I feel so grateful to return to Durban for the second time to be part of another big event on TB. I had the opportunity of attending this year’s World TB Day event held here in Durban, earlier. I was happy to see the commitment from the various leaders taking charge, to ensure that those they lead, adopt healthier lifestyles, and also get access to information and health care services.
Hello, everyone, it really is good to be here with all of you to help celebrate Pride. There's a saying, "Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common." I think that's right. And I think it should and must be celebrated. We all have unique skills, experiences, viewpoints, and life experiences. Those differences enrich us. Those differences make us stronger.
In terms of our work here at USAID, diversity is essential to what you've heard me say ad nauseam in the journey to self-reliance. As I have said before, no nation can truly be self-reliant in any meaningful sense of that term if it leaves a community of its population behind or on the sidelines, if it doesn't embrace all of its citizens and harness their unique perspectives and skills. In civil society and governance terms, no democracy is representative unless it listens to all of its voices. No nation can possibly reach its full potential unless it taps all of its people for the leadership it needs, especially during these often challenging times.
At USAID, we're trying to carry this legacy on because it resonates for us today, but it really is something, again, that I think all of us need to be talking about. At USAID, we believe that if countries are willing to make the tough choices, if they're willing to do some of the difficult things that we saw the war-torn nations of Europe do, if they're willing to do that, then we should step forward. We should walk with them on their journey to self-reliance. We should be there to help foster those institutions, which experience has shown us, make all the difference.
Not because we have all the answers, but as I often say, we've probably made all the mistakes over the years. And so, we can say to our friends in the developing world, "Look, you can leapfrog, you can learn from our mistakes, you don't have to repeat them. And you can accelerate and you can aspire to great things, and you can aspire to rising and making that journey from recipient to partner to, yes, fellow donor." And to me, that's the spirit of the Marshall Plan. And at USAID we believe it's alive and well, and it really does animate the work that we do.
I would like to welcome all of you this morning for what we hope will be a very informative briefing on wildlife consumption in Thailand – “What drives someone to purchase ivory and tiger products?” Today, we will gain insights into the motivation behind wildlife consumption, as well as the barriers to changing related consumer behavior.
Events like this speak to who we are as an Agency and as Americans. For more than two centuries, as a vast melting pot, we have shared our cultures, our traditions.... and we have most definitely enjoyed sharing our food! Ramadan is a time when the Muslim world stops to focus on Islamic teachings regarding not just prayer, but also compassion, community, and generosity toward the poor. It is a fitting occasion for us at USAID to do the same.
Dumelang! This is my first visit to Bloemfontein, but already I can see why it is known as the city of flowers and also a province that is producing great readers. Thank you for inviting me here for the launch of the Accelerated Early Grade Reading Project, a project that speaks to the future of South Africa.
USAID has a long history of partnering with the Department of Health to ensure that all Filipinos can enjoy the quality health services that they need. To promote this shared goal, USAID and the Department of Health are embarking on a new partnership to build the capacity of the Filipino health workforce workers to respond to the country’s priority health needs. We are investing in the health workforce because strong and capable human resources for health improve health outcomes and save lives.
The U.S.-India development relationship spans more than 70 years. In that time, USAID has partnered with the Government of India in overcoming some of the country’s most pressing development challenges -- such as acute food insecurity and inadequate infrastructure -- while also strengthening the government’s capacity to manage and implement its own development agenda.
USAID’s historical infrastructure-related accomplishments in India are significant: we helped establish the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT, Kanpur); 14 regional engineering colleges; eight agricultural universities producing world-class research; 20 thermal and hydroelectric power plants; and over 1,000 irrigation systems. We also helped launch the first municipal bond for water supply and sanitation infrastructure development in India.
Good morning, everyone. It's good to be here with all of you. Thank you, Teresa, for that kind introduction. As she mentioned, this is my third visit to Myanmar. Every time I come here, I am impressed both with the beauty of your country and the generosity and the optimism of your people.
Thank you, Teresa, and good afternoon, everyone. It's great to be with you. I'm delighted to be here. I appreciate your warm welcome. More importantly, I appreciate all your hard work in making this whole trip go so smoothly. As was mentioned, I'm a former ambassador and congressman. Therefore, I have hosted visits, I have lead visits, I have been on visits. I know how well they appear and how much work goes in, and I also know what a wheels-up party feels like, so I hope you're anticipating yours. But as was mentioned, before we open it up to questions and in any subject at all, everything's fair game, I thought I'd give you a few thoughts on our work here in Myanmar, and then a little bit on the USAID Redesign Transformation project. I know that all of that is obviously on your minds.
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Last updated: January 31, 2017
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