WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced over $10.5 million in grants to seven organizations working in six countries in Africa to extend malaria prevention and control activities in communities most affected by the disease, particularly children under age 5 and pregnant women. The grants were provided through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), an interagency initiative led by USAID with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as key partners.

The Malaria Communities Program (MCP), a $30 million initiative created under PMI, is providing these grants to support the efforts of communities and indigenous organizations to combat malaria in Africa. The program specifically aims to identify organizations that are new to partnering with the U.S. government and are uniquely positioned to work at the community level. The program also seeks to increase local and indigenous capacities to undertake community-based malaria prevention and treatment activities and to build local ownership of malaria control for the long term. MCP grant recipients will operate within respective PMI country strategies, which have been developed in collaboration with each country’s Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program, with in-country partners, and with other donor organizations working in-country.

“I am committed to expanding the work of nongovernmental and faith-based organizations, and other community based entities to reach people with the tools and knowledge to control malaria,” said R. Tim Ziemer, U.S. Malaria Coordinator. “The key to saving lives, especially children, is to expand proven approaches and interventions until they reach each and every child who needs them.”

Read more – http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2009/pr091006.html

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced over $10.5 million in grants to seven organizations working in six countries in Africa to extend malaria prevention and control activities in communities most affected by the disease, particularly children under age 5 and pregnant women. The grants were provided through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), an interagency initiative led by USAID with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as key partners.

The Malaria Communities Program (MCP), a $30 million initiative created under PMI, is providing these grants to support the efforts of communities and indigenous organizations to combat malaria in Africa. The program specifically aims to identify organizations that are new to partnering with the U.S. government and are uniquely positioned to work at the community level. The program also seeks to increase local and indigenous capacities to undertake community-based malaria prevention and treatment activities and to build local ownership of malaria control for the long term. MCP grant recipients will operate within respective PMI country strategies, which have been developed in collaboration with each country’s Ministry of Health and National Malaria Control Program, with in-country partners, and with other donor organizations working in-country.

Read More – http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2009/pr091006.html

HARARE, ZIMBABWE – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Standard Chartered Bank of Zimbabwe (Stanchart) signed an agreement that will enable the bank to expand its lending by $20 million over five years. The program, made possible under USAID’s Development Credit Authority, is targeted at the agricultural sector and will allow Stanchart to increase the number of loans it makes directly to farmers and enterprises. The ultimate objective is to provide inputs and technical assistance to small holder farmers that will allow them to increase productivity and production.

“The credit authority is being established as one of several assistance programs, above and beyond U.S. humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe, which have come about because of President Obama’s commitment to provide agricultural and other assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. The President made this commitment to Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, during the prime minister’s June 2009 visit to Washington, D.C. The assistance demonstrates the will of the American people to assist Zimbabwe to restore its once vibrant agricultural sector,” said Donald Petterson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy.

Read more – http://www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2009/pr090930_3.html