Excerpts of Remarks by Secretary of State Clinton, January 6, 2010Footnote ¹

Secretary Hillary Clinton delivered these remarks in Washington, DC to the Center for Global Development

Introductory Remarks Omitted

Secretary Clinton. I want to start today with a story that often goes untold. It's the story of what can happen around the world when American know-how, American dollars, and American values are put to work to help change people's lives.

Like many of you, I have seen the transformative power of development. I have seen the passion and commitment of aid workers who devote their careers to this difficult undertaking. I've seen American development at work in a village in Indonesia, where new mothers and their infants were receiving nutritional and medical counseling through a family planning program supported by USAID. I've seen it in Nicaragua, where poor women started small businesses in their barrio with help from a U.S.-backed microfinance project. I've seen it in the West Bank, where students are learning English today and learning more about America through a program that we sponsor. I've seen it in South Africa, where our development assistance, thanks to PEPFAR, is helping to bring anti-retrovirals to areas ravaged by HIV and AIDS and neglect.

But I've also traveled our country, and I have been in settings of all kinds. I've listened to farmers and factory workers and teachers and nurses and students, hardworking mothers and fathers who wonder why is their government spending taxpayer dollars to improve the lives of people in the developing world when there is so much hardship and unmet needs right here at home. That's a fair question, and it's one I would like to address today: Why development in other countries matters to the American people and to our nation's security and prosperity.

The United States seeks a safer, more prosperous, more democratic and more equitable world. We cannot reach that goal when one-third of humankind live in conditions that offer them little chance of building better lives for themselves or their children. We cannot stop terrorism or defeat the ideologies of violent extremism when hundreds of millions of young people see a future with no jobs, no hope, and no way ever to catch up to the developed world.

We cannot build a stable, global economy when hundreds of millions of workers and families find themselves on the wrong side of globalization, cut off from markets and out of reach of modern technologies. We cannot rely on regional partners to help us stop conflicts and counter global criminal networks when those countries are struggling to stabilize and secure their own societies. And we cannot advance democracy and human rights when hunger and poverty threaten to undermine the good governance and rule of law needed to make those rights real.

We cannot stop global pandemics until billions of people gain access to better healthcare, and we cannot address climate change or scarcer resources until billions gain access to greener energy and sustainable livelihoods.

Now, development was once the province of humanitarians, charities, and governments looking to gain allies in global struggles. Today it is a strategic, economic, and moral imperative—as central to advancing American interests and solving global problems as diplomacy and defense.

Because development is indispensible, it does demand a new approach suited for the times in which we find ourselves. For too long, our work has been riven by conflict and controversy. Differences of opinion over where and how to pursue development have hardened into entrenched, almost theological, positions that hold us back. These stand-offs aren't fair to the experts who put their lives on the line doing this critical work. They aren't fair to the American taxpayers who, by and large, want to do good in the world, so long as the money is used well.

So it's time for a new mindset for a new century. Time to retire old debates and replace dogmatic attitudes with clear reasoning and common sense. And time to elevate development as a central pillar of all that we do in our foreign policy. And it is past time to rebuild USAID into the world's premier development agency.

Now, the challenges we face are numerous. So we do have to be selective and strategic about where and how to get involved. But whether it's to improve long-term security in places torn apart by conflict, like Afghanistan, or to further progress in countries that are on their way to becoming regional anchors of stability, like Tanzania, we pursue development for the same reasons: to improve lives, fight poverty, expand rights and opportunities, strengthen communities, secure democratic institutions and governance; and in doing so, to advance global stability, improve our own security, and project our values and leadership in the world.

A new mindset means a new commitment to results. Development is a long-term endeavor. Change seldom happens overnight. To keep moving in the right direction, we must evaluate our progress and have the courage to rethink our strategies if we fall short. We must not simply tally the dollars we spend or the number of programs we run, but measure the lasting changes that these dollars and programs help achieve. And we must share the proof of our progress with the public. The elementary school teacher in Detroit trying to send her kids to college or the firefighter in Houston working hard to support his family are funding our work. They deserve to know that when we spend their tax dollars, we are getting results.

We must also be honest that, in some situations, we will invest in places that are strategically critical but where we are not guaranteed success. In countries that are incubators of extremism, like Yemen, or ravaged by poverty and natural disasters, like Haiti, the odds are long. But the cost of doing nothing is potentially far greater.

And we must accept that our development model cannot be formulaic—that what works in Pakistan may not work in Peru. So our approach must be case by case, country by country, region by region, and cross countries and regions, to face the transnational threats and problems that we are encountering. We need to analyze needs, assess opportunities, and tailor our investments and our partnerships in ways that maximize the impact of our efforts and resources.

Two important and closely coordinated reviews of our nation's development policy are now underway. The inaugural Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review that I have ordered is led by officials from USAID and the State Department. The Presidential Study Directive on U.S. Global Development Policy is led by the White House and includes representatives from more than 15 agencies that contribute to our global development mission.

As these reviews are completed and recommendations are sent to the President, new ideas and approaches will be refined. In the meantime, I'd like to share a few steps that we are already taking to make sure that development delivers lasting results for people at home and abroad.

First, as President Obama has said, we are adopting a model of development based on partnership, not patronage.

In the past, we have sometimes dictated solutions from afar, often missing our mark on the ground. Our new approach is to work in partnership with developing countries that take the lead in designing and implementing evidence-based strategies with clear goals. Development built on consultation rather than decree is more likely to engender the local leadership and ownership necessary to turn good ideas into lasting results.

But true partnership is based on shared responsibility. We want partners who have demonstrated a commitment to development by practicing good governance, rooting out corruption, making their own financial contributions to their own development. We expect our partners to practice sound economic policies, including levying taxes on those who can afford them, just as we do; or, in countries rich in natural resources, managing those resources sustainably and devoting some of the profits to people's development. The American taxpayer cannot pick up the tab for those who are able but unwilling to help themselves.

Now, some might say it is risky to share control with countries that haven't had much success developing on their own. But we know that many countries have the will to develop, but not the capacity. And that is something we can help them build.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, for example, focuses on countries that have met rigorous criteria, from upholding political rights and the rule of law to controlling inflation and investing in girls' education. Under MCC compacts, we provide funding and technical support; the country provides the plan and leads the way toward achieving it. There is a lot of work ahead, but early indications of MCC programs are promising. We're using our resources to help countries that are committed to building their own futures.

This approach highlights the difference between aid and investment. Through aid, we supply what is needed to the people who need it—be it sacks of rice or cartons of medicines. But through investment, we seek to break the cycle of dependence that aid can create by helping countries build their own institutions and their own capacity to deliver essential services. Aid chases need; investment chases opportunity.

Now, that is not to say that the United States is abandoning aid. It is still a vital tool, especially as an emergency response. But through strategic investments, we hope to one day, far from now, to put ourselves out of the aid business except for emergencies.

Our commitment to partnership extends not only to the countries where we work, but to other countries and organizations working there as well. New countries are emerging as important contributors to global development, including China, Brazil, and India—nations with the opportunity to play a key role, and with the responsibility to support sustainable solutions. Long-time leaders like Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, the U.K., Japan, and others continue to reach billions through their longstanding work in dozens of countries.

Multilateral organizations like the World

Bank, the IMF, the UNDP, the Global

Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria have the reach and resources to do what countries working alone cannot, along with valuable expertise in infrastructure, health, and finance initiatives.

Non-profits like the Gates Foundation, CARE, the Clinton Foundation, Oxfam International, networks of NGOs like InterAction, as well as smaller organizations like ACCION and Transparency International bring their own resources, deep knowledge, and commitment to humanitarian missions that complement our work in critical ways. And some foundations are combining philanthropy and capitalism in a very innovative approach, like the Acumen Fund. Universities are engaging in critical research, both to solve urgent problems like hunger and disease, and to improve the work of development, like the work of the Poverty Action Lab at MIT.

Even private businesses are able to reach large numbers of people in a way that's economically sustainable, because they bring to bear the power of markets. A company like Starbucks, which has worked to create supply chains from coffee-growing communities in the developing world that promote better environmental practices and better prices for farmers; or Unilever/Hindustan, which has created soap and hygiene products that the very poor—long-overlooked by private business—can afford.

I mention all of these because we want to do a better job of both highlighting the multitude of partners and better coordinating among them. There should be an opportunity for us to strategically engage in a country with these other partners where we are not redundant or duplicative, but instead are working together to produce better results. We believe that this will open up new opportunities and increase our impact.

Second, we are working to elevate development and integrate it more closely with defense and diplomacy in the field. Development must become an equal pillar of our foreign policy, alongside defense and diplomacy, led by a robust and reinvigorated AID.

Now, I know that the word integration sets off alarm bells in some people's heads. There is a concern that integrating development means diluting it or politicizing it—giving up our long-term development goals to achieve short-term objectives or handing over more of the work of development to our diplomats or defense experts. That is not what we mean, nor what we will do. What we will do is leverage the expertise of our diplomats and our military on behalf of development, and vice versa. The three Ds must be mutually reinforcing.

Now, progress is difficult. But it is possible. That is why, as we prepare to send 30,000 new American troops, along with thousands from our allied forces in NATO and the International Security Force, we are tripling the number of civilians on the ground. They include agriculture experts who will help farmers develop new crops to replace opium poppies, education experts who will help make schooling more accessible to girls so that they can have a chance at a better future.

The work of these development experts helps make future military action less necessary. It is much cheaper to pay for development up front than to pay for war over the long term. But in Afghanistan and elsewhere, U.S. troops are helping to provide the security that allows development to take root. In places torn apart by sectarianism or violent extremism, longterm development gains are more difficult.

Now in the past, coordination among the so-called Three Ds has often fallen short, and everyone has borne the consequences. Secretary Gates, Administrator Shah, and I are united in our commitment to change that. The United States will achieve our best results when we approach our foreign policy as an integrated whole, rather than just the sum of its parts.

Third, we are working to improve the coordination of development across Washington. In the 21st century, many government agencies have to think and act globally. The Treasury Department leads and coordinates our nation's engagement with the international financial system. The Justice Department fights transnational crime. Disease control is a global challenge in this interconnected world that includes HHS and CDC and so many other agencies. So is the quality of our air and waterways, something that the EPA has expertise in. But as a growing number of agencies broaden their scope internationally and add important expertise and capacity, even working on the same issue from different angles, coordination has lagged behind. The result is an array of programs that overlap or even contradict.

And this is a source of growing frustration and concern. But it is also an opportunity to create more forceful and effective programs. The challenge now facing USAID and the State Department is to work with all the other agencies to coordinate, lead, and support effective implementation of the Administration's strategy.

Indeed, this is our core mission. Through our permanent worldwide presence, our strategic vision, and our charge to advance America's interests abroad, we can help align overseas development efforts with our strategic objectives and national interests. This will not be easy, but it will make our government's work more effective, efficient, and enduring.

We are already emphasizing this kind of coordination with our new Food Security Initiative, which brings together the Department of Agriculture's expertise on agricultural research, USAID's expertise with extension services, the U.S. Trade Representative's efforts on agricultural trade, and the contributions of many other agencies.

We know that attracting investment and expanding trade are critical to development. So we are looking to coordinate the foreign assistance programs at USAID, MCC, and other agencies with the trade and investment initiatives of the USTR, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. And we seek to build on the success of regional models of coordination like the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.

We need to ask hard questions about who should be doing what in the work of development. For too long, we've relied on contractors for core contributions and we have diminished our own professional and institutional capacities. This must change. Contractors are there to support, not supplant. USAID and the State Department must have the staff, the expertise, and the resources to design, implement, and evaluate our programs. That is why we are increasing the numbers of Foreign Service officers at USAID and the State Department, and developing a set of guidelines through the QDDR for how we work with and oversee contractors, to make sure we have the right people doing the right jobs under the right conditions.

Fourth, we are concentrating our work in what development experts call sectors—what I think of as areas of convergence. In the past, we've invested in many programs across many fields, often spreading ourselves thin and reducing our impact. Going forward, we will target our investment and develop technical excellence in a few key areas, like health, agriculture, security, education, energy, and local governance. Rather than helping fewer people one project at a time, we can help countries activate broad, sustainable change.

To start, we are investing $3.5 billion over the next three years in partner countries where agriculture represents more than 30 percent of GDP and more than 60 percent of jobs, and where up to 70 percent of a family's disposable income is spent on food. Farming in these places plays such a large role that a weak agricultural sector often means a weak country. Small family farmers stay poor, people go hungry, economies stagnate, and social unrest can ignite, as we have seen with the riots over food in more than 60 countries since 2007.

By offering technical support and making strategic investments across the entire food system—from the seeds that farmers plant to the markets where they sell their crops to the homes where people cook and store their food—we can help countries create a ripple effect that extends beyond farming and strengthens the security and prosperity of whole regions.

We are applying the same approach in the field of health. One of our country's most notable successes in development is PEPFAR, which has helped more than 2.4 million people with HIV and AIDS receive life-saving antiretroviral medications. Through our new Global Health Initiative, we will build on our success with PEPFAR and other infectious diseases, and we will focus more attention on maternal, newborn, and child health, where there is still a long way to go. We will invest $63 billion over the next six years to help our partners improve their own health systems and provide the care that their own people need, rather than relying on donors into the far foreseeable future to keep a fraction of their population healthy while the rest go with hardly any care at all.

Fifth, we are increasing our nation's investment in innovation. New technologies are allowing billions of people to leapfrog into the 21st century after missing out on the 20th century breakthroughs. Farmers armed with cell phones can learn the latest local market prices and know in advance when a drought or a flood is on its way. Mobile banking allows people in remote corners of the world to use their phones to access savings accounts or send remittances home to their families. Activists seeking to hold governments accountable for how they use resources and treat their citizens can use blogs and social networking sites to shine the spotlight of transparency on the scourges of corruption and repression.

There is no limit to the potential for technology to overcome obstacles to progress. And the United States has a proud tradition of producing game-changers in the struggles of the poor. The Green Revolution was driven by American agricultural scientists. American medical scientists pioneered immunization techniques. American engineers designed laptop computers that run on solar energy so new technologies don't bypass people living without power.

This innovation tradition is even more critical today. And we are pursuing several ways to advance discovery and make sure useful innovations reach the people who need them. We are expanding our direct funding of new research, for example, into biofortified sweet potatoes that prevent Vitamin A deficiency in children, and African maize that can be grown in drought conditions. We're exploring venture funds, credit guarantees, and other tools to encourage private companies to develop and market products and services that improve the lives of the poor.

We're seeking more innovative ways to use our considerable buying power, for example, through advanced market commitments to help create markets for these products so entrepreneurs can be sure that breakthroughs made on behalf of the poor will successfully reach them.

Here again, there is such potential for fruitful partnership between our government and the dozens of American universities, laboratories, private companies, and charitable foundations that chase and fund discovery. For example, with help from the State Department, U.S. tech companies are working with the Mexican Government, telecom companies, and NGOs to reduce narco-violence, so citizens can easily and anonymously report gang activity in their neighborhoods. We've brought three tech delegations to Iraq, including a recent visit by Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, who announced that his company will launch an Iraqi Government YouTube channel to promote transparency and good governance. And we're sending a team of experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo this spring to begin the process of bringing mobile banking technology to that country.

Excerpts of Remarks by Secretary of State Clinton, January 8, 2010Footnote ²

Remarks by Secretary of State Clinton, January 22, 2010Footnote ³

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, January 21, 2010Footnote ⁴

This week, USTDA awarded grants to key partners in the Middle East and North Africa that support the Administration's strong commitment to better monitor the long-term effects of climate change and foster renewable energy development in the region. These USTDA projects will support local efforts to significantly reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

In the West Bank, the grant will support a feasibility study that will evaluate the viability of using a geothermal heating and cooling system for a planned 500-unit affordable housing complex. The $438,162 grant will also help to spur the development of new alternative energy sources in the West Bank, where high energy prices have made renewable energy systems more economically attractive.

“The U.S. Government is pleased to further efforts to develop a clean and renewable energy project in conjunction with affordable housing in the West Bank,” said U.S. Consul General Daniel Rubinstein who presented the grant yesterday. “Support from USTDA will help to deploy efficient and environmentally friendly technology and promote mutually beneficial relationships between Palestinians and the United States.”

The grant was conferred during a signing ceremony with Khaled Sabawi, General Manager of MENA Geothermal Ground Energy and Investment Company Ltd. (MENA), and Consul General Rubinstein. MENA Geothermal Ground Energy and Investment Company is a private Palestinian business that specializes in the design and installation of residential and commercial geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Separately in Morocco, a $269,110 grant will provide the ability to track changing weather patterns, which will better enable the country to respond to the adverse effects of climate change on its economy. Specifically, the grant to the Moroccan Direction de la Météorologie Nationale (National Meteorology Agency) will assist with the design of a modern weather observation network that will provide accurate and timely weather forecasting and alerts, as well as a greater understanding of and preparation for the impacts of climatic changes.

“The United States is pleased to partner with countries such as Morocco who are taking proactive steps to address the local and global effects of climate change,” said U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Samuel L. Kaplan who conferred the grant today during a signing ceremony. “The impact of this project will help better forecast weather patterns and will enable Morocco to make the necessary changes to adjust to severe drought and floods that have too often devastated Morocco's agriculture sector, which is central to its economy.”

Mr. Abdalah Mokssit, Director of the Direction de la Météorologie Nationale, signed the grant. The grant agreement was witnessed by U.S. Consul General Elisabeth Millard and Secretariat of State for Water and Environment, Mr. Mustapha Geanah, on behalf of the U.S. and Moroccan governments, respectively.

Remarks by Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Yohannes, January 22, 2010Footnote ⁵

Remarks by Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Yohannes, February 1, 2010Footnote ⁶

Remarks by Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Yohannes, February 1, 2010Footnote ⁷

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, February 1, 2010Footnote ⁸

This week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency is launching its Clean Energy Exchange Program of the Americas by sponsoring a reverse trade mission for senior energy officials from Latin America and the Caribbean to advance clean energy cooperation in the hemisphere. This visit will promote the awareness of the U.S. clean energy policies and innovative technologies. The delegation includes high-level officials from Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru.

The visit is the first of six reverse trade missions that will take place under USTDA's Clean Energy Exchange Program of the Americas. USTDA launched this Program to support the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas announced by President Obama at last year's Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago. USTDA will be organizing five additional visits under this initiative that will focus on U.S. wind, solar, geothermal, mini-hydroelectric, and waste-to-energy technologies.

While in Washington, D.C., the delegation will meet with U.S. government agencies involved in clean energy policy and project financing. The delegation will also attend the RETECH 2010: Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exhibition, where they will meet with U.S. companies that offer the latest technologies, equipment, and services that can support the development of clean energy projects in the Latin America and Caribbean region. The delegation will then travel to Golden, Colorado, where they will visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for clean energy technology demonstrations.

“We are honored to sponsor this distinguished delegation of government officials from the region and we look forward to expanding our cooperation efforts in this sector to expand U.S. commercial opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, February 1, 2010Footnote ⁹

A USTDA grant was awarded today to IHS Nigeria, PLC, a Nigerian telecommunications infrastructure company, to support the deployment of solar power systems at the company's tower sites throughout Nigeria. The grant will benefit IHS Nigeria by assessing alternative energy solutions aimed at reducing the use of diesel generators. The grant will also support U.S. jobs by arranging a visit to the U.S. for IHS Nigeria decision makers to meet with U.S. sources of supply.

In a signing ceremony at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria, U.S. Ambassador Robin Sanders conferred the $162,000 technical assistance grant to IHS Nigeria's Managing Director, William Saad. Ambassador Sanders described IHS Nigeria's interest in deploying solar power and other alternative energy solutions at its tower sites.

“The USTDA-funded technical assistance program will assist IHS Nigeria in its efforts to evaluate energy alternatives, develop performance specifications, and visit the United States to meet with U.S. companies offering renewable energy solutions,” said Ambassador Sanders after she signed the grant on behalf of the United States.

“The grant will help IHS Nigeria attract a U.S. company to establish a pilot demonstration at one of IHS Nigeria's tower sites,” continued the Ambassador. “The project will verify viability and cost savings, and develop an implementation plan for scaling up the solution to a larger number of IHS' tower sites.”

IHS Nigeria operates approximately 2,500 cellular communications towers in sub-Saharan Africa. It leases tower space to clients and manages tower infrastructure on its clients' behalf. In order to guarantee their customers adequate, uninterrupted power, IHS powers all of its sites with diesel generators. Sites must be refueled on a weekly basis, resulting in significant costs and exposing IHS Nigeria to market fluctuations in the price of diesel fuel, making cost management and financial forecasting extremely difficult.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 4, 2010Footnote ¹⁰

Roots of Peace, a U.S.-based non-governmental organization, received $30,420,241 in grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) last week to support rural farmers in Afghanistan's eastern and southern provinces over the next four years.

Through USAID's Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Program (CHAMP), Roots of Peace will work with 26,000 rural farmers to double their income from below subsistence levels.

The program helps farmers upgrade their crops from cereal crops and poppies to grapes and pomegranates in Hilmand and Kandahar provinces, as well as apples, cherries and almonds in the south central region.

In the south—Kandahar, Uruzgan, Hilmand, and Zabul—the program focuses on trellising existing vineyards, which will double the farmers' income within two years. Farmers will contribute $4.5 million of their own funds to pay the costs of the new orchards and vineyards.

Jalalabad was once a citrus production area. Years of war, neglect, drought, and disease eliminated much of the production capability. The USAID-funded CHAMP

program will initiate the rebuilding of the citrus industry.

“Agriculture is an important part of the Afghan life and helping Afghan farmers is a top priority for both the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States Government. We are pleased to be able to help NGOs such as Roots of Peace promote agriculture in this country,” said USAID Mission Director to Afghanistan William M. Frej.

“The CHAMP program will offer Afghan farmers viable alternatives to opium production and the chance to dramatically improve their economic situation. Investing in Afghan farmers will lead to sustainable economic growth of the southern region and the country,” said Heidi Kuhn, founder and chief executive officer of Roots of Peace.

A California-based humanitarian nonprofit organization, Roots of Peace (www.rootsofpeace.org) has been working in Afghanistan since 2003, helping rebuild the Afghan agricultural industry.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, February 4, 2010Footnote ¹¹

Delivering on the Administration's commitment to expand U.S. relations with ASEAN and to engage with the region on clean energy issues, USTDA will sponsor the ASEAN Clean Energy Trade, Technology and Investment Forum on April 19-21, 2010 at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Manila, Philippines.

The forum will introduce policymakers and project sponsors from the ten member ASEAN countries, to U.S.-based technology and financing options that can help meet the region's growing energy needs. The agenda will focus on sector development, policy issues, and financing options. The event will also support the ASEAN Secretariat's efforts to make environmentally-friendly energy production a priority for all ASEAN members. The conference will focus on best practices, policy adoption and technology solutions that enhance efficient power production with a focus on pollution reduction.

Reaffirming that the United States is committed to strengthening its engagement in Southeast Asia, President Barack Obama proposed sending a high-level energy delegation to the region in 2010 to meet with ASEAN counterparts.

“We know that there's much work left to be done, but we also know that continued dialogue and engagement between our nations can help us meet the common challenges of the 21st century and achieve our common goals,” said President Obama after the first meeting ever held between a United States President and the leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries.

“And we agreed that our trade ministers should develop new initiatives to promote trade and investment that could create jobs and improve living standards in all our nations,” the President continued.

Organized by USTDA, in cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat and U.S.

Department of State, the forum is a collaborative effort to ensure inter-regional cooperation in clean energy development. Senior ASEAN and U.S. government officials as well as U.S. private sector executives are expected to participate.

Taking place over the course of two and one-half days, discussions will be held on the diversification of ASEAN's supply of clean energy resources; financing access to clean energy; deploying low carbon, green buildings; and energy efficiency through sustainable fuels and power technologies. Project and business opportunities will also be presented.

“The ASEAN Clean Energy Trade, Technology and Investment Forum provides an opportunity for U.S. businesses to learn about renewable energy opportunities in Southeast Asia,” said Henry Steingass, USTDA's Regional Director for South and Southeast Asia when he spoke about U.S. government initiatives during the Renewable Energy Technology Conference (RETECH 2010) in Washington, D.C. today. “While these opportunities are good for the environment, they also create jobs and spur growth and development.”

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, February 4, 2010Footnote ¹²

Underscoring the President's commitment to supporting growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), as well as his goal of deploying new and innovative renewable energy technologies, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will sponsor MENA POWER 2010: A Middle East and North Africa Technology and Projects Forum on May 24–26, 2010 at the Conrad Cairo Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

The forum will match policymakers and project sponsors from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, the West Bank and Yemen with U.S.-based technology and financing options to help meet the region's growing energy needs.

Organized by USTDA, in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service and the U.S. Department of State, the Forum will promote long-term strategic and commercial relationships between the Middle East, North Africa and the U.S. power industry.

“USTDA is pleased to further efforts to develop clean and renewable energy resources in the Middle East and North Africa power sector as a foundation for economic growth,” said Leocadia I. Zak, USTDA's Acting Director. “We look forward to bringing together key power sector stakeholders and technology providers from the region and the United States to facilitate ongoing collaboration.”

“While these opportunities are good for the environment, they also create jobs and spur growth and development,” Zak said.

The two-and-a-half-day conference agenda will focus on sector development, policy issues, and financing options, as well as project opportunities in areas such as gas-fired combined cycle, cogeneration, solar, wind, hydro, biomass, integrated desalination/power, rural electrification, transmission and distribution upgrades, smart grid and regional interconnections.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 5, 2010Footnote ¹³

At an official ceremony held in the Armenian parliament on February 5, 2010, Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan and USAID/Armenia Mission Director Jatinder Cheema signed a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the beginning of a new year-long commitment whereby USAID will provide technical assistance to help the Armenian parliament improve its procedural operations, public outreach, the informational, analytical and research capacities of National Assembly deputies and staff. In attendance at the event were U.S. Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch, National Assembly Chief of Staff Gegham Gharibjanian, heads of parliamentary factions and departments, U.S. Mission staff and guests.

“The Memorandum of Understanding that we sign today signals a re-engagement of our joint efforts to strengthen this important institutional pillar of governance; it reaffirms our firm conviction that effective, transparent legislatures make better laws, laws that benefit the citizens this body is sworn to represent,” Dr. Cheema said at the signing ceremony. She noted that over the last several years, the National Assembly has taken impressive steps towards greater openness and accessibility. “The Web Site is reportedly the most frequently visited in Armenia. The number of public hearings has been steadily increasing. Civil society groups are now invited to meet the Assembly leaders and deputies. These are indeed important steps toward greater transparency, inclusion, and citizen involvement,” she said.

Speaker Abrahamyan noted that the partnership between the National Assembly of Armenia and the U.S. Government is aimed at reinforcing Armenia's independence and strengthening the capacity of its legislative branch. “The United States of America is one of Armenia's most important partners and we are thankful to the American people for the attention and years-long assistance since day one of our independence,” he said. The Speaker mentioned that the two countries are connected by “a powerful bridge”— the Armenian-American community, as well as bilateral relations that are based on common values and interests and foster the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

Ambassador Yovanovitch applauded the efforts of the National Assembly and USAID, noting that the MOU “marks a new beginning for collaboration with the sole purpose of making it easier for the National Assembly to fulfill its important constitutional mandate and better serve the citizens of Armenia.”

The goals of the MOU are (i) implementation of legislative reforms that meet international norms and principles; (ii) development of informational, expert, analytical and research capacities of MPs and National Assembly staff; (iii) improvement of National Assembly's monitoring and evaluation skills, and (iv) introduction of advanced international experience to MPs and National Assembly staff to develop their skills and capacities. The MOU also envisages the creation of a Working Group (composed of two National Assembly representatives authorized by the Chairman, one U.S. consultant, two USAID representatives, and one local expert) to foster the implementation of the goals and activities under the MOU.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 5, 2010Footnote ¹⁴

On February 5, 2010, U.S. Ambassador Michele J. Sison witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to provide technical support for the upcoming municipal elections in Lebanon. With funding made available through USAID, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will work with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to support activities for the upcoming electoral cycle. IFES will work with the Ministry to provide technical support to train elections workers and assist the Ministry in developing a public media outreach program on the election process. IFES will also provide technical support for the Ministry's Observer Coordination Unit, which supports domestic monitoring of the elections by Lebanese civil society organizations.

Speaking at the signing event, Ambassador Sison expressed her admiration for the work the Ministry of Interior has done in organizing supporting free, fair, and transparent elections in Lebanon. Ambassador Sison said “IFES's technical support and training for the Ministry's employees—as well as the development of training materials for elections workers—will help ensure the continued transparency of Lebanon's elections systems. The right to cast a ballot and equal access by citizens to cast their vote are basic tenets of democracy. The United States stands ready to provide technical assistance to the government of Lebanon and the Ministry as it prepares for the upcoming municipal elections.”

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 10, 2010Footnote ¹⁵

The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Patricia A. Butenis, officially presented Rs 343 million ($3 million) from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This funding will facilitate the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their homes in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullativu, Kilinochchi and Trincomalee districts.

USAID/Sri Lanka, the development agency of the U.S. Embassy, supports the Government of Sri Lanka's commitment to return IDPs to their homes as quickly and safely as possible. USAID funding will provide shelter kits to build temporary housing for 17,000 people; water and sanitation facilities to reduce disease and provide clean water for 35,000 people; transport from camps to people's homes for 25,000 people; and emergency health services across the Vanni region. In total, more than 77,000 people will directly benefit from this support and thousands will receive improved medical care throughout the region.

U.S. Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis said, “The U.S. Government is pleased to support efforts to return people displaced by the conflict to their homes as soon as possible. This funding will address the needs of vulnerable families, such as female-headed households, the elderly and the disabled, to ensure that assistance is provided quickly to those in most urgent need of care. By improving access to shelter, clean water and health care, USAID is providing some of the critical services people need to begin to rebuild their lives.”

In 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Government provided nearly Rs 11.2 billion ($98 million) in humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, including more than Rs 6.3 billion ($55 million) in emergency food aid and Rs 915 million ($8 million) for demining.

“This support from USAID will help us meet the basic needs of thousands of displaced families when they return to their home districts. It will provide shelter, water, sanitation and basic health services—all the things they will need to restart their lives,” said IOM Sri Lanka Chief of Mission Mohammed Abdiker.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years. Since 1956, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 12, 2010Footnote ¹⁶

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is linking more than 2,000 farmers in Ampara and Monaragala Districts to new markets for a special variety of papaya, providing supplemental income to participating families. U.S Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis and USAID Mission Director Rebecca Cohn met recently with some of the participants in Monaragala District.

USAID/Sri Lanka, the development agency of the U.S. Embassy, partnered with Anoma Agro Based Products Pvt. Ltd., a member of the Daya Group of companies, on the project. Anoma identified a demand in export and domestic markets for Red Lady, a high-quality hybrid papaya that sells for a higher price than traditional varieties. The project provides 50 free papaya plant seedlings and training on papaya cultivation and basic business practices to each farmer; Anoma purchases the crop from the farmers.

Of the 2,135 farmers participating in this USAID-funded project, more than 1,400 farmers have already planted 200 acres of papaya. Harvesting began in November 2009, with the two-month harvest valued at Rs 1.98 million ($17,257) and farmers each earning Rs 11,000 ($96) per month on average. The project will work with 3,000 farmers in 2010, increasing both the volume of papaya produced and the total value of the new crop.

One farmer with 100 papaya plants expects to earn 200% more than her present household income through this project. “My family was fortunate to be selected to participate in this project. We were given training on cultivation of hybrid Red Lady papaya, including pest and disease control. I'm confident that I can earn approximately Rs 18,000 to Rs 20,000 ($157—$174) per month as net income,” said Mala Wijayalatha. Mala plans to build a good house for her family with her savings, which has long been her dream.

U.S. Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis visited participating farmers and said, “I am especially pleased to see how this project is benefiting women farmers. About 40% of the participants are women. The supplemental income they earn gives them the flexibility to stay at home and take care of their families, while contributing to the household income in a significant way.”

Priyanka Malkanthi also participated in this project and said “The valuable training we received opened our eyes to the potential earnings of papaya cultivation. We managed to earn an additional income of over Rs 25,000 ($218) in a month and a half. Thanks to USAID, we're getting the highest income for our family today.”

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries worldwide for nearly 50 years. Since

1956, USAID/Sri Lanka has invested nearly $2 billion to benefit all the people of Sri Lanka.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 16, 2010Footnote ¹⁷

In a ceremony today, the United States launched a program to provide $10 million (Rs. 840 million) in cash grants to Bolton Market traders who lost their businesses in the fire that followed city-wide riots in December 2009.

The assistance provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development augments $41.6 million (Rs. 3.5 billion) in relief already provided the traders by the federal and Sindh provincial governments through the Karachi Chamber of Commerce. The government assistance reimbursed the traders for loss of inventory and infrastructure; this U.S. assistance will compensate the business for lost revenues since the fire.

“Entrepreneurs in Bolton Market have suffered as a result of the destruction, but so has the economic chain of vendors, suppliers and service providers that depend on these businesses,” Stephen Fakan, U.S. Consul General for Karachi said at the ceremony. “Getting these enterprises back on their feet will ultimately benefit millions of Pakistanis.”

Mr. Fakan praised the Pakistani and Sindh governments for their quick response to the disaster, in which a terrorist attack on an Ashura mourning procession sparked rioting that ended in the destruction of the market. The U.S. program, assembled in one month, will support restoration of a key commercial center in Karachi.

The ceremony was presided over by Sindh Minister for Industries and Commerce Rauf Siddiqui and Naib Nazim Ms. Nasreen Jalil. Also present were the president and executive committee members of the American Business Council, President, Khushhali Bank, and other U.S. and Pakistani officials.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 16, 2010Footnote ¹⁸

Civil Service employees in the southern province of Hilmand started their first public administration training course in Lashkar Gah this week as part of a United States Government-supported civil service program.

The training, spearheaded by the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC) and supported by the U.S. Government, will be in the five common administrative functions specified in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy—financial management, project management, procurement, human resources, and strategic planning. A customized training for new district level civil servants will follow in the coming months.

IARCSC, which held a pilot training in Parwan last year, will hold similar programs in all 34 provinces over the next two years to train 16,000 civil servants across the country. The program will prioritize the training of personnel in a number of districts and provinces. The program will also assist ministries with advancing the Public Administration Reform process so that civil servants are properly paid and categorized.

The IARCSC is responsible for leading, reforming, and implementing the public administration system at the national and sub-national levels and training civil servants in core administrative functions.

The independent agency is broken into six directorates, each led by a director general. The program requires that all IARCSC Director Generals have ownership of the program activities and take the lead in program implementation, with the U.S. Government providing technical, financial, and political support.

The Afghanistan Civil Service Support Program is a 12-month, $85 million program that supports IARCSC to train civil servants and carry out pay and grade reforms.

“The training of these civil servants in these five administrative areas is an important component to the delivery of services at district and provincial levels,” said USAID Mission Director Bill Frej. “The United States Government is a proud sponsor of this program in assisting Afghan Government leadership and effectiveness.”

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 17, 2010Footnote ¹⁹

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Denise A. Herbol officially launched a new after-school activities program for public schools throughout Lebanon with Minister Hassan Mneimneh and Director General Fady Yarak at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education on February 17, 2010. These new activities will be implemented by the Lebanon Education Assistance for Development (LEAD) program.

The United States, through USAID, has provided $11.6 million in support of the LEAD program over the past four years.

The program focuses on renovating schools in need of repair, providing computer and science labs to public schools, and supporting the expansion of afterschool activities by building the capacity of school staff and headmasters.

In partnership with the University of Balamand and the Rene Mouawad Foundation, the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and the Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) will provide a comprehensive package of assistance to 30 public schools throughout Lebanon to improve their learning environments. The program will also create student clubs and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) to encourage active involvement of school staff, students, parents and communities in the improvement of school learning environments.

In attendance at today's event were the school principals of the 30 public schools that will benefit from this program. In the past three years, 283 public schools located in all Lebanese districts have received assistance under the LEAD program. Students at these schools have benefited from their improved learning environments, as well as from the availability of varied extracurricular activities and social and cultural awareness workshops.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 19, 2010Footnote ²⁰

USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah met with European Union (EU) Development Ministers during the EU Development Ministers Informal Meeting in La Granja, Spain from February 17-18. Topics discussed included the Transatlantic Development Dialogue and Haiti.

In working sessions and bilateral meetings, Dr. Shah reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a transatlantic partnership on development and reiterated the importance of redoubling efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Specifically, Dr Shah highlighted the Administration's new $3.5 billion Food Security Initiative aimed at MDG 1 (poverty and hunger) as well as the justannounced $63 billion Global Health Initiative aimed at MDGs 4, 5, and 6 (child mortality, maternal health, and HIV/AIDS and other diseases). The Ministers also discussed the implications of climate change on reaching these global goals.

Dr. Shah shared USAID's plans to modernize its business processes and to promote innovative partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental organizations, including foundations and the private sector.

USAID Administrator Shah Holds Bilateral Meetings Emphasizing Strategic and Technical Cooperation

Dr. Shah participated in bilateral meetings with: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Development Soraya Rodriguez Ramos, Swedish State Secretary for International Development Joakim Stymne, Finnish Foreign Trade and Development Minister Paavo Vayrynen, UK Minister of State for International Development Gareth Thomas, and EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, February 22, 2010Footnote ²¹

A new agreement signed today between the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States will train Afghan civil servants to improve the delivery of government services on a national and sub-national level.

Dr. Ahmad Mushahad, Chairman of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC), U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and USAID Mission Director Bill Frej signed a memorandum of understanding to recognize the start of the Afghan Civil Service Support program. The one-year, $84 million program will train 4,000 civil servants in Kabul and 12,000 more over the next two years in all 34 provinces in five core public administration functions on a sub-national level.

The five common administrative functions specified in the Afghanistan National Development Strategy are financial management, project management, procurement, human resources, and strategic planning.

IARCSC will prioritize the training of personnel in a number of districts and provinces. The program will also assist ministries with advancing the Public Administration Reform process so that civil servants are properly paid and categorized.

“This event is a clear indicator that the Afghanistan Civil Service Institute is the key component to building capacity for the Afghanistan government on a local, provincial and national level,” said Farhad Osmani, Director of the IARCSC.

“This program brings new energy and ideas to the civil service reform process in Afghanistan,” said Ambassador Eikenberry. “This is a process that will no doubt take time, but one that is necessary for both the advancement of the Afghan Government and the progress of the Afghan people.”

“The signing of this agreement today marks an important step for the Government of Afghanistan,” said USAID Mission Director Bill Frej. “This training of the Afghan civil servants will build the capacity of the government on a national and sub-national level that will benefit the entire country.”

Press Release from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, February 24, 2010Footnote ²²

This week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency is sponsoring a visit by high-ranking Georgian officials responsible for design and procurement activities related to Georgia's construction of new underground gas storage (UGS) facilities.

The visit is designed to develop relationships with the U.S. private sector from which Georgia could utilize U.S.-manufactured goods and services as it constructs underground storage facilities to ensure sufficient supplies of gas, especially during the cold winter months. The delegation will meet with U.S. companies that can provide technologies and services, which can assist in the construction of a new UGS facility at Ninotsminda, a project estimated to cost $170 million. Design work for this project is being funded by the U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

“The visit will help the Georgian delegation to understand the design, engineering and operation of UGS facilities,” said Leocadia I. Zak, USTDA's Acting Director. “As they begin to evaluate options to construct new underground gas storage facilities, I am proud that USTDA is able to introduce the delegates to U.S. and multilateral financial institutions and U.S. firms that can provide technology, goods and services for the construction and operation of UGS facilities.”

In Mississippi (February 24) and Texas (February 25–March 4), the Georgian delegation will visit multiple UGS facilities and will meet with U.S. companies and government officials in order to make contacts in the oil and gas sector and obtain information about modern UGS construction technologies, operations, and regulatory and management techniques.

As part of MCC's $395 million compact program with Georgia, the Government of Georgia will undertake studies required to prepare for the construction of an UGS facility to provide further energy security for Georgia. These comprehensive studies consist of a full economic, geological and environmental study, technical design and public and a private financing plan for the proposed gas storage facility and associated infrastructure.

“MCC recognizes that governments alone cannot reduce poverty and sustain economic growth—collaboration with the private sector to leverage investments is critical,” said MCC Chief Executive Officer Daniel W. Yohannes. “The opportunity to learn from and collaborate with U.S. companies will empower the visiting Georgian delegation as they move forward with building an underground gas storage facility that will benefit Georgian households and businesses.”

Underground gas storage is needed within Georgia to ensure that natural gas service continues uninterrupted throughout the entire year even when there are temporary supply disruptions and to allow for regular gas deliveries from its suppliers. Georgia produces very little gas and currently has no UGS capability. Because the proposed facility represents approximately 20% of Georgia's annual gas demand, the stored gas would provide a significant “cushion” for periods of interruption in service.

Press Release from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, February 24, 2010Footnote ²³

The U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a $3.55 million grant today with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to support the development of a potential compact to reduce poverty through economic growth. The Philippines will use the grant to recruit a procurement agent, develop the compact procurement strategy, create a bid challenge system, and provide a training program to prevent procurement fraud. The grant also will fund the recruitment of a fiscal agent to prepare a financial accounting system for the proposed compact program.

“This is an important step forward in the development of the Philippines' compact,” said MCC Chief Executive Officer Daniel W. Yohannes. “The grant agreement signed today provides funding to advance preparations for a possible compact program. If an MCC compact with the Philippines is approved by MCC's Board, the grant will serve to enhance the Philippines Government's ability to implement the compact program in a timely and transparent manner.”

The grant awarded today is one step in the compact development process. In early 2009, the Philippines submitted a number of proposals for MCC compact funding, including transport infrastructure to improve access to markets and services for farmers, fishers and small enterprises, and the expansion of a community based rural development program focusing on poor areas. The proposals also include a redesign and computerization of key business processes in the Department of Finance's Bureau of Internal Revenue that will reduce tax evasion and curb corruption while raising tax revenues.

MCC currently is finalizing a compact proposal based on these projects, for consideration by MCC's Board of Directors, chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Excerpts of Testimony by USAID Administrator Dr. Shah, March 3, 2010Footnote ²⁴

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, March 8, 2010Footnote ²⁵

The U.S. Government, acting through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), today officially presented to the Blue Nile State Ministry of Education the new Granville-Abbas Girls' Secondary School in Kurmuk. The school is designed as a model of girls' education for the region.

The school is being dedicated on International Women's Day to highlight the importance of educating girls. As the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer has said, “When girls receive an education, the family and the community benefit.”

The school, a multiple-building complex that includes three sets of classrooms, a library, theater, cafeteria, dormitories, and teachers' offices, will accommodate 120 female students. The Health, Education and Reconciliation Program (HEAR) Education Resource Center, a USAID-supported learning center attached to the school, provides students with Internet access and computer training and studentteacher resources. The school is part of the U.S. Government's effort, through USAID, to increase Sudan's capacity to provide quality primary and secondary education, especially for girls, who have lower literacy and lower rates of school attendance than boys.

The school was named in honor of John Granville, an American diplomat who worked for USAID in Sudan, and his Sudanese colleague Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama, who were both assassinated in Khartoum on January 1, 2008. The Granville-Abbas Girls' Secondary School serves as a testimony to their service and commitment to the people of Sudan.

The Blue Nile State government, embracing partnership with USAID in launching the school, has agreed to provide teacher salaries and cover other operating costs of the new facility. The U.S. Government has donated a set of “My Arabic Library,” a collection of 80 American classroom titles translated into Arabic to help start the school's library collection.

Establishment of a girls' secondary school in Kurmuk addresses a critical gap in Sudan's educational infrastructure. Some Kurmuk residents who fled to Ethiopia during Sudan's civil war were able to receive some schooling at refugee camps. More often, they were unable to continue their studies after returning home, where the schools were reduced to rubble. The Granville-Abbas Girls' Secondary School now provides the opportunity for more girls to continue their education.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, March 10, 2010Footnote ²⁶

With electricity prices on the rise in South Africa, consumers are looking for innovative ways to reduce their electricity usage. Today's Energy Efficient Building Solutions Workshop, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency with sponsorship from Honeywell (Morristown, NJ), explored opportunities to reduce electricity usage in large building complexes.

The workshop featured remarks from U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Donald H. Gips, the South African Department of Energy, and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, as well as interactive discussions between South African property managers and other commercial electricity users, financiers, and energy efficiency specialists on the latest trends, technologies and financing solutions for reducing electricity usage—and costs.

“Buildings are among the world's largest energy consumers and contributors to greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ambassador Gips. “By adopting technologies and processes to increase energy efficiency in large building complexes, South Africa can increase its electricity reserve margin and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, while saving money at the same time.”

One of the major concerns South African businesses expressed was the high upfront costs associated with building retrofits. The workshop helped to address these concerns by introducing energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) as a viable way of financing energy efficiency projects. The ESPC model entails no upfront cost and guarantees energy and operational savings that meet or exceed required monthly financing payments.

Although ESPC has been the standard model for energy efficiency projects in the U.S. for the last two decades, the concept is relatively new in South Africa. In fact, South Africa's first ever ESPC was recently awarded to Honeywell, in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative and Johnson Controls, by the City of Johannesburg to improve energy efficiency in the city's public buildings.

“USTDA is committed to helping South Africa meet its goals for increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said USTDA's Africa Business Development Manager Jason Nagy, who spoke at the workshop. “From supporting demand side management programs to encouraging the development of renewable energy projects, USTDA has been and will continue to be a partner in South Africa's economic development.”

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, March 12, 2010Footnote ²⁷

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Foundation for Socio-Economic and Political Studies, the Gorbachev Foundation, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on March 11, 2010 for joint activities in support of child welfare systems and enhanced social services for vulnerable children and families in Russia.

“USAID is proud to enter into an alliance with such respected national leaders as the Gorbachev Foundation and NFPCC,” stated USAID/Russia Acting Mission Director Keith Simmons. “We expect that this type of relationship—with U.S. and Russian organizations working in full and equal partnership on critical issues of global importance—will be a model for future cooperation.”

The first initiative supported under the partnership launched will be a Safe Childhood Project implemented by the National Foundation for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. This project will create a high-level forum for representatives from government, scientific and professional communities to discuss challenges in child welfare and exchange best practices in welfare reform.

Through the Safe Childhood Project, USAID and the Gorbachev Foundation will help focus national and international attention on these critical issues. Significant progress has been made and reforms carried out in regions such as Tomsk Oblast and Perm can serve as national models. But much more needs to be done to ensure that every Russian has the opportunity for a childhood free of abuse or abandonment.

“Improving child welfare is vital to the future progress of both our countries,” commented U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle at the signing ceremony. “I know that together, we can help reduce the number of vulnerable children and bring increased visibility to the significant progress and on-going challenges in this area.”

According to the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development, over 730,000 Russian children are officially registered as without parental care, with 122,600 children orphaned or abandoned in 2007 alone. Although there have been increased efforts in recent years to place such children in family-based care, more than 150,000 children are currently institutionalized in Russia—including 25,000 disabled children and approximately 14,000 children under four years old.

Studies have shown that institutionalized children have significant problems integrating into society as adults and are at a much higher risk for drug abuse, HIV and criminal activity. To address these challenges, the Government of Russia has prioritized reducing child abandonment and supporting the development of family-based care for children at risk.

Founded by former Soviet Union President Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev in December 1991, The Gorbachev Foundation is an international non-governmental non-profit organization that conducts research into social, economic and political problems of critical importance. The Foundation seeks to promote democratic values as well as moral and humanist principles in the life of society. The Foundation facilitates open-minded dialogue among experts and the public and wants to apply research.

“One can judge the development level of a society by its attitude towards its weakest and most vulnerable members. By helping children in hard-life situations, we are laying the foundation for a more humane and fair world in the future,” said Gorbachev.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, March 15, 2010Footnote ²⁸

USTDA supports local efforts in the West Bank to develop information and communications technologies (ICT) and wastewater treatment infrastructure. The two grants awarded today will support the Rawabi Project, a private sector development that will create an affordable and environmentally sustainable residential community in the West Bank. The project is being developed on a 250-acre site in the West Bank, six miles north of Ramallah and is envisaged to eventually grow to accommodate 40,000 residents, plus a commercial center, schools, a clinic and a hotel.

The grants awarded during a visit by Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak demonstrate the Administration's strong commitment to promoting long-term economic development in the Palestinian territories while opening opportunities for greater U.S. private sector involvement.

“The Rawabi Project will play an important role in providing affordable housing in the West Bank and will be a driver for broader economic development,” said Acting Director Zak at the signing ceremony.

The first grant signed today for $412,901 will support the development of an ICT master plan to ensure that Rawabi can provide residents with cost-effective and essential communications services. In particular, the plan will evaluate different ICT solutions including voice, Internet and media and provide a blueprint for a state-of-the-art flexible, cost-effective and scalable ICT infrastructure that will accommodate all of Rawabi's ICT-related needs for the foreseeable future. Ultimately, by defining the options to deploy a robust ICT system, the West Bank will be better positioned to attract start-up technology.

USTDA also signed a $273,772 grant to fund a feasibility study to assess water treatment technologies for wastewater reclamation and re-use both within the Rawabi community and for irrigation of nearby agricultural land and industrial sites.

“The project offers an excellent opportunity for USTDA to promote sustainable economic growth and affordable housing in the West Bank while advancing the use of environmentally beneficial technologies for wastewater reuse in this water scarce region,” said Zak.

The grants were conferred during a signing ceremony with Bashar Masri, Managing Director of the Bayti Real Estate Investment Company and USTDA Acting Director Zak. The grant agreement was witnessed by U.S. Consul General Daniel Rubinstein and Deputy Managing Director Amir Dajani on behalf of the U.S. government and the Bayti Real Estate Investment Company, respectively.

The opportunity to provide the USTDAfunded assistance under the grants awarded today will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcements 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. The Bayti Real Estate Investment Company will select U.S. firms to provide the assistance associated with its grants.

Press Release from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, March 17, 2010Footnote ²⁹

The U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) today released its 2009 Annual Report summarizing the agency's progress in the fight against global poverty.

“MCC's 2009 Annual Report chronicles the achievements and results in partner countries worldwide as MCC continues to invest over $7 billion to fight poverty and stimulate economic growth,” said MCC Chief Executive Officer Daniel Yohannes.

“With programs focused on agricultural productivity, infrastructure, clean energy, rural development, education, and health, MCC is a smart and effective steward of U.S. taxpayer dollars. MCC funded projects advance quantifiable results that improve the lives of the poor in practical and meaningful ways. For MCC, fighting global poverty means investing in results for both the world's poor and American taxpayers.” Mr. Yohannes added.

The 2009 Annual Report provides an update on the status of all MCC programs worldwide. The report includes highlights of MCC's work on food security, human development, land rights, gender equality, and other country-led MCC initiatives.

In addition to the 2009 Annual Report, www.mcc.gov offers opportunities to learn about MCC's key role in the U.S. Government's efforts to reduce global poverty through economic growth.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, March 18, 2010Footnote ³⁰

Yesterday, USTDA awarded a technical assistance grant that demonstrates the Agency's continued commitment to aviation safety and economic growth in the Caribbean.

The technical assistance with the Executive Secretariat of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) will promote the development and harmonization of civil aviation regulations, practices, and procedures in the region by supporting a Caribbean Airport Certification Process whose objective is to develop or update master airport safety plans.

The grant for $207,000 was signed at a Western Hemisphere Conference on Haiti Civil Aviation, hosted by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA). USTDA Regional Director Nathan Younge and CASSOS Chairman E. Anthony Archer signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. government and CASSOS, respectively. FAA Senior Representative for the Caribbean Maria DiPasquantonio and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Transport Specialist John Lewis signed as witnesses to the grant agreement.

“The USTDA grant will provide a tailored and individualized approach to help international airport operators in selected CASSOS member states meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) airport certification requirements,” said USTDA Regional Director Nathan Younge. “These plans cover procedures for the operation and inspection of airport facilities, in order to ensure compliance with international standards.”

The establishment of a comprehensive ICAO standard certification program in the Caribbean is expected to support the implementation of airport upgrades that will improve infrastructure, increase the level of air service to certified airports, and bolster trade between the United States and CASSOS member countries.

Headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, CASSOS is a regional aviation organization that encompasses CARICOM. The CASSOS member states participating in this USTDA-sponsored project are Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, March 22, 2010Footnote ³¹

Today, the U.S. Agency for International

Development (USAID) and The Coca-Cola Company announce an additional joint investment of US$12.7 million in their global partnership, the Water and Development Alliance (WADA). Through this investment, WADA will support eight new multi-year programs throughout sub-Saharan Africa in Angola, Burundi, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. These programs will begin as 3-year initiatives, representing a shift toward longer-term efforts and exemplifying each organization's shared commitment to lasting, sustainable solutions to global water challenges. With this new investment, USAID and The Coca-Cola Company will have committed a total of $28.1 million since 2005 to support 32 projects in 22 countries worldwide in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Water scarcity, degraded water quality, and lack of basic water and sanitation services present severe global challenges, especially to the world's poor. More than one billion people live without access to safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion people have no access to basic sanitation. The growing water shortage impedes human needs for food and economic activity and threatens the sustainability of communities and critical ecosystems. USAID and The Coca-Cola Company established WADA to help tackle these enormous challenges.

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah emphasized the importance of the publicprivate partnership: “As it enters its fifth year, USAID's partnership with Coca-Cola showcases the potential of the U.S. Government to partner with the private sector to make a long-term impact on pressing global challenges. By matching USAID's development expertise with the resources, capacities, and commitment of The Coca-Cola Company, we are making a positive impact on community water issues throughout the developing world.”

Working with local partners in each country, WADA has addressed a myriad of local water challenges, helping more than 300,000 people gain access to sustainable sources of water for health and livelihoods.

“We recognize that no single organization can solve the global water crisis, but by partnering with organizations like USAID we can make a positive difference in the lives of the people in need of safe water and sanitation,” said William Asiko, President of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation.

WADA focuses on four objectives: watershed management, water supply and sanitation, hygiene promotion, and productive water use. The partnership capitalizes on the strengths and experience of its partner institutions, USAID, The Coca-Cola Company, and the Global Environment & Technology Foundation, which work collaboratively to demonstrate how government, business, and the non-governmental community can innovatively engage to solve global water challenges.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, March 22, 2010Footnote ³²

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sponsoring a regional conference in Dhaka on “the role of religious and community leaders in advancing development in Asia,” now through March 24, and 70 religious and community leaders from fourteen countries across Asia are expected to participate.

“USAID values the work that community and religious leaders are doing on the ground every day to create tangible improvements in people's lives”, says USAID's Acting Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia. “We recognize that these leaders of influence are in a unique position to be able to promote and sustain positive changes in the social norms, attitudes, and behaviors that affect development.”

The conference, co-hosted by the Asia Foundation, aims to facilitate dialogue and exchange of experiences among religious and traditional leaders of multiple faiths, political actors, and development practitioners. State Minister of Religious Affairs Advocate Al-Haj Muhammad Shahjahan Mia, U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty and Special Assistant to President Obama and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Mr. Joshua DuBois will inaugurate this key regional conference.

The conference is an important aspect of President Obama's Global Engagement Initiative in to work with Muslim-majority countries to advance democracy and development. This conference is also a continuation of the U.S. Government's effort to engage religious and community leaders in Bangladesh through its “Leaders of Influence” program.

Conference participants will share ideas on the critical roles that traditional leaders of society, including religious and community leaders, play in promoting good governance, gender equality, health and family planning, creating income opportunities, and in disaster preparation and response. To date more than 15,000 leaders have received training through this program on development issues affecting their communities.

Countries participating in this year's conference include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Tajikistan.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, March 22, 2010Footnote ³³

Building on the Bank of Tanzania's ongoing efforts to improve its ability to efficiently carry out its central banking functions, USTDA awarded a grant today to assist the Bank in modernizing its information and communications technology infrastructure. This modernization will allow the Bank to significantly increase its efficiency and effectiveness as it serves its critical role of maintaining price stability.

Addressing concerns regarding the Bank's IT infrastructure, the grant will enable the Bank to review its existing applications, security policies, and disaster recovery and business continuity plans. Furthermore, the grant will allow for an analysis of key systems and processes in the Bank's operations. The Bank's decision-makers will also be exposed to U.S. ICT suppliers which could lead to U.S. jobs and exports.

In a signing ceremony at the U.S.

Embassy in Dar es Salaam, U.S. Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt conferred the $498,000 technical assistance grant to the Bank of Tazania's Governor and Chairman Professor Benno Ndulu. Ambassador Lenhardt discussed how the grant will help reform the Bank's ICT capabilities.

“This USTDA grant will support the Bank's efforts to build the technical capabilities to provide real-time cash balance information to policymakers that will help build capacity for more effective fiscal policy formulation, budget execution and transparency,” said Ambassador Lenhardt. “The grant also builds on the U.S. Department of the Treasury's efforts to augment the Bank's drive towards domestic capital market development and more efficient public financial management.”

Press Release from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, March 24, 2010Footnote ³⁴

The U.S. Government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors, chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, held its quarterly meeting today to review MCC's poverty reduction results to date and to discuss a proposed MCC compact with the Philippines.

MCC and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines have been working together to develop an MCC compact proposal focused on reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth. The MCC Board deferred final consideration of the compact proposal in order to engage with the incoming administration to secure their commitment to the ideals and principles of MCC and to the compact's objectives and implementation.

“At our meeting, the MCC Board praised the Government of the Philippines for their hard work in developing this innovative compact proposal and acknowledged the government's commitment in working with MCC on its threshold program, which focused on corruption and ended last year,” said MCC Chief Executive Officer Daniel W. Yohannes. “We will look to the incoming Philippines' government to demonstrate its commitment to MCC principles and the compact before final consideration.”

The proposed five-year compact with the Philippines would include the expansion of a community-based rural development program called Kalahi-CIDSS focusing on poor areas, which is expected to benefit over five million people over the next 20 years. The proposed compact also would include construction and rehabilitation of the 220 km Samar Road, which would improve access to markets and services for farmers, fishermen and small enterprises in some of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. Finally, the proposed compact would assist in the redesign and computerization of key business processes in the Department of Finance's Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that would increase the efficiency and sustainability of revenue collection while reducing opportunities for corruption. Some of the activities within the BIR are extensions of MCC's threshold program with the Philippines, which concluded in May 2009.

The MCC Board also reviewed some of the agency's program results to date. MCC has signed 20 compacts and has funded 21 threshold programs built on measureable and transparent objectives. Some of MCC's progress to date includes more than 112,000 farmers trained to enhance productivity and food security, the ongoing construction of more than 1,500 kilometers of roads to facilitate access to markets, schools, and health clinics, over 80 educational facilities constructed, and 479,000 rural hectares formalized to strengthen property rights.

“MCC has been in existence just over six years. Much has been accomplished in that short period of time. Delivering results from MCC programs, sustained through broader policy reforms at the outset, is what matters most,” said Mr. Yohannes. “While MCC investments will begin to show results in the early years, the biggest returns—increases in the incomes of the poor—will be seen in the years ahead.”

Tomorrow, MCC CEO Daniel Yohannes will hold a post-Board public outreach event to provide additional details from the Board meeting. In addition to Mr. Yohannes' remarks, Acting Vice President for Compact Development Darius Teter will discuss the countries MCC plans to partner with in the coming fiscal year.

Matt Bohn, MCC Chief of Staff, will discuss MCC's results to date, and Vice President for Policy and International Relations Sheila Herrling will provide an update on MCC's policy priorities.

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, March 24, 2010Footnote ³⁵

USTDA awarded a grant to FRIGIPAK

Pakistan that will promote the establishment of a network of cold storage facilities at strategic locations within five key urban areas in Pakistan. The grant will fund a feasibility study designed to further advance the development of needed cold storage infrastructure for perishable food products, helping to improve both food security in Pakistan and producers' access to agricultural markets.

The $392,328 grant was conferred during a grant signing ceremony held at USTDA's Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. During the signing ceremony, USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak remarked, “The Agency is proud to support this cold storage planning activity under USTDA's Pakistan Regional Infrastructure and Trade Initiative. It reflects USTDA's strategy in Pakistan to create mutually beneficial relationships for expanding economic relations and opening markets to greater trade.”

The project will examine the existing cold chain infrastructure in Pakistan with a focus on improving the post-harvest system through commercial development of cold storage facilities. The study will facilitate the establishment of a full-scale and sustainable cold chain business enterprise in Pakistan that addresses technological improvements, determination of postharvest capabilities, and the viability of the network's business plan.

The World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO), one of the four founding members of the Global Cold Chain Alliance and an established nonprofit organization specializing in food logistics, will perform the feasibility study.

Press Release from the U.S. Agency for International Development, March 26, 2010Footnote ³⁶

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) today announced a new private-public partnership to support financing to entrepreneurs throughout the developing world. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of USAID, and Anders Nordström, Director General of Sida, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the collaboration.

This event marks the first time that these two development agencies have combined efforts to issue joint guarantees, and plans are already underway to partner on joint guarantees in Bosnia and Haiti. The USAID-Sida partnership will enable entrepreneurs and development projects to access private financing which would not be otherwise available without a guarantee. By demonstrating to the market the profitability of this borrower sector, private financial institutions will gain the experience necessary to continue lending without additional USAID-Sida support. To date, USAID has already made over $1.9 billion of private credit available through its credit guarantee program, the Development Credit Authority.

“Our collaboration with Sida will help increase the flow of private sector capital into investment-starved sectors such as climate change, post-disaster reconstruction, food security, and health,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. “Additionally, it will demonstrate that partnership with the private sector can produce enduring development results by channeling those resources into productive investments.

Sida's Director General Nordström said “Sida is pleased to be able to enter into this important partnership with USAID. The guarantee program responds to an increasing need for flexible investments to accelerate growth in developing countries. Together we can further refine and innovate the forms of development assistance in order to maximize the outcome for people living in poverty. Our joint effort will also enable us to incentivize the private sector, enhancing, enlarging and targeting resources for proactive development.”

Press Release from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, March 29, 2010Footnote ³⁷

In advance of President Obama's visit to Indonesia, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) launched the U.S.-Indonesia Geothermal Development Initiative during Director Leocadia I. Zak's visit to Jakarta, Indonesia. In launching the Initiative, Director Zak concluded two grant agreements to support private sector geothermal development in West Java and Halmahera.

“Supporting the U.S.-Indonesia Geothermal Development Initiative underscores the U.S. commitment to developing clear energy alternatives and combating climate change,” said Director Zak after the grant signings. “These projects are designed to drive the deployment of new clean energy and the growth of green jobs in the United States and Indonesia.”

“USTDA is pleased to announce that over $1.6 million is being committed to help Indonesia draw upon its extensive geothermal reserves. We hope that the U.S.-Indonesia Geothermal Energy Initiative will be the start of a strong commercial relationship between the U.S. and Indonesia.”

The geothermal energy grants were conferred by Director Zak during a signing ceremony at the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service in Jakarta. Mr. Hendra Sucipto, Director, signed on behalf of PT Star Energy Geothermal Halmahera and Mr. Supangkat Iwan Santoso, Director for Business Development, President Director, signed on behalf of PT Indonesia Power. U.S. Ambassador Cameron Hume was also in attendance.

USTDA awarded a $732,722 grant to PT Star Energy Geothermal Halmahera that will fund a feasibility study to confirm the viability of the Jailolo Geothermal Power Plant which could generate 370 MW of power for the island of Halmahera. When constructed, the project could cost over $110 million and would require up to $85 million in imported content. AECOM USA (Los Angeles, CA), an engineering and management company, has been selected to conduct the feasibility study.

A second grant for $934,308 was awarded to PT Indonesia Power to fund an assessment of the geothermal resource potential and commercial viability of the 300MW Tangkuban Parahu geothermal power project in West Java. The study will identify the technical and engineering requirements to develop a geothermal plant in an area jointly held by Indonesia Power and Raser Technologies of Provo, Utah. Raser Technologies will conduct the feasibility study and will share the cost of the effort.