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Contacts

Assistant Administrator
Mara Rudman

Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator
Christopher Crowley

Deputy Assistant Administrator
Hady Amr

Deputy Assistant Administrator
Alina Romanowski

Press Inquiries
U.S. Agency for International Development
Office of Press Relations
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C.
20523-0016
Tel: 202-712-4320
Fax: 202-216-3524

Public Inquiries
USAID Missions

Middle East

Assistant Administrator Mara Rudman
Visits Cairo and Upper Egypt

Overview

USAID operates seven country programs and a regional program in the Middle East and North Africa. Stretching from continental Asia to Africa, this region has enormous potential for economic growth and development.

A wide range of social and economic challenges continue to affect the Middle East and North Africa. Nearly half of the region’s population is under age 24. Inadequate educational and employment opportunities for this large youth population contribute to internal instability. Poor prospects for long-term health and prosperity reinforce intolerance and extremism and provide fertile ground for unrest.

Weak democratic institutions in many countries in the region fail to provide citizens with ways to actively participate in the decision-making that affects their lives. In Iraq and West Bank/Gaza, continued conflict poses serious obstacles to development.

To address concerns about joblessness among the rapidly growing populations of many Middle Eastern countries, USAID implements programs that stimulate economic opportunities through trade facilitation, infrastructure improvements and business development. USAID also works to expand the horizons of Middle Eastern youth by making quality education available to more students. USAID health programs help to raise living standards, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children. Finally, USAID’s governance programs aim to cultivate strong local, regional and national institutions that will be able to provide reliable services to citizens. Each country program is guided by a multi-year strategic plan that identifies the sectors in which USAID will work and estimated levels of funding.

USAID's work in the Middle East includes:

• Rebuilding Iraq and supporting the transition to stability and democracy;
• Helping Palestinians realize a two-state solution with Israel—living side by side in peace;
• Promoting democratic reforms;
• Expanding education to give youth job skills and roles in society; and
• Supporting free trade agreements, infrastructure and business development.

The Middle East Bureau and field offices work in close partnership with U.S. and local non-governmental organizations, private businesses, universities, international organizations, and the governments of host countries to achieve long-lasting results. In 2011, the Middle East Bureau is managing $1.5 billion in U.S. assistance across the region.

The rebuilding of Iraq is the largest reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan. Since 2003, USAID has been committed to improving the lives of Iraqis by encouraging economic growth, supporting democracy, rehabilitating health and education systems, providing humanitarian assistance to displaced and vulnerable populations and restoring and upgrading infrastructure, such as sewage, electricity and access to clean water.

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