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Dear Friends,
Earlier this month, nearly 50 African heads of state and their delegations�along with some of America's top CEOs�came to
town for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. It was an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen ties between our nation and the
world's fastest-growing region.
From promoting trade to investing in health, our Agency's work was consistently held up as a great example of how the U.S.
and Africa can partner together to advance mutual interests and achieve big goals. In particular, President Obama spoke
about the importance of applying Power Africa's unique model of development and finance to other areas.
The Summit featured landmark announcements for development. We launched a $100 million partnership focused on building
resilience in poorest communities of the Sahel, the Horn, and South and Southeast Asia. President Obama announced we are
tripling our goal for Power Africa in order to bring electricity to more than 60 million African homes and businesses. And
we announced brand new commitments from 39 African-based companies and 9 international companies towards the New Alliance
for Food Security and Nutrition�an incredible sign of the power that agriculture has to build the markets of the future.
Every day, our Agency works to end extreme poverty for the world�s most vulnerable people. By continuing to create new
partnerships and investment opportunities, this Summit proved we can lay the foundation for enduring prosperity in every
corner of the globe.
Best,
Raj Shah
USAID Administrator
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USAID In the News
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Obama said the Power Africa initiative, coordinated by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) and other agencies, could lead to a doubling of electricity access in the six nations that signed into the program
when it was launched in July 2013.
(MSNBC)
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Obama told The Economist that the United States can be a �central� force in Africa's advancement, based on the idea
that �American traditions of transparency, accountability, rule of law, [and] property rights are ingredients that are
critical to unlocking Africa's future.� The Department of Commerce plans to announce nearly $1 billion in new business
deals at the summit, and the US Agency for International Development says US companies are promising to devote billions
more to Obama's Power Africa program of electrification.
(BOSTON GLOBE)
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"If religious leaders had a favorite government office, it just might be the The United States Agency for
International Development--the USAID. Since its creation in the early 1960s, the office has worked to help the world's
poorest of the poor, giving government aid to countries dealing with major disasters, hunger, disease and more."
(INTERFAITH VOICES)
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This article reviewed announcements of new public-private partnerships committing billions of dollars to trade and
development projects in Africa like the Power Africa program and the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition
(REUTERS)
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On her segment �Andrea Mitchell Reports,� Mitchell interviews Administrator Shah about the African Leaders Summit,
observing that �there's a lot of excitement� about the �$14 billion in business commitments announced by the
administration today.�
(MSNBC)
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In the series Open Mike, Politico reporter Mike Allen interviews Administrator Shah about the African Leaders
Summit. Highlights include efforts in partnering with the private equity sector in order to end extreme poverty and
engaging with the fast-growing African economies. Dr. Shah elaborates: �...the idea is to really help American businesses,
universities student groups see Africa and the potential of what could be the world's largest common integrated market as
a place where we should be doing business and engaging in trade and investment, while also tackling some of the existing
challenges of poverty, conflict, and governance.�
(POLITICO)
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�We've come to the view that all of these recurring problems are solvable problems. We can stop destruction from
becoming disaster. We think the partnership itself can produce a paradigm shift.� -Rockefeller Foundation President Judith
Rodin
(BLOOMBERG)
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For years, programs funded by USAID, ranging from rule of law to market reform, have been required to demonstrate
how these groups benefit from their respective activities. As a result, there has been a marked improvement in social
attitudes toward and government programs for women, youth and minorities in many emerging democracies.
(HUFFINGTON POST)
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A profile of Jill Boezwinkle, SAMMY award winner and senior program manager at USAID�s Development Innovation
Ventures, described the team�s help launching a clean water-dispenser project. The team�s work can be described best as a
mix between the brainstorming and energy of a start-up and the data focus of a science lab. It�s the federal government
version of a venture-capital fund, this one seeking to help end extreme poverty.
(THE WASHINGTON POST)
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At Investing in Health event #DC - announcement by #ebola & a team of 60 @rajshah on a focus on child survival, new innovative financing w
key #African countries.
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