Speeches Shim
The UN estimates that an anticipated Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) offensive on Idlib Governorate could displace up to 900,000 people in northwestern Syria due to insecurity and shifting lines of control. In preparation, the UN recently released a Northwestern Response Readiness Plan to provide humanitarian assistance to populations affected by an offensive. Relief organizations—including U.S. Government (USG) partners—are pre-positioning relief commodities and preparing to expand response efforts to mitigate the effects of potential loss of access to affected areas.
Worldwide, USAID is reorienting its development vision towards strengthening its partner countries’ “self-reliance” – that is, each country’s ability to plan, finance, and implement solutions aimed at addressing its own development challenges. To help USAID better understand each country’s progress towards self-reliance, USAID developed the Country Roadmap tool - drawing on 17 public, third party indicators that reflect a country’s “Commitment” and “Capacity” to plan, finance, and manage its own development journey
The Goldozi Project ("Goldozi" is Dari for "Embroidery") is designed to upgrade the skills of and increase access to market information for15,000 vulnerable female embroiderers in and around Kabul, thereby increasing the commercial and export potential of their products. This tested approach will also create a class of over 500 trained and certified sales agents who are equipped with new skills and access to market insights, connect them to embroiderers and other actors along the value chain, and build and promote a strong brand that advertises the authenticity and ethical production of its product lines.
A significant number of foreign fighters come from a combination of Albania and Albanian-majority areas of Kosovo and Macedonia. The Government of Albania (GoA) has taken steps to lead the region in countering/preventing violent extremism. USAID will support the GoA’s efforts to combat religious radicalism and violent extremism through prevention initiatives involving state institutions and agencies operating in the areas of local governance, education, social affairs, youth, employment, and anti-discrimination
While civil society development is a cross‐cutting issue of USAID/Albania programs, in 2017 USAID began a standalone activity focused on civil society development. Currently, USAID/Albania supports with financial, technical, or a combination of both approximately 80 organizations.
Albania’s government has prioritized job creation and strengthening key sectors, including tourism. The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in 2013 was 4.8% of GDP while the total contribution (including wider effects from investment and the supply chain) was about 17% according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. It is expected that the contribution to GDP from this sector will increase in coming years.
USAID/Albania projects work to improve government and judicial accountability, transparency, and efficiency. We partner with government institutions, the media, and civil society organizations to support transparent and efficient systems that hold public officials accountable to its citizens and minimize corruption in government, the judiciary, and financial sectors.
IntoAlbania will develop an advanced digital platform - IntoAlbania.com - which combined with a smartphone application, promises to become the largest digital marketplace for tourists and local visitors.
The Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) regained control of southwestern Syria in late July following a military offensive against armed opposition groups (AOGs) and militant groups in the region. Military operations continued to kill civilians and resulted in additional displacement throughout July, and up to 184,000 people remained displaced in southwestern Syria as of August 1, the UN reports. Humanitarian organizations also report limited access to vulnerable populations in the region following the offensive.
The Women, Peace and Security Act of 2017 recognizes that the inclusion of women in efforts to maintain global peace and security makes such efforts more effective. As such, the United States is committed to increasing women’s meaningful participation in peacekeeping and security operations. As a result, USAID is partnering with the Department of Defense through the U.S. European Command on a project to build community resiliency and sustainability in Albania through activities that will contribute to the prevention of social exclusion, violent extremism, radicalization, marginalization, recruitment and conflict.
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