U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean John Barsa will travel to Colombia and Ecuador August 11-16, 2019.

Assistant Administrator Barsa will first meet with Colombian leaders to discuss efforts to promote economic prosperity through the licit economy and visit sites where USAID is helping the country advance along its Journey to Self-Reliance. Assistant Administrator Barsa will also meet with Venezuelans who have fled the manmade economic and political crisis in their country, as well as Colombian authorities to learn more about the impact this crisis is having on communities in Colombia.

On August 16, Assistant Administrator Barsa will travel to Quito, Ecuador to launch the first Biannual Consultation on Development, a regular meeting between the two countries that will help to identify strategic areas of cooperation, as outlined in the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between USAID and the Government of Ecuador. He will also meet with civil-society representatives, as well as with Venezuelans in Ecuador who are receiving food assistance from USAID. This visit will emphasize USAID's reengagement with Ecuador to advance our shared goals of democracy and prosperity.