Claire McIntyre
This user hasn't shared any biographical information
When Violence Is Not the Exception
In India, rape is the fastest growing crime. According to the country’s National Crime Records Bureau, every 29 minutes, a woman is raped; and every nine minutes, a case of cruelty at the hands of a husband or relative occurs. Gender-based violence (GBV) is widespread. It threatens the health, freedom and security of victims and yet remains largely hidden by a culture of silence. USAID, however, is working to change these statistics.
Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Save Mothers and Children
One year after the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed upon, I am optimistic about the potential to reach many of the health targets, including the goal to end preventable deaths of mothers and children. My optimism is fueled by the commitment of country leaders around the world to “finish the job” and the many […]
Why Investing in Entrepreneurs Reaps Big Rewards
“The biggest challenge is access to funding—it’s that simple.” I have heard this refrain from entrepreneurs for years. This time, I was listening to Vava Angwenyi—an entrepreneur who started the Kenya-based social enterprise Vava Coffee seven years ago—speak about the most difficult obstacle in growing her business. USAID believes entrepreneurs are critical drivers of inclusive […]
Lighting the Career Path for Girls in the Energy Sector
Where does a girl dream about working as an engineer and running her country’s power facility? It certainly was not the first career choice for Queen Esther, a Nigerian schoolgirl who had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. But after spending a day at her father’s workplace, Nigeria’s main electricity utility, EkoElectricity Distribution Co., […]
Improving—and Sustaining—Food and Nutrition Security for the Most Vulnerable: A New Food for Peace Strategy
Next week, USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP), the largest provider of food assistance in the world, is marking a milestone—we’re issuing a new 10-year food assistance and food security strategy. An office unique within USAID for its dual relief and development mandate, FFP’s new strategy focuses on getting results for millions of vulnerable […]
Tracking Rumors to Contain Disease: The Case of DeySay in Liberia’s Ebola Outbreak
Rumors spread misinformation, fuel mistrust, cause panic and sometimes even prompt irrational behaviors. This is particularly true in the context of a health emergency when accurate information about a disease—how to prevent, detect, contain and treat it—can mean the difference between staying healthy or becoming infected and, in the worst case scenario, dying from it. […]
How Vocational Training Is Changing the Destinies of Morocco’s Youth
How USAID and the Military Are Building Resilience in the Asia-Pacific
As members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress gather in Hawaii this week to shape the direction of conservation and sustainable development, USAID celebrates its partnership with U.S. Pacific Command and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve the livelihoods of families in the Asia-Pacific.
Giving Birth in Ukraine: So Different From My Parents’ Experience
The positive effects of USAID programming continue even after a project ends. When it was time to choose where to give birth, this mother-to-be turned to a hospital that had benefited from USAID support — support that ended three years before the birth of her child. Ukraine’s recent 25th anniversary of independence provides an opportunity to reflect on the changes and progress the country has made.
