Speeches Shim
Last updated: January 28, 2022
Administrator Power traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina to reaffirm U.S. support for their democratic future. While there, she met with investigative journalists, environmental defenders, civil society, and survivors of the Bosnian War. USAID launched MujerProspera, a regional funding opportunity to advance gender equity in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. USAID reflected on 2021 and the first year of the Biden-Harris Administration by celebrating many of the Agency's accomplishments. Through a lens of inclusive development, USAID led global response efforts for COVID-19, climate change, anti-corruption, and more. The global vaccine initiative COVAX delivered its one billionth COVID-19 vaccine with U.S.-donated doses arriving in Rwanda, Ukraine, and more. The U.S. is the largest COVAX donor, which has reached 144 countries. USAID is working to get shots in arms where they are needed most.
USAID contributed more than $308 million in additional humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. This funding will provide food and nutrition assistance, health care, winterization programs, and more for the most vulnerable populations. USAID hosted the first Anti-Corruption Evidence and Learning Week to engage experts in dialogue to combat corruption. This week, around eight million U.S.-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Bosnia, Haiti, the Philippines, Nigeria, and more. USAID helps train health workers and sets up vaccine clinics to ensure communities are well-equipped to administer doses. USAID welcomed Marcela Escobari as Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. She will lead efforts to vaccinate the region and build stronger food, health, and education systems, along with resilient economies.
USAID continues to support the Philippines as they recover from the devastating impact of Super Typhoon Rai. USAID provided more than $20 million to the response and is working with partners to provide food, water, shelter, and more. USAID is excited to welcome Atul Gawande, renowned surgeon and writer, as the head of our global health efforts. This week, the United States donated more COVID-19 vaccines to Chad, Madagascar, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Niger, Rwanda, and Zambia. USAID helps make sure the vaccines sagely get to rural communities and into arms. USAID kicked off National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by reaffirming our long-standing commitment to combat human trafficking. The agency supports counter-trafficking programs in over 83 countries that provide hope and healing for survivors as they rebuild their lives.
Administrator Power convened world leaders to mobilize ambitious action to expand global vaccine support and get shots into arms. She announced the Global VAX initiative and $400 million to help countries raise vaccination rates and save lives. USAID played a leading role in President Biden's Summit for Democracy, where leaders made commitments to strengthen democracy globally. The Summit kicked off a "year of action," a framework for participants to work together on meaningful reforms to advance democratic goals. Administrator Power met with Malala Yousafzai to discuss the urgency of protecting education access for women and girls in Afghanistan. At the Nutrition for Growth Summit, Administrator Power announced a U.S. commitment of $11 billion to combat global malnutrition. Over the next three years, locally-designed and led programs will help end hunger and build a healthier world.
USAID commemorated World AIDS Day by renewing our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic through equitable access. USAID provides nearly 7 million clients with life-saving HIV-treatment and continues to provide programming that is accessible to all. As the world faces the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, USAID remains focused on getting shots into arms around the world. This week, life-saving vaccines arrived in Angola, Malawi, Uganda, Vietnam, Egypt, Guatemala, and more. USAID commemorated International Day of Persons with Disabilities with an event on disability-inclusive democracy with the State Department. We join partners in recognizing the dignity, achievements, and contributions of the world's one billion persons with disabilities. Administrator Power spoke at Foreign Policy Magazine's "Independent Media and the Advancement of Democracy" event. She emphasized the need to safeguard independent media, sharing about USAID's forthcoming defamation fund to protect journalists.
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