Speeches Shim
USAID’s Anti-Harassment Policy ensures that the Agency takes immediate, effective measures to end the harassment. Any reported allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation will be reviewed appropriately
USAID employees are required, and implementing partners are encouraged, to report all allegations of sexual misconduct that affect beneficiaries — whether the allegations involve USAID personnel, grantees or contractors — to the Office of the Inspector General at ig.hotline@usaid.gov. For grants, see Implementing Partner Notice #6; for contracts, see Implementing Partner Notice #10. Allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse that involve employees of USAID’s grantees or contractors must be reported to the relevant USAID Agreement or Contracting Officer.
On May 21, the Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) regained control of southern Damascus’ Al Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood and the adjoining unofficial Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp—the last two areas of Damascus held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—bringing Damascus under complete SARG control for the first time since 2011. The UN reports that SARG military operations resulted in at least 60 civilian deaths and widespread destruction of Yarmouk’s infrastructure.
USAID promotes the growth of enterprises that can serve as buyers and suppliers for U.S. businesses, creating jobs that give rise to real economic growth and political stability for both the United States and our African partners. As USAID supports African countries on their journey to prosperity and self-reliance, we also create new opportunities for U.S. businesses, investments, and transatlantic trade.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has contributed $8 million dollars to support the joint Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Response Plan to the outbreak (currently budgeted at $56.7 million). In addition to this funding, USAID has provided personal protective equipment, laboratory supplies, the mobilization of two existing mobile labs, and a robust presence on the ground.
USAID recognizes the importance of a regional approach to effectively solve transnational problems. As such, across all sectors, we partner with regional institutions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its constituent bodies, multilateral organizations that are firmly established in the region, and other organizations that are regional technical leaders.
Private sector engagement is essential to realizing USAID’s objectives of fostering sustainable solutions to the most vexing development challenges today. USAID proactively collaborates with the private sector across nearly every field sector and industry to find new solutions to global challenges. Our private sector engagement efforts may focus on achieving shared goals related to encouraging and supporting business growth in developing countries, increasing investment into areas sectors that are critical to development, or promoting adoption of sustainable and inclusive business practices. Ultimately, development needs to be enterprise-driven and align with the private sector as co-creators of market-oriented solutions.
Being LGBTI in Asia is a first-of-its-kind initiative to support Asia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. It works to bolster basic LGBTI rights across the region and in specific focus countries including China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. In 2014, the Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok, through the section for Regional Development Cooperation, joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a lead funding partner, raising the profile of regional organizations and institutions in addressing LGBTI rights issues. Faith in Love Foundation (Hong Kong) and The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) became donor partners in July 2017 and August 2018, respectively. In September 2018, UNDP signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality (Malta) to share information and technical assistance on laws, policy documents and initiatives concerning LGBTI people. The program will be implemented through March 2020.
Youth in the Asia-Pacific region are affected disproportionately by poverty, conflict, violence, unemployment and exclusion. Yet, evidence shows that if countries in the region invest effectively in their integrated development and engage them as partners in these efforts, this generation can pay a demographic dividend allowing countries to stimulate greater economic growth, promote democracy and stability and reach the 2030 UN Global Goals.
As of May 7, Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) airstrikes, ground clashes, and shelling continued in Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-held southern areas of the capital city of Damascus, including the unofficial Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk, international media report. As of late April, an estimated 3,500 Palestinian refugees had fled the Yarmouk camp due to the conflict, according to international media. Those remaining in the camp are sheltering in basements with limited access to food, medicine, and safe drinking water, as the UN has been unable to access the camp since 2015.
Comment
Make a general inquiry or suggest an improvement.