Published: October 12, 2005
USAID Reaffirms Continued Commitment to Africa
By Christine Terada, Washington File 
Assistant Administrator Pierson says Africa is a priority
Washington -- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for Africa Lloyd O. Pierson has a message for Africans: "We will live up to our responsibilities and commitment to Africa," even in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the United States.
In a recent interview with the Washington File at USAID headquarters, Pierson emphasized the high priority the Bush administration gives to Africa and the "very close working relationship that we have, the partnership we have with the Africans."
Pierson recalled his recent meetings with African government officials in New York in September at the opening of the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly, to illustrate the strength of that relationship. Many of those individuals he has known for years, he said, originally having met them through former work in Africa with the Peace Corps (as chief of staff/chief of operations) and with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Following his meetings with the African officials, Pierson said, he met with most of the African ambassadors' corps in Washington at USAID headquarters for extensive talks. The African ambassadors focused on "jobs, jobs, jobs," he emphasized, citing the 60 percent to 80 percent unemployment rate in some of their countries. He also said the talks included a concrete, realistic focus on economic development.
"Our view is that we want results and we want to show that we can respond in a very prompt, timely way," Pierson said. As a result of the president's direct involvement, he said, issues such as malaria, famine, HIV/AIDS and economic development already been addressed significantly.
COSTS OF HURRICANE RELIEF WILL NOT DERAIL U.S. AID TO AFRICA
When asked about competing resources for aid in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the USAID official drove home the point that aid is not a zero sum game. He reaffirmed: "It is well documented that President Bush and this administration have a compassionate commitment, a humanitarian commitment, a development commitment, to Africa."
Regarding the hurricane relief effort specifically, Pierson said, "We've all got to be aware of fiscal constraints."
"There's no question there is a tug-of-war on financial resources, that's always there," he said. "We have Katrina and Rita, and issues there, and it's not an easy road, but the administration made a commitment to Africa.
"It is this administration that has given that focus on Africa, as well as a number of world events," he said. Africa is strategically important to the United States, he said.
In fiscal year 2005, under Pierson's direction, USAID's Africa Bureau managed more than $1.4 billion in development assistance, aid for child survival and health and funding for the Global AIDS Initiative in Africa. Twelve of the 15 focus countries under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are in Africa, and USAID is one of the key implementing agencies in this initiative's response.
USAID programs in Africa contribute directly to the priorities outlined in the joint State Department/USAID Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2004-2009, particularly those priorities that advance sustainable development and global interests.
The centerpieces of USAID's assistance to the subcontinent are the four presidential initiatives launched in fiscal year 2002 -- the Initiative to End Hunger in Africa (IEHA), the TRADE initiative (which now is being subsumed under a new African Global Competitiveness Initiative), the Congo Basin Forest Partnership Initiative and the Africa Education Initiative -- as well as PEPFAR, launched in fiscal year 2004. Other key elements of the program include the continuation of the African Anti-Corruption Initiative, the Conflict Initiative, and the Leland Initiative to increase access to information technology.
Pierson said USAID's growing success across sub-Saharan Africa is demonstrated in the very large number of countries that want a USAID mission.
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