U.S. Department of State

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Ambassador Johnnie Carson discuss their work at the UN General Assembly in New York. [Go to http://video.state.gov for more video and text transcript.]

On Russian Decision to End USAID Activities in Russia

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

September 18, 2012

The United States recently received the Russian Government’s decision to end USAID activities in the Russian Federation. We are extremely proud of what USAID has accomplished in Russia over the past two decades, and we will work with our partners and staff to responsibly end or transition USAID’s programs. While USAID’s physical presence in Russia will come to an end, we remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights, and the development of a more robust civil society in Russia and look forward to continuing our cooperation with Russian non-governmental organizations.

Photo of the Week: Secretary Clinton Visits Cooperativa Cafe Timor

About the Author: Sarah Goldfarb serves as Associate Editor of DipNote.

Our “Photo of the Week” comes to us from Bernardino Soares of the U.S. Embassy in Dili, where Secretary Clinton became the first-ever U.S. Secretary of State to visit Timor-Leste on September 6. The photograph shows Secretary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste Judith R. Fergin as they are greeted by traditional dancers at a coffee-processing factory owned by the Cooperativa Cafe Timor (CCT). Secretary Clinton traveled to Timor-Leste as part of a six country trip to the Pacific, East Asia, and Russia.

According to USAID, CCT is the country’s largest cooperative with more than 21,000 farmer members and employing 3,000 workers during the coffee harvest and processing season from July to December. Working with USAID, CCT has now moved to extend the coffee cooperative model to other crops, including cloves, cacao, black pepper and cassava, benefiting farmers across… more »

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah announces additional humanitarian aid in response to violence in Syria while visiting a refugee camp in Amman, Jordan on September 5, 2012. [Go to http://video.state.gov for more video and text transcript.]

Additional Humanitarian Assistance in Response to Violence in Syria

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
September 5, 2012

The United States remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis caused by violence in Syria. Over 100,000 refugees have flooded into neighboring countries in the month of August, stretching host country capacity. We commend the generosity of Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq in assisting approximately 240,000 Syrians who have fled.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has stated that as many as 2.5 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, more than double the number that was assessed in March 2012, and over 1.2 million people have been internally displaced.

To help meet the growing humanitarian need, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah announced today in Jordan that the United States is providing an additional $21 million to the U.N. World Food Program (WFP). Of this new funding, $14.3 million will provide food assistance to conflict-affected people inside Syria and $6.7 million to support Syrians displaced to neighboring countries.

With this new assistance, the United States is providing a total of more than $100 million for humanitarian activities both inside Syria and in neighboring countries: MORE

Young Kenyan Mothers Work Together To Improve Food Security and Nutrition

Balcony gardening, done on a health clinic compound, provides urban young mothers the opportunity to grow nutrious vegetables and beans in Mombasa, Kenya, 2012. [USAID photo]

About the Author: Joan Lewa serves with USAID/Kenya.

In Kenya, a group of young women are working collaboratively to put to use their knowledge of food and nutrition. The group is turning a profit while feeding themselves and their children by cultivating a shared urban farm in Mombasa.

The young mothers who make up the group knew from the staff at the local health clinic that consuming vegetables and legumes would improve their health and that of their infants. These foods, along with fruits, nuts, fish, dairy products, and whole grains are all excellent sources of key nutrients for breastfeeding mothers.

“You must eat nutritious foods if you want your child to have enough milk, the doctor would always say,” says Mary Were.

However, like so many young urban Kenyans, Mary and these mothers lacked both the money to purchase such nutritious foods and the land to grow it themselves.

… more »

Impact on the Ground: Implementing the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

Resident walks past soldiers in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, April 8, 2011. [AP Photo]

About the Author: Donald K. Steinberg serves as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Less than a year ago, President Obama announced a National Action Plan (NAP) to implement commitments on Women, Peace and Security. It was a historic moment and the product of a tremendous collaboration between the White House, USAID, the Departments of State and Defense, other agencies, and civil society groups at home and abroad. It was also the first step.

Immediately following this announcement, the real work began as each agency began creating an implementation plan, a roadmap to how we would make these commitments real.… more »

U.S. Strategy To Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally

Card signed by nearly 650 women and girls from around the United States and around the world thanking the U.S. government for prioritizing the response and prevention of gender-based violence globally. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

About the Author: Melanne Verveer serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues.

On Friday August 10, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the first ever U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally, including their implementation plans. An accompanying Executive Order issued by President Obama was also released, directing all relevant agencies to implement this strategy. These efforts highlight the United States’ commitment to preventing and responding to gender-based violence around the world.

Gender-based violence knows no bounds… more »

A Lasting Impact on Food Security

Seed multiplication station in Emilingombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where community members are growing tree seedlings for reforestation of the surrounding region, August 2012. [USAID photo by Jessica Hartl]

About the Author: Jessica Hartl serves as a Information Officer in the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Food for Peace.

I recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to visit food assistance programs implemented by USAID’s Office of Food for Peace. My first impression of the Congo was the same feeling I had in Uganda when visiting projects there last year - why in countries so lush and ripe for agriculture were people so food insecure? Food insecurity is a complex issue, and for the DRC it includes key issues such as low productivity, lack of market access and infrastructure, ongoing conflict and poor nutrition practices.

As a country struggling to pull itself out of conflict, the DRC is a challenging environment to work in. Never mind the logistical challenges for our partners and staff: little infrastructure in program areas; communities… more »