New York, New York
ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER: In the year since we launched USAID’s Democracy Delivers Initiative, we have connected entrepreneurs with training, financing, and markets to help leaders in democratic bright spots deliver on the promise to expand economic opportunity. We have, as you heard, helped governments improve emergency care for pregnant moms and babies. We've invested in fertilizer, at a time when fertilizer prices have skyrocketed, to help local farmers grow more food, so that movements for democratic progress are not derailed by people struggling to afford their daily meals. These are important investments in and of themselves, and each has helped build trust between citizens and leaders, which we know is fundamental.
Today, I am announcing a new commitment to action for philanthropic and private sector leaders to join in these kinds of efforts. And I want really, in particular, to thank Darren [Walker] and Raj [Shah] for being anchor partners and helping to guide this effort. I'm thrilled to kick off this commitment to action by announcing here that USAID will invest over $35 million in additional resources to help the partner countries that are gathered here today to drive economic growth, build more effective and transparent governance, and improve basic services for people. We will draw in private sector partners, as we have with m-mama and the Vodafone Foundation.
You're about to hear about many more exciting new initiatives like these from our colleagues at the Development Finance Corporation, and from the philanthropic and business leaders around the table, who I should say in advance, spoiler alert, have collectively committed more than $110 million to support democracy delivers countries and principles. I hope everyone here today will keep looking for opportunities to collaborate and to draw new partners into this effort.
One year ago, this Democracy Delivers Initiative was an idea. Today, it is a partnership of action. And that is incredibly significant, but it is thanks to the leadership of people around this table. All of you are doing incredibly hard things, and I want you to know as long as you are continuing to do those hard things, we gathered here today, will be with you. I want to also thank Tanzania and Zambia who we have not heard from this year, in the way that we did last year, but the reforms, again, being put forward in both countries, everything from undoing a six-year ban on opposition rallies in Tanzania by President Samia, and in Zambia abolishing the death penalty among a number of other reforms very, very significant leadership from those countries as well.
Now let me introduce Scott Nathan, who came from what I gather was a legendary career in risk and finance to public service, where he is driving the Development Finance Corporation to do new and bigger things. And it is really in just a short time Scott that you have been leading this institution has become a major force in investment for development and for progress. Scott, over to you.