Jeff Borns’ speech at USAID’s 50th Anniversary event

Printeremail

Thank you for joining us to commemorate the significant 50th anniversary milestone in the histories of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Thank you to our long-time UWC partners for this splendid venue tonight.

Fifty years ago, the U.S. President John F. Kennedy launched USAID’s journey to bring American compassion, generosity and commitment to people across the globe. His optimistic vision of the power of humanity continues to guide us: “The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need people who can dream of things that never were.”

UWC’s mission statement embodies President Kennedy’s vision: “From hope to action through knowledge”. UWC advances the highest levels of scientific innovation and academic excellence, and constantly pursues the creation of new knowledge. Most impressively, UWC remains rooted to addressing community-based social problems.

USAID honors UWC’s historic struggle against oppression, remarkable contributions to the country’s first democratic government, and ongoing commitment to support a genuine democratic society that serves the greater family of humanity.

Combined, UWC and USAID have devoted 100 years to empowering the disenfranchised and under-served. Our histories are rich in innovation and dedication to development.

On behalf of the American people, USAID invests in pioneering, cost-effective solutions to save and improve millions of lives, while creating positive conditions for the future. We work with countries like South Africa that are committed to assuming full responsibility for their development goals, just as President Obama said in Accra: “The essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny”.

I’m glad my colleagues, Nomea and Donald, are here tonight. They are the longest serving veterans working for USAID Southern Africa. Together, they have dedicated 36 years to help South Africans generate the critical momentum needed for success.

USAID’s work with South Africans began in 1979 by supporting human rights through nongovernmental organizations.

Our efforts accelerated in 1986 when the U.S. Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act authorized funding to combat apartheid. We then gave scholarships for disadvantaged South Africans to gain equitable education and training, and skills for community leaders charging ahead for human rights.

After South Africa’s historic 1994 democratic elections, USAID assistance increased substantially to support the post-apartheid transition, and continues to this day.

Our work aligned then, as it does now, with the priorities of our South African partners. For example, USAID supported South Africa’s world-famous Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led so valiantly by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

USAID technical experts like Donald and Nomea have devoted their time and skills to work alongside South Africans to boost the local ability in the sectors of education, health, economic development, job creation, democratic governance, housing, urban development and local government services.

Our joint efforts in education and training have ranged from preschool to doctoral degrees. Our support has produced the popular Takalani Sesame television program that inspired two new features: South Africa adapted the children’s learning program for radio broadcasts to reach youngsters in poor areas who don’t have televisions. And Takalani Sesame introduced Kami, the world’s first HIV-positive Muppet.

We’ve worked with the housing sector to help homeless people, while building and upgrading sanitation and urban communities.

We continue working today alongside South African partners from government, civil society, the corporate world and academia to address a variety of priorities. With support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), our two governments have entered into a five-year Partnership Framework, under which the South African Government leads our systematic efforts to deal with HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, One of our most recent collaborations, “Trilateral Assistance,” leverages South Africa’s experience to promote development in Africa. Our other efforts continue encouraging job creation, small and medium enterprises, and equitable access to finance.

I’d like to highlight a few of our partnerships with talented, innovative local friends:

We support Advocate Thoko Majokweni’s leadership to establish and upgrade Thuthuzela Care Centers throughout South Africa that give medical, legal and psycho-social support to victims of sexual abuse.

We back the groundbreaking research of South Africans, Quarraisha and Slim Abdool Karim, to test and fine-tune a microbicide gel for women to prevent the acquisition of HIV.

We offered our assistance enthusiastically when UNISA and the Independent Election Commission initiated the first-ever Africa-based training to manage election boards under the vision of the dynamic Dr. Brigalia Bam. Sometimes it is easier to understand what USAID does when you see firsthand the impact our programs have on individuals.

Anna is such a person. The struggling entrepreneur from Soweto raised pigs for market. A large retailer offered her a big contract. But Anna didn’t have the capacity to meet the terms, unless she could come up with the cash to buy more pigs. Bank after bank refused to lend her money; until ABSA gave her a loan under an innovative, USAID-backed financial services program that used the future income under contracts such as Anna’s as collateral. It worked. Now Anna has a larger farm, employs more people and is realizing her dream, while contributing to her country’s economy.

Another woman I met got help at a Right to Care clinic after she was brutally raped. She had more to recover from than the physical and emotional trauma of rape; she had also been infected with both HIV and TB. Right to Care medical professionals helped her to survive her ordeal and then trained and hired her to assist others.

I’m encouraged to see USAID’s partnership reaching beyond each participant – these women advance their assistance forward in ways that help other South Africans.

Having opened with President Kennedy’s inspirational words, I’ll close with some thoughts from President Mandela. His life continues to motivate the work of USAID, UWC, our South African partners and people across the world: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”.

Madiba described the United States and South African relationship as: “We are linked by nature; proud of each other by choice”.

As USAID globally commemorates our 50 year anniversary—working with partners to find development solutions that are effective and sustainable—I am particularly proud that we have been partners with South Africans for more than 30 years. And I congratulate UWC on your 50 years of equipping South Africans to build a better future for all.