USAID Employees Highlight Major Program Achievements
USAID employees play a key role in public diplomacy and promoting the Agency’s programs through the broadcast media.
Kellie Stewart, Director of the USAID/Honduras Health Office, participated on a live national television panel discussion to promote World AIDS Day in Honduras. In addition, Eduardo Chirinos from the Economic Growth Office discussed USAID’s Rural Economic Diversification Program (RED) in prime time for the country’s largest broadcasting network. Ms. Stewart was joined by the Director of a USAID funded Non Government Organization (NGO) and a project beneficiary.
Ms. Stewart described how the USAID/Honduras program has contributed to a significant reduction of HIV prevalence rates among most-at-risk populations and increased the number of people receiving voluntary testing. During the interview they discussed USAID’s assistance to increase HIV/AIDS prevention services, counseling, and rapid HIV testing. The program’s beneficiary enthusiastically described her experience and how the program helped them gain employment through a microenterprise.
In another television interview, USAID’s Eduardo Chirinos, discussed USAID’s rural economic diversification program which has helped small rural businesses grow by taking advantage of opportunities under the Central American and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Chirinos highlighted how the program has created over 4,500 new jobs and generated over $43 million in new sales. Mr. Chirinos noted that, “The beneficiaries invested over $18 million of their own funds to expand production and enhance their infrastructure”. Mr. Chirinos explained how future USAID programs could be poised to respond to the global food security crisis in a timely manner, expand market opportunities, and enhance coordination with other U.S. government agencies like the Millennium Challenge Corporation through such efforts.
|
