-year grant totaling $1.5 million, Merlin will deliver malaria prevention and treatment to an estimated 220,000 under-5 children and pregnant women in five malaria epidemic prone districts of Nyanza Province. Merlin will work with the Ministry of Health and local partners to increase community awareness and knowledge on malaria prevention, treatment and case management. The project will promote correct and consistent use of LLINs, and increase access to intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) among pregnant women. Merlin will improve community knowledge and equitable access to health services through health worker training and outreach education.

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)—Nets for Life—Ghana

Through a three-year, $1.34 million grant, ERD and its partners will implement a malaria Nets for Life program in 280 of the hardest-to-reach communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana, reaching a total population of 140,000 people, including 25,000 children under 5, 7,000 pregnant women and 33,500 women of child-bearing age. The program aims to increase LLIN usage by facilitating distribution of approximately 64,000 nets in the target areas. Through community education, the project will ensure that malaria symptoms are recognized in the household, that prompt and effective treatment is sought and that pregnant women have knowledge of and seek out IPT. The project will strengthen the capacity of communities by engaging with, training and equipping over 1,000 community volunteers in participative health education, facilitation of behavior change communication (BCC) activities through district, sub-district and grass-root leaders and advocacy.

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)—Mozambique

AKF, in partnership with Progresso and the country's Ministry of Health (MoH), will implement a three-year, $1.48 million malaria prevention and treatment project targeting nine districts in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique. The program will directly reach 400,000 people, including an estimated 110,000 pregnant women and children under 5 by delivering malaria prevention and education programs increasing access to ACTs, and promoting household ownership and proper use of ITNs. The program aims to promote sustainable malaria control in the target areas by strengthening community capacities for health promotion activities and treatment services, and by establishing strong linkages between communities and government health care services.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR)—Mali

Through a three-year, $1.49 million grant, LWR will take an innovative approach to expand access to and utilization of existing national malaria prevention and control services in the Mopti and Ségou regions of Mali by leveraging current community and private-sector economic development partnerships to reach 480,000 people in over 400 communities including more than 70,000 pregnant women and 90,000 children under 5. This partnership will expand BCC channels for malaria awareness, prevention and treatment as well as increase access to and use of existing malaria prevention and treatment services by enhancing geographic outreach and developing Community Health Solidarity Funds (CHSF) in 25 community health center catchment areas.

Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)—Zambia

The CMMB will implement a $1.45 million, three-year program targeting an estimated 100,000 women and children living in three rural districts of Luapula Province of Zambia. CMMB will link community mobilization efforts with existing partner activities that focus on promoting ownership and utilization of bednets, promotion of IPTp for pregnant women, and prompt access to treatment for children under 5. The project will partner with district health management teams, the National Malaria Control Program, the Churches Health Association of Zambia and neighborhood health committees (NHCs). CMMB will work with these partners to train community leaders (Chiefs, headmen, traditional healers), and leaders of the NHCs as mentors of community health workers in order to encourage ownership and participation by communities in malaria prevention and control efforts.

Medical Teams International (MTI)— Uganda

Over a three-year, $1.05 million grant, MTI will address malaria prevention and treatment needs of more than 765,000 people including an estimated 160,000 children under 5 years of age and 40,000 pregnant women in the Dokolo and Lira Districts of northern Uganda. The MTI project aims to increase access and utilization of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) among vulnerable groups and IPTp among pregnant women as well as increase access to malaria treatment within 24 hours of onset of symptoms by children under 5 and pregnant women. The project will partner with district health offices, the National Malaria Control Program and a local malaria-focused NGO, Ephadrin. Key project activities include training community malaria distributors and respected women leaders as community mentors in behavioral change communication, assisting efforts to facilitate distribution of LLINs and establishing a community health information system.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 8, 2009Footnote ⁶

In order to respond more rapidly to global food emergencies, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the expansion of its worldwide food aid warehouse program last week. The Agency awarded a contract valued at up to $50 million to Agility Logistics, Inc. of Virginia.

USAID's warehouse program supports the strategic prepositioning of Food for Peace commodities by increasing the number of warehouses from two up to five in regions that show historic need or are situated along trade routes. Under the new program, the Agency expects to store packaged and bulk food commodities, as needed, in at least five warehouses throughout Africa, in South Asia, and within the United States.

“Prepositioning warehouses are an integral part of USAID's food aid program,” says Jeff Borns, the Director of Food for Peace. “They offer USAID the capability to significantly reduce transit times of food commodities in the midst of a crisis.”

USAID uses prepositioning sites to maintain a continuous flow of vital food aid. The Agency stores commonly needed commodities in the prepositioning warehouses and, as needs arise, ships the food directly from the warehouse to the region in need.

Expansion of the USAID prepositioning program was made possible by new authorities provided by Congress in the 2008 Farm Bill.

The United States is the largest provider of international food aid worldwide. In FY 2008 alone, USAID provided 2.6 million metric tons of food, valued at more than $2.6 billion, which benefited approximately 56 million people in 49 countries on four continents.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 9, 2009Footnote ⁷

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a five-year grant, Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector, to Abt Associates Inc. Sub-recipients under the grant are Banyan Global, Jhpiego, Marie Stopes International, the Monitor Group, and O'Hanlon Health Consulting, LLC. The $95 million grant will build upon USAID's decades of support for and leadership in private health sector programming, and on the work of its predecessor projects, Private Sector Partnerships-One (PSP-One) and Banking on Health.

The grant will increase the role of the private sector in programs that address family planning (FP)/reproductive health (RH), HIV/AIDS, and other health information, products, and services.

“Many developing countries are plagued by inadequate financial resources, poor infrastructure and facilities, and severe shortages of trained medical personnel which don't allow countries to provide the most basic healthcare services required for their populations,” said Dr. Scott Radloff, USAID's director of Population and Reproductive Health. “Engaging and supporting the private health sector in developing countries complements, and will allow for, the expansion of public sector health services to address those with the greatest need.”

Increasing private sector involvement to serve those who can pay for private health services, drugs and health products will free up public sector resources to better serve low-income populations. To achieve this goal, the project will strengthen global support for private sector involvement in family planning and reproductive health products and services through advancing knowledge and understanding of the benefits the private sector brings.

Grantees will work to improve access to contraceptives by engaging generic contraceptive manufacturers, increase private sector provision of long-acting and permanent methods of contraception, test new models for social marketing, and work with financial institutions to expand lending to health providers.

In addition to family planning and reproductive health activities, the grant will respond to other USAID needs, including HIV/AIDS, child survival, maternal health, infectious diseases, nutrition, and environmental health, and may receive funding from all accounts.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 13, 2009Footnote ⁸

The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) airlifted a shipment of emergency supplies to Indonesia on October 10th from its stockpile in Dubai. In coordination with the Indonesian Red Cross, approximately 20,000 internally displaced personnel will benefit from 45 metric tons of emergency relief supplies including 34 pallets of plastic sheeting, 6,720 hygiene kits, 7,200 jerry cans and 6 generators. In addition to these supplies, USAID provided an immediate $300,000 to Mercy Corps for the distribution of emergency relief supplies and also committed nearly $500,000 to the American Red Cross as well as $500,000 to International Medical Corps.

On October 1, U. S. Ambassador Cameron R. Hume issued a disaster declaration in response to the earthquake in Indonesia and coordinated with USAID/OFDA to provide $300,000 through USAID/Indonesia to support emergency response interventions and the distribution of emergency relief supplies. USAID/OFDA also deployed an 11 member Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) of humanitarian specialists to address the acute crisis in Indonesia. The DART is charged with assessing changing humanitarian conditions, identifying priority needs for additional programming, and facilitating humanitarian coordination and information sharing with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, USAID/Indonesia, Government of Indonesia (GoI), and humanitarian partners.

On September 30, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck approximately 30 miles off the western coast of Sumatra Island in Indonesia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A magnitude 5.5 aftershock followed the initial earthquake. According to the U.N. Office of Coordination Affairs (OCHA), the earthquakes caused significant infrastructure damage in Padang and Pariaman cities, West Sumatra Province. Following the earthquakes, heavy rains and landslides resulted in additional infrastructure damage and displacement.

On October 1, the GoI declared a state of emergency and has mobilized search and rescue teams and medical staff, and is distributing relief items to affected populations, including blankets, tents, and food items.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 14, 2009Footnote ⁹

Iraqi Deputy Minister of Industry Muhammed Abdullah and USAID/Iraq Mission Director Chris Crowley joined officials from the Government of Iraq (GoI) and representatives from Iraqi universities and the private sector at a conference Oct. 13 that focused on ways to enhance awareness of quality management concepts, services and products and to illustrate their role in Iraq's national development.

The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) organized the conference and is responsible for setting standards for all economic sectors, testing procedures and quality control/assurance certification programs.

“Now is the time for us to implement Iraqi standards to safeguard the Iraqi consumers,” said Abdullah. “Without COSQC we are exposing our country to unnecessary risks.”

Iraqi consumers have been suffering from low quality products, commodities and household appliances since neither goods manufactured in Iraq nor those imported from abroad are subject to quality control standards. The awareness and application of quality assurance and quality control techniques in the production, the distribution and the importation of products is necessary to safeguard the public against the hazards of spoiled food and faulty appliances.

The conference was an opportunity to review the various ministries' work in quality management and for COSQC to create public awareness of their responsibilities and contributions to product safety and consumer protection.

“The successful organization of this important conference establishes COSQC as the main promoter of Quality Management in Iraq's productive and service sectors,” said Crowley.

Quality control experts from USAID's Tatweer National Capacity Development program provide COSQC's dedicated scientists and engineers with training and technical assistance. These scientists and engineers conduct testing and inspection on a regular basis and publish results in a monthly newsletter.

COSQC intends to select one or more reputable and qualified Iraqi organizations to conduct thorough pre-inspections of imported products and commodities and certify their safety and quality for importation into Iraq.

Millennium Challenge Corporation Press Release, October 16, 2009Footnote ¹⁰

The U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to help facilitate its proposal for an MCC compact. MCC will provide $5.5 million to help the Philippines complete beneficiary analyses, engineering designs, and environmental and social impact assessments. These studies will help target investments to benefit the poor, inform project design to benefit women and vulnerable groups, and provide more reliable cost estimates for proposed projects. Together this information will ensure the Philippines' final proposal for MCC compact funding includes complete information for consideration by MCC's Board of Directors.

The objective of the Philippines' MCC compact proposal is to promote economic growth by providing access to markets for farmers, fishers and small enterprises through improved transport networks, and to support community-led development in some of the poorest regions in the country. The proposal also addresses the areas of tax evasion and corruption while helping to raise tax revenues through a redesign and computerization of business processes within the Department of Finance, ultimately improving the investment climate of the country.

The MoU signed today is one step in the process of developing a compact with MCC. The Philippines' MCC compact proposal remains under development. The Philippines must be reselected as eligible by MCC's Board of Directors for compact funding before the final terms of any compact will be negotiated. Final approval of the compact proposal will also require approval from MCC's Board. Relevant congressional review periods will take place throughout the process.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 21, 2009Footnote ¹¹

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Grameen Foundation today announced a new collaboration that will make up to $162.5 million in local currency financing available to microfinance institutions (MFIs) throughout the developing world. The twelve-year program is the largest credit guarantee to date under USAID's Development Credit Authority and also marks the first time that a non-governmental organization has been approved to serve as facilitator. Grameen Foundation will manage the credit risk of the pool and vet the microfinance institutions who would like to access the funding, while both organizations will issue joint guarantees together.

More than 150 million people around the world rely on microfinance, which makes financial services available to the poor for income-generating activities. The current financial crisis, however, has made it increasingly difficult for MFIs to access the funding they need. Equally important, less than 30 percent of all international funding to MFIs is in local currency, which exposes them to foreign exchange risk if the value of their local currency falls, as happened during the financial crisis. This alliance between USAID and Grameen Foundation offers a wider range of financing options to more MFIs in their local currencies from local commercial banks. An estimated 600,000 poor borrowers and their families could benefit from this partnership, ultimately impacting over three million lives.

“We at USAID are proud of our thirty year commitment to microfinance, a commitment that we renew today,” said USAID's Acting Administrator Alonzo Fulgham. “Increasing access to finance enables the world's poor to improve their own lives, and this partnership will enable thousands more to lift themselves out of poverty.”

Grameen Foundation's CEO Alex Counts said “We are extremely pleased to join USAID in opening up new financing opportunities to microfinance institutions that will enable them to expand and serve more poor people. Grameen Foundation has been a strong advocate for providing funding to these institutions in their local currencies so that they are better insulated from global financial shocks and can also build important relationships within their local financial markets.”

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 21, 2009Footnote ¹²

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is launching an Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) program that builds on the successes of the Agency's long-standing programs in disease surveillance, training, and outbreak response, particularly those addressing avian and pandemic influenza. The focus of the EPT program is to pre-empt or combat, at their source, newly emerging diseases of animal origin that could threaten human health.

The speed with which diseases of animal origin that pose a risk to humans— including HIV/AIDS, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), H5N1 avian influenza, and the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus—can emerge and spread across the increasingly interconnected globe presents enormous public health, economic, and development concerns. This threat underscores the need for a comprehensive, proactive approach that draws on a wide array of technical resources to build sound detection and response capacity. USAID's EPT program will focus resources on detecting dangerous pathogens at an early stage, building appropriate laboratory capacity to support surveillance, responding in an appropriate and timely manner, strengthening national and local response capacities, and educating at-risk populations on how to prevent exposure to these dangerous pathogens. The EPT program is being managed by USAID with technical support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Agriculture.

The EPT program is a comprehensive and interconnected intervention package that will be implemented through five projects, each requiring specific technical skill sets, but which will work harmoniously together to provide seamless technical assistance and expertise in the field.

The five projects in the EPT program are as follows:

PREDICT: USAID has awarded a five-year cooperative agreement to a constellation of leading experts in wildlife surveillance including University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Trust, The Smithsonian Institute, and Global Viral Forecasting, Inc. to monitor for and increase the local capacity in “geographic hot spots” to identify the emergence of new infectious diseases in high-risk wildlife such as bats, rodents, and non-human primates that could pose a major threat to human health. This award builds on our current monitoring of wild birds for the H5N1 influenza virus to more broadly address the role played by wildlife in facilitating the emergence and spread of new disease threats.

RESPOND: USAID has awarded a five-year cooperative agreement to a coalition of technical resources including Development Alternatives, Inc., University of Minnesota, Tufts University, Training and Resources Group, and Ecology and Environment, Inc. to strengthen the human capacity of countries to identify and respond to outbreaks of newly emergent diseases in a timely and sustainable manner. This project will focus on the development of outbreak investigation and response training that merges animal and human health dynamics into a comprehensive capacity for disease detection and control. This agreement builds on over 30 years of USAID experience in building long-term capacities in health training through twinning U.S. and local academic institutions.

IDENTIFY: USAID is working with the U.N. World Health Organization (WHO), U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) through existing grants to support the development of laboratory networks and strengthened diagnostic capacities in the “geographic hot spots” for new emergent diseases.

PREVENT: USAID has awarded a five-year cooperative agreement to The Academy for Educational Development and Global Viral Forecasting, Inc. to build an effective behavior change communication response to zoonotic diseases, support efforts to characterize “high-risk” practices that increase the potential for new disease threats from wildlife or wildlife products to spread and infect people, and formulate behavior change and/or communication strategies and interventions that meet the challenges posed by the emergence of a new infectious disease. This award builds on ongoing behavior change and communications efforts by USAID to prevent H5N1 transmission.

PREPARE: USAID has awarded a three-year cooperative agreement to International Medical Corps to provide technical support for simulations and field tests of national, regional, and local pandemic preparedness plans to ensure that countries have the capacity to implement response plans effectively during pandemic events.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 21, 2009Footnote ¹³

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), together with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), has issued a consensus statement about the importance of family planning as a key component of post abortion care. The policy statement underscores the commitment of these organizations to ensuring their members advocate for high-quality post abortion family planning counseling and services. It is expected to set the standard for all post abortion care and will bring improvements to both family planning and maternal health care.

“Universal access to post abortion and postpartum family planning makes good sense,” said Dr. Scott Radloff, director of USAID's Office of Population/Reproductive Health. “It must be considered as an important element of our care based on the clear evidence that family planning and pregnancy spacing not only reduce unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion but also lower morbidity and mortality of women, neonates, infants, and children. Post abortion care is essential to good obstetric care and is an important element in integrated family planning/maternal and child health services for women.”

Despite the high death toll from complications from abortion—unsafe abortion accounts for 13 percent of maternal deaths worldwide and as much as 25 percent in some countries, and some 31 million women have spontaneous abortions each year—many women do not receive immediate post abortion family planning services, even though they are at risk of pregnancy within two to three weeks. While many of these women desire to replace the pregnancy they have lost, health experts recommend birth spacing of six months after a spontaneous abortion for optimal pregnancy outcomes.

The consensus statement notes that all women should receive counseling and family planning services after any abortion—spontaneous or induced—irrespective of the pregnancy termination or evacuation procedure used. When family planning counseling and services are offered after all types of post abortion treatment, acceptance is high.

Among the key consensus points:

* Unmet need for family planning is a primary cause of induced abortion

* All post abortion women should receive voluntary post abortion family planning counseling

* A wide range of contraceptive methods, including long-acting methods, should be offered and accompanied by simple written instructions

* Post abortion family planning uptake is high when quality services are offered before a woman is discharged from the hospital or clinic

* Provision of universal access to post abortion family planning should be a standard of practice for doctors, nurses, and midwives

Millennium Challenge Corporation Press Release, October 22, 2009Footnote ¹⁴

The U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) hosted a public forum today featuring MCC resident country directors and deputy resident country directors from Africa, Eurasia, and Central America. The forum was a review of progress to date on MCC compact programs and best practices in poverty reduction through economic growth. The group focused on MCC's pace of compact implementation, with a total of almost $1 billion disbursed for projects to date, and another $2 billion in contract commitments.

“MCC knows that smart U.S. assistance depends on expertise in the field. That's why MCC brings together resident country staff from its 19 partner countries, to share best practices and ideas,” said MCC Acting Chief Executive Officer Darius Mans. “With the majority of countries in full program implementation, it is critical to ensure that MCC leadership in the field is properly equipped with the skills, resources, and knowledge to further promote growth, open markets, and raise the standard of living for the world's poorest people.”

MCC resident country directors and deputy resident country directors from Armenia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Senegal, Tanzania, and Vanuatu were in attendance. The resident country staff discussed best practices in development including policy improvement strategies, measuring results and program impact, anti-fraud and corruption activities, capacity building, donor coordination, and procuring international contracts.

To date, MCC has signed 19 development assistance grants, or compacts, totaling nearly $7 billion. Successful implementation depends on local counterparts. In each MCC partner country, a resident country director and deputy resident country director are assigned to oversee the local Millennium Challenge Account team implement its five-year poverty reduction compact. The in-country MCC staff help ensure that U.S. taxpayers dollars are spent judiciously and that measurable results are being met throughout the compact term.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 26, 2009Footnote ¹⁵

Higher Education for Development (HED) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today that an additional 13 partnerships will be funded through the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant Competition.

Funding was originally proposed and awarded for 20 partnerships in April 2009 (a complete list of winning partnerships is available at www.hedprogram.org). However, the competition drew such a high level of interest, with nearly 300 applications submitted, that USAID decided to award funding to 13 additional applications. Partnerships, comprised of one U.S. and one African higher education institution, will each receive $50,000 grants from USAID to develop plans to address regional and national economic development priorities including such as engineering, health, agriculture, environment and natural resources, science and technology, education and teacher training/preparation, and business, management, and economics.

“We are extremely pleased to fund these additional 13 partnerships,” said Alonzo Fulgham, Acting Administrator of USAID. “With the addition of these 13, we now have a total of six historically black colleges and universities in the initiative and a number of well-respected, top-ranked academic institutions in the United States and throughout Africa. The expertise and experience delivered by these institutions will have a critical impact as this effort moves forward.”

The following are the new 13 winning partnerships (African Higher Education Institution; U.S Higher Education Institution):

* Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; University of California, Los Angeles

* Bayero University, Nigeria; Ohio University

* Cuttington University, Liberia; Southern University System

* International Institute for Water & Environmental Engineering, Burkina Faso; Tuskegee University

* Kenyatta University, Kenya; Syracuse University

* Kigali Health Institute, Rwanda; Emory University

* Makerere University, Uganda; University of Wisconsin, Madison

* Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; Massachusetts Institute of Technology

* Rhodes University, South Africa; University of Florida

* University for Development Studies, Ghana; Florida A&M University

* University of Cape Town, South Africa; University of Cincinnati

* University of Ghana; Brown University

* University of Liberia; Indiana University

HED manages the competition which grew out of the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative (www.aplu.org), a collaborative effort between a number of higher education associations and other organizations, led by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, formerly the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

“We are highly enthusiastic about the expansion of this effort,” said Dr. Tully Cornick, executive director of HED. “We were so impressed with the quality and caliber of the applicant pool; it was a difficult peer review process to whittle down a final list of winners. By funding these additional 13 partnerships, we recognize that even greater expertise, knowledge and connections will be brought to bear to address a variety of critical development needs.”

“Africa has an urgent need to strengthen institutions that cultivate human and research capacity.” said Peter McPherson, president of APLU. “Working together in partnership, African and U.S. higher education institutions have the ability to increase the quality and access to education, and help solve local problems. The partnerships that will be created through this initiative have the potential to make a difference in the future of the African continent.”

HED, funded by a cooperative agreement with USAID, was founded by the six major U.S. higher education associations to engage U.S. colleges and universities in international development. For more information about HED and to view details about the planning grants competition (including a complete list of the winning institutions), visit www.HEDprogram.org.

U.S. Trade and Development Agency Press Release, October 27, 2009Footnote ¹⁶

With accelerating passenger numbers and increasing cargo volume, sub-Saharan Africa faces major challenges to its aviation infrastructure, acknowledged Ministers from 7 African nations and senior civil aviation and airport company officials who met at the U.S.—Sub-Saharan Africa Partners in Aviation Summit, sponsored by U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), in Atlanta today.

Meeting with USTDA, U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. business community, participants strengthened strategic and commercial relationships that support aviation infrastructure development, project financing, and air traffic safety and security.

With investment from individual African governments and bilateral and multilateral investors, the region is poised to improve its aviation infrastructure offering significant opportunities for U.S. aviation firms.

“A healthy aviation sector is good for economic development,” said James A. Wilderotter, USTDA's General Counsel who spoke today. “Without exaggeration, aviation is a catalyst for growth and prosperity in Africa and around the world.”

“Although the benefits of aviation transcend national boundaries, the strength of the sector depends in large part on decisions that are made on the national level.”

Citing examples of projects in Africa where efforts are underway to improve aviation safety, Wilderotter said that USTDA has collaborated closely with local partners to develop public-private partnerships that are working toward modernizing and upgrading airport infrastructure.

“The conference profiled 90 upcoming aviation projects in 25 countries in Africa,” Wilderotter said. “Holding this event in Atlanta gives U.S. companies the opportunity to demonstrate the value of their products and services to potential clients in emerging markets across Africa.”

In the summit meeting, Ministers from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Namibia Tanzania, and Uganda discussed strategies for a safe and secure aviation infrastructure development and how it can help attract investment in industries that generate significant local employment opportunities, raise incomes, and help elevate people out of poverty.

Today's plenary session, hosted by USTDA, provided the venue for the signing of an Open Skies Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Uganda. The agreement was signed by U.S. Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Susan Kurland, and Ugandan Minister of Works, Housing and Communications, H.E. John Nasasira, bringing the accord into force. Open Skies Agreements have been shown to bring substantial economic benefits to shippers, travelers and communities in the United States and abroad.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, October 29, 2009Footnote ¹⁷

Through a unique public-private alliance, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) teamed up with the Major League Baseball-Dominican Development Alliance (MLB-DDA), and the San Diego Padres to donate $35,000 to the Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI) for basic education activities in Najayo, Dominican Republic Oct. 27.

The announcement was made by the U.S. Embassy to Santo Domingo's ad interim Chargé d'Affaires. Christopher Lambert and the San Diego Padres Associate Counsel Jeremy Horowitz.

“Education is an important asset for the economic development of any country” said Lambert. “To invest resources, time and effort in education is a sound investment.”

Lambert also encouraged current Dominican baseball players, academies and baseball fans to contribute through the MLB-DDA and praised the continued efforts of the San Diego Padres.

The donation will support the popular and successful after school program called “Espacios para Crecer,” or “Spaces to Learn.” Spaces to Learn augments official class time with additional opportunities for creative learning. The Spaces to Learn program was developed in 2003 by a U.S. Department of Labor grant that served to eradicate child labor. The donation will enable the Dominican Republic's Fundación Sur Futuro to implement the Spaces to Learn program in the public school system.

The USAID, MLB-DDA and the Padres partnership will also support the American Chamber of Commerce's efforts toward teacher training in mathematics and reading to first through fourth grade public school teachers. For the past three years the Chamber managed a USAID-funded project that provides technical and financial assistance, which matches private sector investments in the public schools in order to improve the quality of basic education in the Dominican Republic.

The MLB-DDA was founded in November 2008 to tap the potential combined resources of baseball in community outreach programs in the Dominican Republic, a country which currently produces more than 20 percent of all signed MLB players. USAID provides financial support through a matching grant incentive fund. For more information about MLB-DDA, visit www.mlb-dda.org.

U.S. Trade and Development Agency Press Release, October 29, 2009Footnote ¹⁸

Today, USTDA concluded its participation in the successful 20th meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. At the end of a dynamic day of consultations, USTDA awarded two grants and signed a Memorandum of Understanding that continue the agency's support for investing in innovative clean energy technologies and the aviation sector in China. These activities further the proactive goals of the Administration by promoting the use of technologies that limit the carbon released from coal-fired power plants and establishing the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program. USTDA also awarded a grant that will advance China's domestic aviation sector by providing technical assistance to analyze runway alignment as part of an overall plan to develop a second airport in Beijing.

To further demonstrate a commitment to working together as partners on important energy and environment issues, including the work associated with the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the establishment of the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP). The ECP will focus on implementing clean energy solutions and is designed to leverage private sector resources for project development work, while at the same time advancing U.S. commercial interests in China. This partnership will provide a vehicle for U.S. companies interested in the China market to collectively work together to advance their commercial interests in a manner that will also advance the interests of China and combat global climate change. The agreement was signed by Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak and Vice Minister Ma Xiuhong on behalf of the U.S. and Chinese governments respectively and witnessed by Secretary Gary Locke, Ambassador Ron Kirk, Secretary Thomas Vislack, Ambassador John Huntsman and Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China Wang Qishan.

“We are pleased to join China in advancing important clean-energy projects in an effort to combat global climate change. The carbon reduction project and the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program directly support these efforts, as well as build on USTDA's successful work in the clean energy sector in China,” said Zak at today's signings.

In support of this initiative, USTDA awarded a $453,000 grant to the Shanghai Electric Power Company Limited (SEP) that will evaluate installation of Carbon Limiting Improvement Process (CLIP) technology in coal-fired power plants. The feasibility study will provide the technical basis for a pilot project in Chinese power plants, which will enable carbon emission reductions of up to 7.5 million tons per year. The grant was signed by USTDA Acting Director Zak and Chairman Zhou on behalf of the U.S. government and the Shanghai Electric Power Company Limited.

Shanghai Electric Power Company Ltd. has selected C-Lock Technology, Inc., based in Arlington, Virginia, to perform the feasibility study for this project. In addition to the USTDA grant awarded today, C-Lock will contribute resources toward the study's completion.

Separately, USTDA awarded a $700,652 grant to the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) to develop a plan for the new Beijing Second Airport. In direct response to the recent and projected strong growth in China's air travel market, the project will analyze the proposed runway alignments to determine capacity and operational limitations. The technical assistance will also identify key orientation, geometry, and other airspace management issues at the Beijing Second Airport that will help minimize environmental impacts while maximizing traffic flow to the new airport. The grant was signed by USTDA Acting Director Zak and Deputy Administrator Wang of the CAAC.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, November 4, 2009Footnote ¹⁹

U.S. Trade and Development Agency Press Release, November 10, 2009Footnote ²⁰

Yesterday, USTDA awarded a grant that demonstrates the Administration's strong commitment to supporting Morocco's long-term economic growth. The grant will support Royal Air Maroc's plans to modernize its airline operations.

In supporting Morocco's long-term plan to increase tourism and international aviation traffic, USTDA awarded a $337,880 grant to Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to fund a feasibility study to assess how best to enhance the airline's operations at Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport. The grant will also help RAM in meeting their business development goals.

“This feasibility study will provide substantial support to Royal Air Maroc, as it implements its ambitious development plans for the coming years,” said U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Samuel L. Kaplan.

The grant was conferred during a signing ceremony by U.S. Ambassador Samuel L. Kaplan. Chief Executive Officer of Royal Air Maroc Driss Benhima signed the feasibility study grant which will provide a plan to help respond to future aviation demand and increased competition. The grant agreement was witnessed by Consul General Elisabeth Millards and Mr. Saad Azzioui, RAM's Vice President for Ground Operations, on behalf of the U.S. and Moroccan governments, respectively.

The opportunity to provide the USTDA-funded assistance under the grant awarded today will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted on USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement. RAM will select a U.S. firm to provide the assistance associated with their respective grant.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair, open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

Millennium Challenge Corporation Press Release, November 12, 2009Footnote ²¹

U.S. Trade and Development Agency Press Release, November 17, 2009Footnote ²²

Today, Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak joined Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in signing a memorandum of understanding to support the establishment of the U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP) in the Great Hall of the People. Signing on behalf of the People's Republic of China were Deputy Administrator of the National Energy Administration Liu Qi and Vice Minister of Commerce Ma Xiuhong.

Before meeting with President Hu Jintao, President Obama said that the United States believes a strong U.S.-China partnership and dialogue is important for the well-being and prosperity of the world.

“The United States and China can work on a whole range of global issues, including climate change, making sure that we have economic growth and prosperity, and ensuring that together we are bringing about a more peaceful world,” said President Barack Obama at the joint press conference.

The ECP will leverage private sector resources for clean energy project development in China in order to increase awareness of technology, product standards, regulatory processes, and services that can assist China develop its clean energy sector.

“The agreement signed today represents a tangible commitment to participate in the development and promotion of clean energy programs to mitigate the effects of climate change, spurring the continued growth of the green economy,” said Acting Director Zak at today's signing.

Initially, USTDA will support a Clean Energy Exchange Program that will consist of three reverse trade missions to the United States for Chinese officials to meet with and visit U.S. clean energy production facilities. These visits will focus on the highest priority areas of clean energy commercial opportunities. They will consist of three 10-day visits with U.S. industry and U.S. government agencies responsible for the commercial, technological, and regulatory aspects of clean energy project development.

In addition, USTDA will support a Chinese Mayors Low-Carbon Leadership Program that will bring together leaders in China's development with U.S. experts in green energy and construction. Specifically, the visit will introduce select Chinese mayors to U.S. green building technologies and green city planning practices. The trip is expected to coincide with the U.S. GreenBuild Conference in November 2010 and include meetings with urban planners, regulators and municipal governments in U.S. cities recognized for green building leadership.

Following the signing of the U.S.-China ECP, Acting Director Zak and Chief Executive Officer Wang Jinping of the China Power Engineering Consulting Group Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing to support the development of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power stations in China. In support of this effort, USTDA intends to provide grant funding for an IGCC power station study that will establish the configuration and design parameters for the new facility in China. This effort is another demonstration of the Administration's commitment to promote clean energy, climate change cooperation and trade between the United States and China through deployment of new and innovative energy technologies.

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, November 19, 2009Footnote ²³

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, November 20, 2009Footnote ²⁴

Millennium Challenge Corporation Press Release, November 30, 2009Footnote ²⁵

Excerpts of Testimony by U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Designate Dr. Rajiv Shah, December 1, 2009Footnote ²⁶

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, December 7, 2009Footnote ²⁷

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, December 7, 2009Footnote ²⁸

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Release, December 8, 2009Footnote ²⁹

Millennium Challenge Corporation Press Release, December 9, 2009Footnote ³⁰

The U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors held its quarterly meeting today, the first since the confirmation of MCC's new Chief Executive Officer, Daniel W. Yohannes, who was sworn-in by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Department of State yesterday. The Board reviewed the progress of its partnerships with countries to reduce poverty, and agreed to select Cape Verde as eligible to develop a proposal for a second compact grant.

“I was proud to participate in my first MCC Board meeting today with Secretary Clinton and the other distinguished directors. We took the opportunity to review the status of MCC's compacts, review the policy performance of our partner countries, and reaffirm the U.S. Government's commitment to finding lasting and innovative solutions to global poverty,” said MCC CEO Daniel W. Yohannes.

“Cape Verde is the first MCC partner country to be selected as eligible for a second compact,” Mr. Yohannes said. “Cape Verde illustrates many of the characteristics of a strong partner and has consistently displayed good economic and political governance. We look forward to building on the successes of Cape Verde's current efforts to combat poverty.”

This is the first year that the MCC Board considered countries for possible eligibility for second compacts. Eligibility for a second compact is not automatic. For those countries selected, a second compact will allow for deeper investment in poverty reduction and economic growth, which is consistent with MCC's mission. Countries must meet a higher hurdle to achieve second compact eligibility because MCC takes into account not only a country's policy performance as measured by MCC's indicators, but also effectiveness of implementation on its first compact as well as results achieved to date.

The Board agreed that Jordan, Malawi, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Zambia are eligible to continue the process of developing compacts in fiscal year 2010. The Board was briefed on MCC's $262 million compact with Moldova, currently scheduled for signing in early 2010. Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over $7 billion with 19 partner countries.

“MCC embraces President Obama's commitment to fighting global poverty. We continue to work with Members of Congress to seek sufficient resources for MCC to fulfill our long-term economic development partnerships with some of the poorest countries in the world,” said Mr. Yohannes.

The Board voted to restructure Mongolia's $284.9 million MCC compact. The Board approved approximately $47.2 million for energy and environment projects focused on supporting economic growth by promoting the introduction of alternative energy and energy efficient products, thereby helping Mongolians reduce the impact of low quality and inefficient fuels on both personal health and productivity and government expenditure. The compact restructuring also includes $79.7 million for construction of approximately 174 kilometers of a major highway and a 252 meters bridge over the Tuul River to accommodate heavy traffic into Mongolia's capital city, Ulaanbaatar.

The Board made special note of the positive performance of Albania and Georgia as MCC partners. MCC signed a second threshold program with Albania last October—worth over $15.7 million—to support anti-corruption activities. Albania has made significant progress as an economic reformer and now passes MCC's indicator criteria as a lower middle income country. Likewise, Georgia has been a consistent economic reformer and has made great strides to reduce poverty through its $393.5 million compact. Georgia has 18 months remaining in the term of its compact and may be considered by the Board for a second compact at a later date.

In FY 2010, the Philippines and Indonesia graduated from the low income country category (LIC) to the lower middle income country category (LMIC). Graduation to a higher income category, as well as other factors including higher medians and changes to the indicator system, can impact a country's indicator performance, while not necessarily reflecting a change in policy performance. In making its decision to reselect the Philippines and Indonesia, the Board took into consideration each country's current indicator performance as an LMIC, as well as the information that the Philippines and Indonesia would have met the criteria as a low income country. The Board stressed that clear commitment to and progress on the fight against corruption are critical for any country that hopes to enter into a compact with MCC.

The Board voted to suspend MCC's $23 million threshold program with Niger. The Board reviewed the recent actions by the Government of Niger, which constitute a significant policy reversal from the time the country was selected for an MCC grant, and took the action in accordance with MCC's Policy on Suspension and Termination. MCC will proceed with an orderly wind-down of the threshold program, which has focused on control of corruption, streamlining the process to start a business and land access procedures, and girls' education.

“MCC makes this suspension decision with deep disappointment,” said Mr. Yohannes. “The girls' schools project had tremendous potential to promote girls' education and create opportunities in Niger. MCC would have liked to continue the program had circumstances in Niger permitted us to move ahead.”