USAID Grant Establishes Paper Recycling Program

Through grant assistance to the Cyprus Action for Recycling and Environment (CARE) group, USAID is supporting a groundbreaking paper recycling initiative. >>

ECODAY Festival Attracts Thousands, Promotes EcoTourism and Cypriot Traditions

In a uniquely Cypriot setting, thousands of people came together to celebrate village life—past, present and future—on Sunday, May 3. The community of Buyukkonuk/Komi Kebir organized a day of activities focused on promoting eco-tourism in the Karpas region. >>

Landmark Waterbirds in Cyprus 2007/2008 Volume Published

Ecologically speaking, Cyprus is a series of interconnected systems where environmental issues can only be properly addressed on an island-wide basis. This is especially true in the case of public health hazards such as those posed by air and water pollution and airborne viruses. >>

Conservation Library to Serve Cyprus’ Cultural Heritage

Appreciating and learning from the past should be part of any effort to build the future. As part of its efforts to improve local capacity in managing Cyprus’ cultural resources and in building a prosperous and peaceful future, USAID provided small grant assistance to the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects to create a “Cultural Heritage Conservation and Architectural Library” within their premises in the historical Nicosia neighborhood of Arab Ahmet. >>

Children’s Festival Attracts Over 5,000 to Walled City of Famagusta

With support from USAID, the newly created “Famagusta Walled City Destination Development Project Steering Committee” made up of local leaders, residents and business people organized a Children’s Festival on April 11. >>

Better Trained Employees Make for Better Business:
USAID Discusses Training Programs with Bankers

The banking sector is critical to economic development and private sector growth. Sound banks and banking practices can determine whether or not businesses succeed and, indeed, prosper. >>

SAVE Water by Designing a Park:
Competition Gets Cypriots Involved in Water-wise Landscaping

The USAID-funded Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) project has launched a park design competition to help motivate Cypriots to adopt water-wise landscaping techniques and to demonstrate how community action can result in environmentally responsible practices…and a beautiful park! >>

CHANGE is in the BAG: SAVE-ing Cyprus’ Environment, One bag at a time!

Plastic bags have become an ever-present blot on the Cypriot landscape—stuck on fences, strewn across beaches, blowing across fields, clogging storm drains and hurting wildlife. >>

Closing Reception Celebrates REAP’s Accomplishments

The USAID-funded Resource Efficiency Achievement Project (REAP) held a reception Friday to celebrate the project’s accomplishments over its three and a half year lifespan. >>

Logo and Slogan Needed!
Competition for Famagusta Launched

With support from USAID, the newly created “Famagusta Walled City Destination Development Project Steering Committee” has launched the first of several activities meant to breathe new life into old Famagusta—a logo and slogan competition. >>

REAPing the Benefits of Better Management

Celebrating the culmination of many hours of hard work and hands-on training sessions, a group of Turkish Cypriot electricity utility experts were awarded “Management Development Training” Certificates at a graduation ceremony attended by the media, academics and other professionals. >>

More Bang for the Buck:
Public-Private Partnerships Pool Resources to Achieve Results

Mr. Steven Schmida, a consultant supporting USAID’s Global Alliance Division in Washington, visited Nicosia from February 10-12, 2009 to hold informative workshops for all interested embassy personnel and to discuss the importance and practicality of Public-Private Partnerships. >>

While obstacles to trade and interaction between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businesses continue to exist, the field of technology and communication may offer a unique opportunity for businesses to collaborate over the dividing Green Line.

Money Matters: Fiscal Policy in a Federal Cyprus

In a federal Cyprus, fiscal policy will be of key importance, both in preserving stability and in fostering economic convergence across the whole island economy. >>

Breaking Ground at Nicosia’s Grand Turkish Bath

As part of its continuous efforts to encourage economic development and reconciliation on the road to reunification, USAID’s Action for Cooperation and Trust (ACT) project held an unveiling ceremony at the old Nicosia Grand Turkish Bath, celebrating the commencement of long-awaited restoration works of the historical building. >>

Healthy Competition: Forum Launches Competitiveness Report and Puts Focus on Sustainability and Productivity

Turkish Cypriot political, labor and business leaders came together with journalists, academics and international experts—including leading U.S. economist Howard Rosen—at a forum devoted to promoting competitiveness in the Turkish Cypriot economy on January 30, 2009. >>

New Brochure Makes Exploring Famagusta’s Outdoor Museum (Even More) Fun for Kids!

Exploring Famagusta’s outdoor museum has become easier and more fun for children! The USAID-funded Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) project is pleased to have produced a colorful Children’s Famagusta Walking Tour brochure, a companion piece to the “Famagusta: Explore an Outdoor Museum” brochure, which highlights the old city of Famagusta’s unique place in the region’s history. >>

Cypriot Potato Growers Receive International Certification

After a lot of hard work and thanks to technical assistance and training provided by USAID, a Turkish Cypriot potato growers group was the first in their community to receive a GLOBALGAP certification. >>

GIS Picture Worth 1,000+ Words:
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Benefit Cypriots

The USAID-funded Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) project held an event to mark the successful completion of an eighteen-month activity to build Cypriot capacity in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and natural resource planning and management. >>