Press Releases

COVID-19

COVID-19: Learn how USAID is responding to the coronavirus.

Speeches Shim

December 15, 2020
Readout

Yesterday, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa attended the Nutrition for Growth Launchpad Event hosted by Global Affairs Canada, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

December 15, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

On behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), I would like to extend warm greetings to everyone who is celebrating religious holidays this month and wish a Happy New Year to all.

December 14, 2020

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a joint Final Rule with eight Federal Departments—the U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs—to implement President Trump’s Executive Order 13831 on the Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative.

December 14, 2020

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the Feed the Future Partnership for Sustainable Supply Chains, a new collaboration with Root Capital, Keurig Dr. Pepper, and Ezrah Charitable Trust to help small agricultural businesses around the world stay afloat during the pandemic of COVID-19 and rebuild in its wake. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will complement the partnership with a $35 million loan guarantee.

December 11, 2020

Released by Results for America (RFA) on December 3, 2020, the 2020 Invest in What Works Federal Standard of Excellence report once again shows that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is a leader among Federal Departments and Agencies on data-driven decision-making. The report highlights nine U.S. Government entities for using data and evidence effectively in budgetary, policy, and management decisions, and features the significant progress USAID has made to operate efficiently, including in implementing the requirements in the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act). Since 2014, RFA’s Federal Standard of Excellence report has ranked USAID among the top Federal Departments and Agencies for use of evidence in programs and operations. USAID is proud of it’s consistent leadership in using data, and congratulates the other honorees.

December 10, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

Today, President Donald J. Trump signed the Executive Order to Rebrand United States Foreign Assistance. By requiring U.S. Government Departments and Agencies to use a single logo for all U.S. foreign assistance, the President has taken an important step in promoting awareness about the compassion and generosity of the American people around the world. As the institution responsible for implementing the largest amount of U.S. foreign assistance, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) commends this powerful Executive Order.

December 10, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

Today, we celebrate International Human Rights Day. In 1948, looking to the United States’ Bill of Rights as a model, the United Nations General Assembly established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the “inherent dignity” and “equal and inalienable rights” of mankind.

December 9, 2020
Remarks (As Prepared)

Good morning, and good evening, distinguished guests. I’d like to extend a special welcome to Deputy Director General Ali Abdulla Al-Dabbagh and to our other distinguished guests. It is my pleasure to join you all to inaugurate this new partnership.

December 9, 2020
Readout

Today, Chief Assistant to the Acting Deputy Administrator Max Primorac and the Deputy Director-General for Planning of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Ali Abdulla Al-Dabbagh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and QFFD.

December 8, 2020

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced a new award in Learning, Acting, and Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) to the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, financed by the Leahy War Victims Fund (LWVF). This five-year project, worth as much as $39.5 million (subject to the availability of funds), is the largest in the history of the LWVF.

December 4, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

Every December 5, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) observes International Volunteer Day to recognize the efforts of talented and dedicated individuals who tirelessly and selflessly improve lives and build communities around the world. Over the past five decades, USAID has funded volunteer programs that bring the best of American ingenuity and expertise to solve global challenges.

December 3, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is allocating approximately $30 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people affected by Hurricanes Iota and Eta. With today’s announcement, USAID will have allocated nearly $48 million in humanitarian aid to benefit the people of the Republics of Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Colombia. USAID has deployed a regional Disaster-Assistance Response Team (DART), on the ground since November 17, 2020, to lead the U.S. Government’s response to the storms.

December 3, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

On this day, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) underscores our enduring commitment to disability-inclusive development across all sectors of our work. USAID is committed to promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, and affirms that nations that are inclusive of all of their diverse populations are more likely to be democratic, participatory, and equitable. As an Agency, we promote, respect, and support empowerment and equality for persons with disabilities, and their further inclusion in education, the economy, and society.

December 2, 2020

The Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is sending 280 rolls of heavy-duty plastic sheeting from USAID’s warehouse in Miami to provide emergency shelter to thousands of people in the Republic of Honduras affected by Hurricanes Iota and Eta.

December 2, 2020

Today the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced pilot projects with the private sector in the Republic of Indonesia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Caribbean countries, to advance innovative solutions to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters. These projects are aimed at helping the humanitarian community understand how the private sector can make investments to mitigate the risk of disasters; increase businesses’ participation in community disaster-preparedness plans and policies; help reduce the social and economic impact of disasters; and support communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild after disaster strikes.\

December 1, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) commemorates World AIDS Day by highlighting the dual importance of delivering high-quality, people-centered HIV care and strengthening the capacity and resilience of communities and public and private health networks. This year, we have worked tirelessly to maintain and, in some cases accelerate, the progress of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) during the pandemic of COVID-19. USAID has been a lead implementer of PEPFAR since President George W. Bush launched the initiative in 2003, and we and our partners are active in more than 50 countries with the goal of reaching and sustaining global control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

November 30, 2020

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the IKEA Foundation announced a joint $30 million commitment to Aceli Africa, an innovative program that incentivizes banks to lend to agribusinesses. With this commitment, Aceli Africa will unlock an additional $700 million by 2025 for 750 agribusinesses in the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republics of Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

November 25, 2020
Statement by Acting Deputy Administrator John Barsa

Today, in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the accompanying 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is proud to reaffirm our commitment as a leader in defending the rights of women and girls around the world to live free from violence.

November 24, 2020
Readout

The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala:‎

Today, Chief Assistant to the Acting Deputy Administrator Max Primorac and the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, Ph.D., signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).  

November 24, 2020
Press Release

Today, the United States announced $600,000 in additional humanitarian assistance to respond to severe flooding in the Kingdom of Cambodia caused by multiple tropical storms and prolonged torrential rain since early October.

With this funding, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is financing the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide emergency assistance to help 3,725 affected families purchase food. 

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