USAID Announcements at the African Leaders’ Summit for Monday, August 4th

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development issued the following news release:

Today at the first-ever U.S.-Africa Leaders' Summit in Washington, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the following: Food Security, Climate Smart Agriculture and Resilience

* Global Resilience Partnership (http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/aug-4-2014-usaid-and-rockefeller-foundation-announce-100-million-global-resilience-partnership) - $100 millionGlobal Partnership for Resilience (GPR) launched by USAID and The Rockefeller Foundation.

* Support for Climate-Smart Agriculture: The United States is a global leader in climate-smart agriculture, particularly through its Feed the Future and Global Climate Change initiatives, and is committed to working with African partners to align our expertise, innovations and resources in support of Africa's renewed vision for agricultural transformation, including its bold commitments related to climate smart agriculture. Today, the United States expressed strong support for the concept of a Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA), and invited African countries to join the United States in announcing their intention to join such an Alliance. Slated for launch on September 23, GACSA is expected to engage a range of government, multinational organizations, private sector, farmers and civil society stakeholders to achieve sustainable increases in agricultural productivity, greater resilience and a reduction of agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions.

* Progress through the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition: U.S. and African leaders today released the second annual progress report on the New Alliance (http://new-alliance.org/progress), announcing that, under the effort, private sector companies have collectively committed more than $8 billion in responsible agriculture investments in Africa, African governments have made progress or completed 95 percent of their policy-related commitments, and 3 million smallholder farmers have been reached. Additional information and updates on the New Alliance are available on its new website: www.new-alliance.org. The U.S. contributes to the New Alliance through the Feed the Future (http://www.feedthefuture.gov/) initiative.

* Training the Next Generation of Agriculture Professionals: Human and institutional capital are essential building blocks for improving the agriculture sector. Today, the United States announced that, through Feed the Future, more than 1,300 fellowships and long-term training opportunities will be offered to harness scientific innovation and technology in agriculture and nutrition in African countries. This training will contribute to climate smart-agriculture and reduce global hunger, poverty and undernutrition.

* Agriculture Insurance to Help Farmers Thrive: Through the Feed the Future initiative and in support of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition (http://www.new-alliance.org/), the U.S. Government stands alongside its partners in Africa to promote agricultural development as a means to catalyze broad-based economic growth that can make a significant impact against hunger, poverty and undernutrition. It is critical to enable smallholder farmers and producers with access to agricultural insurance so that they can feel comfortable adopting and using new tools, technologies and practices that can help increase yields and, ultimately, economic outcomes. In support of recent commitments made at the recent African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the U.S. will contribute funding through the World Bank for a multi-donor trust fund to spur public-private partnerships for agricultural insurance development in Africa.

* Support for Open Data on Agriculture and Nutrition: Open data on agriculture, nutrition and food systems can be a powerful tool for long-term sustainable development by improving the economic opportunities for farmers and the health of all consumers. The Global Open Data Initiative for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) supports efforts to make agriculturally and nutritionally relevant data available for public global use. The initiative aims to increase the quality, quantity and timeliness of data to drive better investments and policies. Over 100 partners have joined GODAN. Interested parties can join GODAN by visiting http://www.godan.info/. The GODAN initiative is non-binding and requires no financial commitment.

Health

* Health Financing Framework - The US commits to "Accelerating Action in Africa" (AAA) to end preventable child and maternal deaths.

* Immunization and GAVI - In line with our longstanding and effective partnership with the GAVI Alliance, the USAID has provided GAVI with $1.2 billion to date.

* Treatment for Neglected Tropical Diseases - NTDs are a contributing factor to cycles of poverty by impairing intellectual development in children, reducing school enrollment and hindering productivity.

* New Award to Address Emerging Priorities in RMNCH - The USAID is pleased to announce a new $23 million program to address emerging priorities in reproductive, maternal and newborn health.

* Technical & Financial Support for Regulatory Harmonization Efforts in Africa - USG is committing $1.5 million to the Multi Donor Trust Fund set up by the World Bank to support the medicines regulatory harmonization project of the East Africa Community. and the (AMRH) program of the NEPAD Agency.

* African Union, Accountability and Maternal and Child Health - USAID will continue to strengthen its partnership with the African Union to enhance mutual accountability around the shared goals of improved maternal and child health.

* Renewed Commitment to Reducing Preventable Malaria Deaths in Africa - Since 2006, the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has provided $3.7 billion to sub-Saharan Africa?.

* Global Health Security Agenda - The USG commits to increase the capacity of African states to prepare, monitor and respond to disease outbreaks diseases.

* Global Health Initiative - The USG has accomplished significant results in global health since the launch of the Global Health Initiative in 2009.

Civil Society

* Africa Regional Legal Education Curriculum - USAID will announce a regionally-focused small grants competition for qualified law professors or law schools to support the development of civil society legal enabling environment courses and content.

* Civil Society Enabling Environment Summit - USAID will host a Civil Society Enabling Environment Summit in Africa for legislators, lawyers and other practitioners, civil society representatives, and USAID DG officers to discuss legal aspects of enabling civic space in African countries.

Gender

* Women, Peace, and Security - Announce grants on Women, Peace, and Security, and commitment to advance Women, Peace, and Security objectives.

* Women in Agriculture - USAID will support the AU's focus on women in agriculture.

* Inter-Parliamentary Union to support gender-sensitive parliaments - USAID partners with the Inter-Parliamentary Union to support gender-sensitive parliaments and increase attention among parliaments in East and Southern Africa to address gender issues, particularly gender-based violence.

Wildlife Trafficking

* Selected Key New and Continuing Programs in Africa - New and continuing wildlife trafficking programs in Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.

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