Weekly Briefing (6/6/2011–6/10/2011)

June 9 AFP reported that at this year’s African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) forum in Zambia, the U.S. is seeking to expand trade with Africa. Dr. Julie Howard, Deputy Coordinator for Development for the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative, which is led by USAID, will lead the USAID delegation. During the forum, Dr. Howard will emphasize the United States’ commitment to building African capacity for trade, which is critical to meeting development priorities ranging from food security to economic growth.

June 9 The Washington Post published a story on US assistance to Afghanistan, quoting USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman.

June 9 The St. Cloud Times highlighted the work of a local resident and current USAID Afghanistan Country Representative, Randall Olson. Olson manages about 20 Americans in a USAID project that builds irrigation systems and schools. It also seeks to build confidence among Afghans in their leaders and in their own abilities to improve their community.

June 10 The Guardian posted an interactive story online, asking readers to submit questions to USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah, who will be in London next week to attend the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI Alliance) donor pledging conference.

May 31: France 24 posted a video interview with USAID Administrator Shah, from his recent trip to Paris, France, where he attended the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting. During the interview, Administrator Shah discussed the importance of foreign aid.

June 1: The Milton Herald published a story highlighting the work of a USAID senior Foreign Service official who recently got back from Iraq, serving with the Agency’s Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team.

June 3: MSNBC reported that USAID has launched a program to make it easier for corporations to send professionals abroad to help local governments, small businesses and civic groups in developing nations. The new Center of Excellence for International Corporate Volunteerism was developed in partnership with IBM and CDC Development Solutions, a non-profit organization.

Weekly Briefing (5/8/2011–5/13/2011)

May 8 The Huffington Post’s “Huffpost Impact” Blog published a column celebrating the new global health initiative USAID and Johnson & Johnson are partnering on to address maternal and child health. The partnership, called Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA), will harness the power of mobile technology to deliver vital health information to new and expectant mothers.

May 8 The Sudan Tribune reported that during Administrator Shah’s recent trip to the region, he cited that President Obama and USAID are set to invest in South Sudan’s agricultural sector, which is the backbone of the region’s economy. Administrator Shah’s remarks were given during the signing ceremony of a communiqué declaring “to support the Government of Southern Sudan in its efforts to transform farms into businesses.”

May 9 The Guardian’s global health blog featured an interview USAID’s Frontlines magazine had with World Health Organization’s Director General Margaret Chan. In the interview, Chan talked about the need to have both disease-fighting strategies and health system strengthening.

May 9 Foreign Policy’s The Cable blog highlighted an interview Lt. Gen. John Allen had with USAID’s Frontlines magazine on U.S. aid to Afghanistan. In the interview, Allen promised to push for increased cooperation between soldiers and aid workers and fight for USAID’s continued support from the military and Congress.