COVID-19
Speeches Shim
On February 15, 2022, Administrator Power met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director (MD) Kristalina Georgieva. After they affirmed their respective institutions’ commitment to the Ukrainian people, Administrator Power described USAID’s work and engagement with local entities in response to potential threats. They also discussed the need to continue looking for ways to support the Afghan people in the face of a worsening humanitarian and economic situation.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power hosted a roundtable of journalists and media experts in Ukraine to hear directly about their experiences as tensions continue to escalate on the border.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $4 million in additional humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of refugees who have fled to Tanzania from neighboring Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to instability and violence.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Faiths4Vaccines, an inclusive, multifaith movement comprised of local and national religious leaders and medical professionals throughout the United States working together to identify and resolve current gaps in vaccine mobilization, outreach, uptake and ensure equitable distribution. The MOU launches a Year of Action working with civil society, including faith and community partners, on COVID-19 response efforts supported by USAID’s Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (FBNP) around the world.
In response to the devastating drought, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing more than $39 million in additional humanitarian aid to meet the needs of people in Ethiopia, where more than 6.2 million drought affected people are estimated to need urgent food assistance in 2022. USAID is working to scale up its assistance across the Horn of Africa, including in Ethiopia, to respond to the driest conditions in four decades.
Today, USAID’s Harry T. Moore Chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG) and Office of Civil Rights and Diversity (OCRD) hosted “The Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Crisis: A Priority for Black America.” Each year in the United States, about 700 people die during pregnancy or in the year after, and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. In line with this year’s Black History Month theme of Black Health and Wellness, the event highlighted one of the most dire Black health crises the country faces today.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $100,000 in humanitarian assistance in response to immediate needs in Madagascar following Tropical Cyclone Batsirai. The storm traversed central and southern Madagascar on February 5 and 6, generating high winds, heavy rains, storm surges, and flooding. To date, the Government of Madagascar reports that the storm has caused at least 94 deaths, affected more than 116,000 people, and displaced an estimated 61,500 people. It also caused widespread damage to crops, housing, and public infrastructure.
On February 10, 2022, Administrator Samantha Power met with Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria Ibrahim Gambari and Nigeria’s National Security Advisor Babagana Monguno. They discussed the importance of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership on a range of issues including private sector investment, justice sector and police reform, and ensuring free and fair elections. Administrator Power and Chief of Staff Gambari discussed the importance of the safe and voluntary return and resettlement of displaced persons in the Northeast, as well as the need to mobilize social and economic support for those attempting to rebuild their lives.
On February 10, 2022, Administrator Power met with Svenja Schulze, Germany’s Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Administrator congratulated Minister Schulze on her new position as well as on Germany assuming the Presidency of the G7. Administrator Power and Minister Schulze discussed their joint efforts to vaccinate the world against COVID-19, address the climate crisis, and support sustainable infrastructure, and the need for these to be bold priorities for the G7. Administrator Power also raised concerns about the impact of Russian aggression towards Ukraine and requested continued close collaboration. Administrator Power welcomed Germany’s commitment to the people of Afghanistan and the continued prioritization of humanitarian assistance to meet growing emergency food needs.
Administrator Samantha Power met virtually with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss USAID’s ongoing support for the democratic and economic aspirations of the Serbian people and current challenges to peace and stability in the region.
Today, Administrator Power met with Angeles Moreno Bau, Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Global Issues. Administrator Power and Secretary Moreno discussed shared priorities for the United States and Spain in Central America, the Sahel, and on global efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reaffirms our commitment to ending this human rights abuse and the gender inequalities that contribute to its prevalence around the world.
Thank you, Cory, for that introduction. For those of you who don’t know, Cory used to bring his talents to our speechwriting team before heading over to supercharge our legislative affairs work.
Today, USAID Administrator Samantha Power appointed the Honorable George R. Salem as the inaugural Board Chair of the Partnership for Peace Fund (PPF) Advisory Board.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Ivan Korčok to discuss continued development cooperation with the Slovak Republic. The Administrator thanked Minister Korčok for the Slovak Republic’s continued partnership, formally beginning in 2018 with the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SlovakAID, the Slovak Republic’s development organization, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Through the MOU, the Slovak Republic and USAID jointly supported community development in Moldova, enabled North Macedonia to continue making progress in its path towards European Union accession, and helped those without housing in Belgrade access clean water, sanitation, and essential healthcare.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided approximately $400,000 in humanitarian assistance in Fiscal Year 2021 that is now being used to support populations affected by widespread flooding in the Republic of the Congo (RoC). Since late 2021, heavy rainfall and resultant flooding have adversely affected communities in the RoC’s Cuvette, Likouala, Plateaux, and Sangha departments.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional $1 million in humanitarian assistance to support people affected by Super Typhoon Rai in the Philippines. The typhoon—known locally as Typhoon Odette—caused heavy rains, landslides, and widespread flooding, affecting more than 9.5 million people since making landfall in mid-December. This new funding brings total USAID humanitarian assistance for typhoon-affected people in the Philippines to more than $21 million.
Today, the U.S. Government underscored its unwavering support for a strong, prosperous Ukraine, secure in its borders, and a Europe whole, free and at peace. U.S. Embassy Kyiv Chargé d’Affaires Kristina Kvien signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland to launch the new Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky met with Senegal President Macky Sall to discuss the U.S. Government’s Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX). Announced in December 2021, Global VAX is a whole-of-government effort to turn vaccines in vials into vaccinations in arms around the world.
On January 31, Administrator Samantha Power traveled to Tuskegee, Alabama to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USAID and Tuskegee University (TU), the latest in a series of partnerships under the USAID Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Partnership Initiative. The MOU outlines the shared commitment between the two institutions to collaborate in agricultural research, water security, resilience, and nutrition. This partnership will create new pathways for USAID to harness the expertise and innovative research at TU and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the international development workforce.
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Last updated: July 11, 2024
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