IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
5 October  2023 
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Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2  
OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT  
UNITED  STATES  OF AMERICA  
The following communication, dated 15 September 2023, from the delegation of the 
United  States  of America is being circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Decision on 
Implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement ( document IP/C/28 ). 
 
_______________  
1   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
2   GENERAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMS, INCENTIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS  ... 2 
3   EDUCATIONAL AND UNIVERSITY -LED PROGRAMS  ................................ ......................  6 
4   COMMERCIAL  AND LEGAL PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY  ...........................  14 
5   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION (IPR) AND ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY 
BUILDING  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  15 
6   TRADE AND INVESTMENT  POLICY, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND INCENTIVES  .............  18 
7   DEVELOPME NT PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR 
MODELS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  22 
8   PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD 
SAFETY AND SECURITY  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 27 
9   PROGRAMING AN D INCENTIVES  RELATED TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT  .....................  33 
10   PROGRAMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED  TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  ....... 37 
11   PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO HEALTH  ................................ .........  43 
12   PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES  RELATED TO BUILDING LABOR CAPACIT Y .........  55 
13   COMPLETED PROJECTS  ................................ ................................ ............................  55 
 
  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION  
1.  The United States is committed to continually enhancing its activities pursuant to Article 66.2 of 
the TRIPS Agreement, and reporting those activities, in keeping with the guidelines established in 
the TRIPS Council 's Decision of 20 February 2003 ( document IP/C/28 ). Consistent with this decision, 
developed country Members shall provide yearly reports to least developed country (LDC) Members 
on actions taken or planned in pursuanc e of the commitments of developed countries under 
Article  66.2. Under this article, developed country Members have committed themselves to provide 
incentives to enterprises and institutions in their territories for the purpose of promoting and 
encouraging technology transfer to LDC Members, in order to enable them to create a sound and 
viable technological base. United States government funding of these multifaceted activities and 
collaborations are incentives to the many partners in the United States that work with LDC recipients 
and institutions to promote, encourage, and enable technology transfer.  
2.  The intellectual property (IP), trade capacity training, development assistance, educational, 
financing, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure -related programs described in this report are integral 
elements of the efforts of the United States to support LDCs in fostering the necessary environment 
to encourage the effective, voluntary transfer of technology to LDC Members. No report can 
represent every activity th at directly or indirectly incentivizes enterprises and institutions for the 
purpose of promoting and encouraging technology transfer. This report attempts to describe many 
significant activities and programs and to convey the breadth and depth of efforts b y the United 
States.  
3.  The United States government attaches great importance to providing incentives to help LDCs 
obtain technology transfer. A key element to this objective is that the United States government, in 
collaboration with many other national an d regional government agencies and IP organizations, such 
as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), works to assist LDCs to improve the 
functioning and utilization of their IP systems to promote economic, social and cultural development. 
Our goal is to help LDCs establish an environment that attracts and sustains technologies that 
address local needs and are valued in local markets. The strengthening of IP protection is an 
essential measure to promote technology transfer.  
4.  Much of the United St ates government research conducted by federally operated laboratories 
and federally funded research and development (R&D) centers results in inventions or findings that 
contribute to the development of new technologies and processes. Commercialization of t hese 
outputs can yield economic and social benefits that increase returns on the investment in federal 
R&D. 
5.  The United States continues to believe that the effective functioning of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS 
Agreement requires a robust dialogue between developed country Members and LDC Members. This 
targets incentives in a way that is most responsive to the self -identified technology transfer interests 
and needs of LDC Members. The United States encourages the efforts of the TRIPS Council 
Secretariat and Members to organize discussions among the Members regarding Article 66.2 
implementation. The United States also  encourages LDC Members to exchange technology transfer  
best practices to better understand what has worked in other LDCs and how they can be duplicated 
in their own countries.  
2  GENERAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAMS, INCENTIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS1 
6.  Through th e Bayh -Dole Act of 1980, the United States Congress directed that inventions resulting 
from federally funded research be used to promote commercialization and public access through 
practical application. United States laboratories often partner with extern al organizations to conduct 
cooperative research and development.  
2.1  Federally Sponsored Research and Development  
7.  The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) workgroup on Lab -to-Market coordinates 
federal initiatives on accelerating and improving the t ransfer of new technologies from the laboratory 
 
1 Paragraphs 6 -8 describe technology transfer policies and legislative tools that are used by the US 
Government to derive much of the technology that is transferred to LDCs.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  to the commercial marketplace. Federal agencies implement these initiatives, which include 
development of human capital and small business innovation. The National Institute of Standards 
and Technology prepar es an annual report that summarizes government -wide technology transfer 
efforts. This report can be found at https://www.nist.gov/tpo/federal -laborato ry-interagency -
technology -transfer -summary -reports .  
2.2  Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC)  
8.  Technology transfer is most effective when the technology is requested by the entity that will 
use the techn ology. The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) plays a key 
role in providing information about technologies that are available for licensing and the availability 
of laboratories for collaboration and partnership. The FLC is a nation al network of approximately 300 
federal laboratories and centers that provides opportunities for linking laboratory mission 
technologies and expertise with the marketplace (see https://www.federallabs.org/ ). The FLC 
promotes technical cooperation among the federal laboratories and large and small businesses, 
academia, and federal, state, and local government agencies. The FLC collaborates with 
organizations that promote technical cooperation and works to improve the effectiveness of 
technology transfer through training, recognition, awards, and evaluation. Moreover, the FLC 
encourages technology transfer and, through its member laboratories, seeks partners around the 
world. The FLC  offers a broad set of tools including the ability to search available laboratory 
technologies, find laboratory expertise and facilities, and find available partnership mechanisms for 
different agencies. The search tool is available at https://federallabs.org/flc -business/about -flc-
business -77c1c2a816321eb2ce47b44233b73840 . 
9.  New industries, businesses, and jobs can be cre ated when a new technology is brought to market 
through technology transfer. The FLC promotes, facilitates, and educates labs and industry about 
that process.  
2.3  Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)  
10.  The Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program directly supports 
scientists in USAID -presence countries through institutional research awards typically ranging up to 
USD 200,000. US scientific agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA ), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 
National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Smithsonian Institution, US Forest Service (USFS), US Department of Agricu lture's (USDA) 
Agriculture Research Service (ARS), and US Geological Survey (USGS), as well as National 
Instruments, General Electric, and universities and research institutes around the world, have 
partnered with scientists in developing countries through  PEER awards. Since its launch in 2011, 
PEER has supported more than 370 projects in over 50 countries with a USAID investment of over 
USD 100 million. PEER aims to build capacity among local scientists and research institutions, 
strengthen research partne rships world -wide, and better translate data and evidence into policy. 
The program is implemented by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Of 
the 3,000 students that are working on PEER research teams, 50 % are women. PEER researche rs 
have contributed to over 900 publications and journal articles. More than 75 % of PEER awardees 
secure further funding to continue their research in:  
a. Agriculture;  
b. Biodiversity;  
c. Disaster Mitigation;  
d. Education;  
e. Energy;  
f. Family Planning;  
g. Food Security;  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  h. Infectious Diseases;  
i. Nutrition;  
j. Reproductive Health; and  
k. Water and Sanitation.  
2.4  Innovation Discovery & Testing  
11.  The Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub in the USAID Development, Democracy, and 
Innovation Bureau serves as an incubator and accel erator of innovation. Working collaboratively 
with the USAID and our external partners, the lab 's mission is two -fold: 1) to produce breakthrough 
development innovations by sourcing, testing, and scaling proven solutions to reach hundreds of 
millions of pe ople; and 2) to accelerate the transformation of the development enterprise by opening 
development to people everywhere with good ideas, promoting new and deepening existing 
partnerships, bringing data and evidence to bear, and harnessing scientific and te chnological 
advances.  
12.  The lab uses two approaches to identify promising innovations, which are then rigorously tested, 
iterated, and put into use on a broad scale for global impact. The first approach – open innovation 
– includes the Development Innovation  Ventures (DIV) program, a year -round grant program open 
to nearly any individual or organization for any sector in any country where USAID operates. Grants 
are awarded based on cost -effectiveness, evidence of impact, and the potential to scale. DIV 
assess es each applicant through the lens of these principles, commensurate to the stage or type of 
funding sought. DIV has supported 277 innovation grants in 49 countries with over 99 million 
beneficiaries and USD 197 million invested in innovative solutions sin ce 2020 
(https://www.usaid.gov/div ; DIV Portal website ). 
13.  The second approach is through innovation co mpetitions, including Grand Challenges for 
Development. The Water and Energy for Food Grand Challenge (WE4F) is a USD 65 million joint 
international initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, 
the European Union (EU) , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Netherlands, the 
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and USAID. WE4F focuses on 
environmentally sustainable innovations aiming to improve energy and water efficiency in the  
agricultural sector and provides technical assistance and investment facilitation to help them. 
Innovators that participate in the program connect with, and provide innovations to, smallholder 
farmers and other end users (including medium -large scale farm ers, cooperatives, medium -scale 
companies, and large -scale companies). WE4F helped innovators expand their sales to 
USD 1.89 million in 2021. Both on their own and with the help of the Regional Innovation Hub (RIH) 
investment facilitation teams, innovators  mobilized nearly USD 7 million from external sources – 
USD 4 million within climate financing – in 2021. This is on track with the combined Middle East and 
North Africa (MENA) and South and Southeast Asia (S/SEA) RIH target of USD 7.8 million. WE4F 
innova tors helped smallholder farmers and other end -users produce more than 250,000 tons of food 
while saving more than 8 million kWh of energy. By using WE4F 's water - and energy -efficient 
innovations, renewable energy, and climate resilient practices, farmers a nd food companies can 
enhance their climate resilience, reduce CO2 emissions, and support the goal of limiting global 
warming to 1.5  degrees Celsius. 47% of the innovators contributed toward climate adaptation and 
50% offered climate mitigation innovations  (https://we4f.org/ ). 
14.  The Southern and Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub (S/CA RIH) represents a vast, 
culturally diverse, and complex territory of 12 countries. The people who live h ere face multiple 
challenges, including desertification, water scarcity, energy insecurity, food insecurity, 
environmental degradation, unemployment, and gender inequality. By 2024, the Southern and 
Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub will:  
a. identify and fund at least  30 WE4F innovators  across the region;  
b. support innovators in reaching a minimum of  1 million smallholder farmers, including  
250,000 women; and  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  c. increase  investment  to innovators by at least  USD 7.5 million.  
2.5  Science and Technology Agreements  
15.  The United States utilizes science and technology (S&T) agreements as frameworks for 
increased international collaboration by facilitating cooperation between US technical agencies and 
foreign counterparts on topics including public health, watershed mana gement, agriculture, 
environment and biodiversity protection, biotechnology, earth sciences, marine science, and 
alternative energy. These agreements support relationships that strengthen science education 
systems, build institutional and human resource ca pacity, and promote a deeper appreciation of 
innovation and its role in technology transfer and commercialization. The United States supports 
programs that strengthen institutional capacity to translate research into commercial activity, while 
improving in dividual capacity to enter labor markets (see https://www.state.gov/key -topics -office -
of-science -and-technology -cooperation/ ). Through these efforts, US scientific and technical agencies 
and their counterparts promote economic growth and jobs creation.  
2.6  Wonders of the Mekong – Cambodia  
16.  The activity seeks to provide technical assistance, tools, and training to Cambodian natural 
resource managers to establish data collection and monitoring networks that will enhance existing 
capacity and complement ongoing projects within the Lower Mekong Basin. The objectives are:  
a. to improve capacity for monitoring of the freshwater environment, hyd rology, and fishery 
resources within Cambodia;  
b. to gain critical biological information necessary to promote sustainable environmental 
management for key areas and fisheries, including the Tonle Sap Lake to River and Lower 
Mekong Rivers; and  
c. to provide information to communities, fishery managers, and policy makers at multiple 
levels of government and civil society to support sustainable environmental pathways and 
policies.  
17.  Wonders of the Mekong (WOM) activities have addressed several key unc ertainties related to 
monitoring and managing impacts to the Mekong River 's health and productivity from threats like 
overfishing, loss of biodiversity, dam -modified flows, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. 
Project results have been shared at n umerous conferences, workshops, and forums including the US 
State Department 's Mekong Virtual Symposium: "An Uncertain Future: Working Towards a Thriving 
Tonle Sap ", the Stockholm Environment Institute webinar "Can the Mekong be Saved? ", the Mekong -
US Part nership Track 1.5 Policy Dialogues, and a hosted discussion with the US Ambassador to 
Cambodia and delegates from the four countries of the Lower Mekong River Basin. In FY 2023, six 
WOM-supported masters and PhD students presented their work at the Mekong Research 
Symposium in Chiang Rai.  
18.  In January 2023, the US Ambassador to Cambodia and the President of the University of 
Nevada, presided over the opening of a new Limnology Laboratory (limnology is the study of lakes 
and freshwater bodies). Laboratory equi pment and training provided by WOM is improving capacity 
of Cambodian researchers and students to monitor water quality. The laboratory will make 
sustainable, long -term contributions to research and monitoring of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap 
Lake and eve ntually provide recommendations for environmental action and sound public policy.  
2.6.1   Government Officials and Private Sector Laud Wonders of the Mekong  
19.  In January 2023, WOM, in collaboration with the Cambodian Fisheries Administration (FiA), 
organized the r elease of 5,000 endangered fish in the Mekong River, including Mekong giant catfish, 
giant barb, and striped catfish. Many of these fish were tagged for joint research studies between 
WOM and FiA. Has Sareth, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Agricult ure, Forestry, and Fisheries 
remarked that events like these are important "to encourage policies that enable this important 
resource to thrive in the wild. "  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  20.  In FY 2023 the WOM team, including many Cambodia authors, published papers in high profile 
journa ls, including Water: World Heritage, Hydropower, and Earth 's Largest Freshwater Fish. Science 
Magazine also published an article noting the one -year anniversary of WOM 's successful tagging and 
release of a Giant Stingray which was later certified by Guinne ss as the world 's largest freshwater 
fish. 
3  EDUCATIONAL AND UNIVERSITY -LED PROGRAMS  
21.  US agencies such as the Department of State and USAID work closely with universities to 
promote appropriate technology transfer and knowledge sharing through academic exchan ges and 
programs that harness the intellectual power of professionals, students, and researchers to address 
challenges including climate variability and change, food security, and global health.  
3.1  Educational Enrollment in the US University System  
22.  The US university system constitutes a major avenue for the appropriate transfer of knowledge 
and technology. Foreign students employ acquired knowledge and skills in their home countries, and 
some continue to collaborate with their US colleagues on mutually ben eficial research.  
23.  University Enrollment by Foreign Students: During the 2021 -2022 academic year (the most 
recent data), there were 35,775 students from LDCs enrolled in US institutions of higher education, 
representing a decrease of 2.87 % over the 2020 -2021 academic year, and 3.77 % of the total US 
higher education international student enrollment. US institutions of higher education hosted many 
students from LDCs, including large numbers from Nepal (11,799 students) and Bangladesh (10,597 
students). The top  five most popular fields of study for all international students in the United States 
in academic year 2020 -2021 were Math and Computer Science (200,301); Engineering (188,194); 
Business and Management (147,293); Social Sciences (78,770); and Physical and  Life Sciences 
(78,712).  
3.2  International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)  
24.  In support of the US Department of State 's strategic goal of enhancing economic development, 
the Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau (ECA) continues its International Visitor Leader ship 
Program to assist partner countries, including LDC member countries. Under normal conditions, IVLP 
projects take place in person with visits to the United States. Below are programs that took place 
from July 2022 – July 2023.  
3.2.1   IVLP Circular Waste Manag ement US – ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP) – 
Cambodia, Lao  PDR  
25.  This project included participants from Cambodia and where the ASEAN Smart Cities Network 
(ASEAN) and other ASEAN stakeholders explored how US cities innovate to advance a circular and  
sustainable materials management approach to optimize resource efficiency, recovery, and reuse 
with a focus on plastic pollution.  
3.2.2   IVLP Climate and Energy Innovation in the Caribbean – Haiti  
26.  This project for energy and climate change experts included part icipants from Haiti and explored 
policies and innovations for achieving high levels of renewable energy grid integration. The project 
explored the role of strategic planning and climate information services in establishing resilient 
infrastructure  and enab ling regulatory environments to mitigate the impacts of climate change.  
3.2.3   IVLP Combating Illegal Fishing Off the Coast and in the Lakes of Africa – Senegal, 
Togo  
27.  This project included participants from Senegal and Togo and discussed strategies to combat 
illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the coasts and in the lakes of Africa. The project 
explored the impact of illegal  international fishing fleet s off the African coast, the underlying causes 
of illegal fishing, and the relationship between federal, state, and local programs; examined the 
impact on fishermen and fishmongers as a result of loss of income and piracy; reviewed fish resource 
management ; explored the regulatory and law enforcement frameworks available to combat IUU; IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  highlighted community engagement; and addressed the health, safety, and environmental concerns 
related to fishing communities fighting to preserve not just livelihoods but th eir way of life.  
3.2.4   IVLP Cooperation on Infrastructure for the Indo -Pacific – Bangladesh, Lao  PDR 
28.  This inter -regional IVLP project, which included participants from Bangladesh and Lao  PDR, 
explored American investment and innovation in infrastructure. Partic ipants met with regulators, 
planners, and contractors to learn how infrastructure is envisioned and built in the United States, as 
well as how Americans invest abroad and work with international partners on infrastructure 
investment.  
3.2.5   IVLP Combating Infect ious Diseases – Central African Republic, Guinea, Mali, 
Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda  
29.  Projects on this topic included participants from CAR, Guinea, Mali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, 
Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Participants examined key practices  in managing communicable 
diseases, including  public information campaigns, combating disinformation and misinformation, 
medical response preparedness, ongoing training for medical and administrative personnel, and 
strategies for working with international  partners during a pandemic. In addition, the project 
examined steps that governments may take to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and to 
manage a continuous health crisis.  
3.2.6   IVLP Cultivating US – Africa Collaboration on Climate Resiliency and Health Security 
– Madagascar, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia   
30.  This IVLP project for scientists, doctors, and policy makers from across Africa included 
participants from Madagascar , Mozambique , Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The project 
explored a better understanding of the climate change and health nexus. Visitors analyzed US 
policies, strategies and international engagement on public health challenges presented by or 
exacerbated by g lobal climate change and observed systems that support early warning for health 
issues, while also increasing visitors ' awareness and understanding of how these systems work at 
national, subnational, and community levels in the United States.  
3.2.7   IVLP Develop ing University Partnerships: Connecting African Universities with 
HBCUs – Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Guinea –Bissau, Senegal, Democratic Republic of the 
Congo  (DRC), Uganda  
31.  This project included participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, DRC, Liberia, Guinea -Bissau, 
Senegal, and Uganda and explored both the history and current state of Historically Black Colleges  
and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States, with a focus on univ ersity administration and best 
practices. Particularly, the project explored how these universities and colleges develop and maintain 
sustainable international partnerships, monetize research, and support faculty collaboration and 
international research. P articipants were exposed to successful models of transnational university 
partnerships, with a goal of increasing US faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and 
capacity building.  
3.2.8   IVLP Early Childhood Education – Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Sierra Leon e, Tanzania  
32.  This project included participants from Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania and 
examined US trends and best practices in early childhood education (generally from birth to age 
eight), highlighting  the opportunities and challenges  in ensuring inclusivity and educational 
preparedness. Participants learned how US early education practitioners work to improve the 
educational and social emotional outcomes for young children. Meetings, site visits, and activities 
illustrated how early c hildhood education institutions implement learning programs, address special 
needs, assess student progress, and develop enriching extracurricular activities.  
3.2.9   IVLP Education in the Digital Age – Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal  
33.  The project included participant s from Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal and examined how 
technology is changing the US educational process from primary schools  to universities by providing 
content through online platforms such as Blackboard, blended learning, flipped classrooms, and IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  massi ve open online courses. Participants explored how technology is promoting educational 
opportunities for disadvantaged students, older adults, and rural populations and how policy makers, 
the private sector, school administrators, and teachers evaluate, fun d, and support technological 
innovation in classrooms.  
3.2.10   IVLP Engaging the Rising Generation of Space Nations – Angola  
34.  This project, which included participants from Angola, provided an overview of best practices to 
support the development of a national sp ace infrastructure. Through targeted meetings, site visits, 
and networking opportunities, the participants examined US policies governing its sharing of cutting -
edge space technology and explored prospects for enhancing space cooperation. Additionally, thi s 
project provided insight into policies concerning the extraction and utilization of space resources, 
space exploration, the role of the private sector, and how to be a responsible actor in space.  
3.2.11   IVLP Entrepreneurship – Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democra tic Republic of the 
Congo, Djibouti, Guinea, Haiti, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Senegal, Sierra 
Leone, Tanzania, Uganda  
35.  Projects on this topic  included participants from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic 
of the Congo, Djibouti, Guinea, Haiti, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, 
Tanzania, and Uganda  and included a global IVLP special initiative titled "Entrepreneurship as the 
Engine  of Prosperity and Stability. " Projects  examined the role of small business in driving  sustained 
economic growth and prosperity and honing  skills to encourage entrepreneurship. Participants 
explored business models that support s mall business growth and economic development to benefit 
local communities. Discussions and site visits highlighted the social, economic, legal, and political 
factors that encourage the development of private enterprise, including innovation, managerial 
skills, government incentives, the removal of barriers to growth, access to credit and venture capital, 
business incubators, and public -private partnerships.  
3.2.12   IVLP Environmental Protection and Wildlife Conservation – Mozambique, Tanzania  
36.  Projects on this to pic included participants from Mozambique and Tanzania and examined US 
efforts to protect species and habitat diversity through env ironmental laws and protection policies, 
scientific research, environmental education, and law enforcement. Meetings and site  visits 
highlighted US policies and public -private sector strategies for maintaining, managing, and 
protecting national and state parks, monuments, heritage sites, and wilderness. Project content 
reviewed US efforts to combat international wildlife traffic king and best practices in US anti-poaching 
and species recovery measures. Participants considered how local and regional land -use practices 
protect biodiversity while supporting economic growth, development, and tourism that benefit local 
communities.  
3.2.13   IVLP Global Public Health Challenges – Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, 
Uganda  
37.  Projects on this topic included participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Tanzania, and 
Uganda. Visitors examined  key practices to manage communicable diseases, including public 
information campaigns, combating disinformation and misinformation, medical response 
preparedness, ongoing training for medical and administrative personnel, and strategies for working 
with i nternational partners during a pandemic.  
3.2.14   IVLP Growing the Film and Music Industries in Senegal – Senegal  
38.  This project for Senegal aimed to incentivize emerging Senegalese leaders to support artists 
from its growing film and music industries by examining the impact of these industries on the US 
economy. Participants  explored how the film and music industries function in the United States, the 
US regulatory framework, licensing agreements, intellectual property rights, funding mechanisms, 
and how music and film is promoted and distributed to domestic and international audiences .  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  3.2.15   IVLP Hidden No More: Empowering Women Leaders in STEM – Bangladesh, 
Burkina Faso, Nepal, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia  
39.  This special initiative included participants from Bangladesh, Burk ina Faso, Nepal, Senegal, 
Uganda, and Zambia and examined women 's contributions to science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics (STEM) through research and development, education and teaching, leadership, and 
public policy formation. Visitors explored  best practices in the effective recruitment, training, and 
development of women and other underrepresented groups in STEM and learned how they can 
institutionalize opportunities for women in their own countries. The project focused on the advances 
of wome n's employment in STEM fields and addressed how to mentor the next generation.   
3.2.16   IVLP Managing Foreign Aid and Foreign Direct Investment – Cambodia, Malawi, 
Nepal  
40.  Projects on this topic, which included participants from Cambodia, Malawi, and Nepal, explore d 
new and existing development finance avenues and identified best practices in analyzing and 
implementing foreign  aid and foreign direct investment finance options to maximize efficiency  and 
minimize additional costs. Participants learned about recent US efforts to promote a common set of 
global standards for infrastructure lending and investments, explored the underpinnings of the US 
support for transparent and sustainable financing, and examined how the US uses developmental 
finance to advance its foreig n policy interests and enhance its overall global economic 
competitiveness. Participants discussed the US perspective on global financing initiatives initiated 
by other countries. The project incorporated meetings with federal agencies, think tanks, privat e 
finance companies, and donors on the variety of funding options available and on best practices to 
secure economically sustainable development.  
3.2.17   IVLP Mangrove Ecosystem Management and Environmental Protection – 
Democratic Republic of the Congo   
41.  This project, which involved a group of conservation experts from the five Congo Basin countries 
and Nigeria, included participants from DRC. The participants studied best practices of mangrove 
ecosystem management and conservation in the United States to suppo rt the restoration and 
protection of the Central African mangrove ecosystem, which is necessary to help preserve 
biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods, as well as the ecosystem 's critical role in climate change 
adaptation and mitigation policies.  
3.2.18   IVLP Mitigating Challenges in Women 's Health – Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania  
42.  This project included participants from Mozambique, Rwanda, and Tanzania and highlighted 
international partnerships  that promote women 's health awareness, gender equality in health care, 
public health campaigns, and advocacy initiatives by government agencies, NGOs and medical 
associations. Participants examined traditional and innovative approaches to women 's health care 
and wellness, including the emergence of virtual and artificia l intelligence technologies.  
3.2.19   IVLP Promoting Cybersecurity – Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal  
43.  Projects on this topic included participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia and Nepal. Projects 
illustrated the importance of cybersecurity to US economic and national secu rity, highlighted how 
laws and policies  on cybersecurity are made and why they require constant updates to keep up with 
technological evolution. Participants explored initiatives aimed at increasing cybersecurity 
coordination among governmental agencies, t he private sector, and academia. They examined the 
roles and best practices of each sector in preventing and recovering from cyber attacks, educating 
the public, and ensuring that civil liberties are not jeopardized in the process.  
3.2.20   IVLP Renewable Energy as an Economic Driver – Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, 
Zambia  
44.  Projects on this topic included participants from Bangladesh, Malawi, Nepal, and Zambia and 
examined how sustainable energy development fosters global political stability and prosperity. 
Meetings, site visits, and activities highlighted how developing and innovating clean energy 
technologies leads to economic  prosperity, energy matrix modernization, and environmental IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  sustainability. Discussions focused on how renewable energy r esources diversify sources of energy 
supply and allow for greater energy independence. Participants explored US policies; public -private 
partnership programs at the federal, state, and city levels; incubators and innovation hubs that 
support renewable ener gy and grid infrastructure sectors; and how energy innovation can strengthen 
local and regional economies.  
3.2.21   IVLP Science and Technology Entrepreneurship/Innovation Policy – Angola, 
Lao PDR, Nepal  
45.  Projects on these topics included participants from Angola, Lao PDR and Nepal. The projects 
explored models of technology commercialization in the United States and ways to successfully 
transfer scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs to the market. Participants examined 
legal and regulatory framewor ks as well as management and marketing strategies used to assess 
and develop innovations in diverse sectors such as agricultural technology, information and 
telecommunications, biotechnology, health, and advanced manufacturing. They examined initiatives 
and institutional arrangements that connect universities, businesses, industries, and government 
agencies to promote cooperation in research and development and upgrade innovation 
infrastructure.  
3.2.22   IVLP Smart Policy – Applying 21st Century Data Analysis to Pub lic Policy – 
Sierra  Leone  
46.  This project included participants from Sierra Leone and introduced policymakers  to data tools 
from many sources, including open source, geospatial, and in -situ information, as well as to methods 
for policymakers to achieve quanti fiable  objectives. The project addressed how to recognize "good" 
data from "bad" and why data -driven decision -making matters. Participants met practitioners in the 
field who create and curate data  and discussed best practices for interpreting and representing that 
data for policy makers, NGOs, civil society organizations, service providers, and public and private 
sector stakeholders. Participants also explored how data is collected, processed, and analyzed and 
the basic ethical standards behind data collection and use. Visitors discussed data integrity through 
cybersecurity and good data collection and maintenance practices designed to protect against misuse 
and manipulation of information.  
3.2.23   IVLP Sus tainability and the Extractive Industry – Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, 
Uganda  
47.  This project included participants from Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, and Uganda and focused 
on best practices in the extractive industry, including labor protections, envi ronmental regulations, 
transparency in bidding , and profit management. Participants learned about the Foreign Corrupt 
Practices Act as a gold standard to bring transparency in business and governance, and the 
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative a s a global standard for the good governance of oil, 
gas, and mineral resources. The project also addressed indigenous land rights regulations and 
policies that preserve human rights, sustain cultural diversity, protect the environment, and ensure 
collectiv e survival. Participants examined how transparency and accountability help ensure public 
trust, as well as how these same values promote financial stability and economic growth. In addition, 
the project addressed the roles of civil society and the media as  watchdogs and catalysts for the 
creation and maintenance of transparent and accountable government and business practices.  
3.2.24   IVLP The Climate Crisis: Working Together for Future Generations – Burundi, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo , Nepal, Niger, Senegal , Uganda  
48.  This global initiative, which included participants from Burundi, DRC, Nepal, Niger, Senegal, and 
Uganda, brought participants from around the world to share best practices on how to tackle the 
global climate crisis. Participants explored US government programs, non -government strategies, 
and private -sector investments, programs, and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, halt 
and reverse deforestation, pivot to clean energy, and support human and natural populations 
vulnerable to extreme  weather disruptions and longer -term physical changes. Through meetings, 
site visits, and other activities, participants observed innovations in energy and transportation 
systems, discussed strategies for better land and ocean stewardship, explored models for risk 
management and disaster resilient infrastructure, and assessed the role of government and the 
private sector to encourage sustainable livelihoods. Participants also discussed priority areas for IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  international cooperation and practical actions to ra ise awareness of climate change challenges and 
promote public engagement in environmental conservation.  
3.2.25   IVLP Agricultural Trade and Food Safety – Liberia, Uganda  
49.  This project included participants from Liberia and Uganda and examined the intersection of US 
policies on international trade, sustainable agriculture, and consumer health and safety. Participants 
explored how US farmers and ranchers meet the complex economic and environmental challenges 
of providing  affordable, high quality, and safe food produ cts for both domestic consumption and 
international export. The project addressed the political, social, environmental, and economic forces 
that influence US agricultural trade policies and discussed how federal, regional, and local programs 
for agricultur al research, inspection, trade promotion, and resource conservation help ensure 
agricultural competitiveness and food safety in the global marketplace.  
3.2.26   IVLP US. Approaches to Climate Change Challenges – the Gambia, Mauritania  
50.  This project included partici pants from Gambia and Mauritania and assessed US and 
international responses to the significant threats of climate change.  Participants explored US 
governmental programs, non -governmental strategies, and private -sector investments to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions and support vulnerable human and natural populations at greatest risk 
from extreme weather disruptions and longer -term physical changes. Through meetings, site visits, 
and other activities, participants  assessed national, state, and local progres s in the United States 
towards linking scientific research with public support for practical solutions to improving human and 
ecosystem health, assuring adequate food and water supplies, and providing sustainable livelihoods. 
Participants observed innovati ons in energy and transportation systems, discussed strategies for 
better land and ocean stewardship, and explored models for risk management and disaster -resilient 
infrastructure. Participants also discussed priority areas for international cooperation an d practical 
actions to raise awareness of climate change challenges and promote public engagement in 
environmental conservation.  
3.2.27   IVLP Women and Entrepreneurship – Angola, Chad, Democratic Republic of the 
Congo , the Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, Lesotho, Madagasca r, Niger, Uganda  
51.  Projects on this topic included participants from Angola, Chad, DRC, Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, 
Lesotho, Madagascar, Niger, and Uganda. Projects illustrated the impact of women -owned 
businesses on the US economy and explored the progress of w omen in participating more fully in 
the global economy. Participants visited private companies, business incubators, financial 
institutions, schools, and mentorship institutions and discussed the social, economic, and political 
factors that influence and e ncourage women as entrepreneurs and owners or managers of small, 
medium, and large -scale businesses. Participants also examined leadership development, job 
creation, access to capital, marketing, education, and innovation in encouraging entrepreneurship 
in the United States.  
3.2.28   IVLP US Trade Policy – Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo , Tanzania  
52.  This project included participants from Angola, DRC, and Tanzania and explored US and global 
trade interests, policy -making and policy -influencing institutions, a nd the political, economic, social, 
and cultural factors that affect US trade policy. Participants gained insight into the US economic 
system, the domestic economic and political forces that influence US trade policy, and the policy -
making process itself. They examined federal, state, local, and private industry efforts to expand 
open markets and increase American competitiveness in the global marketplace and assessed the 
successes and challenges of free trade agreements.  
3.3  Exchange  Programming from the Department of State 's Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs  
53.  The Department of State 's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) designs and 
implements educational, professional , and cultural excha nge programs that increase mutual 
understanding between people of the United States and the people of other countries 
(see https://eca.state.gov/ ). IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  3.3.1   Additional Programming from ECA  
54.  Through its programs, ECA enables students, exchange alumni, and young adults to pursue 
higher education, leadership, and professional development opportunities globally. The Fulbright 
Program sponsored approximately  8,000 participants in fiscal year (FY) 202 2. These programs 
included participants  in FY 2022 from almost every LDC country.  The students enter the United 
States as non -immigrant exchange visitors ( "J-1"), which make them ineligible to remain in the 
United States after their studies.  Thus, students  participating in these education programs generally 
return to their home countries, thereby bringing back knowledge and training.  
3.4  Regional and Country Programs  
3.4.1   USAID 's Girls Leadership and Empowerment through Education (GLEE) – Mali  
55.  USAID 's Girls Leaders hip and Empowerment through Education (GLEE) activity addresses 
persistent gender gaps in school enrollment partly through the payment of education -related fees 
to locally -based School Management Committees (SMC) via Orange Money, a mobile money service. 
GLEE collects data on the number of girls in partner schools and provides funding to cover 
distribution  of school supplies, hygiene and sanitation materials, classroom furniture, repairs or 
rehabilitation of classrooms and management offices, and installati on of fences to improve school 
security. GLEE promotes transparency in the management of education -related fees that are used 
to implement the SMC 's action plan to promote girls ' education. Mobile transmission of funding also 
provides a level of secure tra nsfer from sender to recipient.  
56.  The GLEE activity started in FY 2018. By June 2023, GLEE:  
a. Established 726 Accelerated Schooling Centers (ASCs) that enrolled 21,745 girls and 4,407 
boys.  
b. Enabled 18,068 girls and 3,698 boys to transition from ASCs into the formal educational 
system and enroll in school.  
c. Ensured retention of an annual average of  26,623 girls in formal primary and secondary 
schools during each of the past five years in the regions of Kayes, Bandiagara, and 
Douentza.  
d. Assisted 7,331 girls to obtain birth certificates legally establishing their age and allowing 
them to re -enter the formal educational system.  
e. Trained 255 women on how to train adolescent girls in the production of reusable sanitary 
pads, allowing girls to miss fewer days of school during menstruation.  
f. Assisted 289 partner schools to establish codes of conduct and ado pt practices that are 
safer and more conducive for girls ' education.  
g. Trained 797 women from 216 women 's groups on income generating activities, allowing 
them to earn money to contribute towards girls ' education in their communities.  
h. Created a network of 289 community -based mentors who regularly conducted sessions on 
girls' education, early marriage prevention, leadership, communication, and reproductive 
health and family planning.  
3.4.2   Learn to Read – Lao PDR  
57.  USAID through Learn to Read and a UNICEF partnersh ip supported the development and 
promotion of a digital and blended Teaching and Learning Platform , titled Khang Panya Lao (in Lao 
ຄ ັ ງປ ັ ນຍາລາວ  and in English Lao Wisdom Warehouse ). Khang Panya Lao is a tech platform for  digital 
curricula content and learni ng resources for students and teachers, including reading promotion 
materials such as the 51 titles of storybooks that Learn to Read developed for pre -primary and 
Grades 1 -2 students, as well as the early childhood development television series "My House " 
seasons 2 and 3. It provides access to storybooks and decodable readers, digitized  official curriculum IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  textbooks with interactive quizzes, and interactive international resources available in both Lao and 
English that promote STEM learning for early childhood education  and Grades 1 -12 school children. 
This digital platform can be accessed via a web browser for use online , on mobile devices , and offline 
by downloading content onto USBs.  The Learn to Read project  started in August 2018 and the 
UNICEF partnership started in April 2022; both programs are  ongoing and on track in 2023.  
3.4.3   The Renforcement de la Lect ure Initiale pour Tous (RELIT) - Senegal  
58.  RELIT activity has digitized  certain teaching and learning materials to facilitate distribution and 
to utilize multimedia to improve learning in national languages and French as a second language.  
59.  RELIT has also de veloped a contract with the mobile money provider and fin -tech company 
Wave to facilitate the payment  of teacher per diems and other remunerations in the remote areas 
of Tambacounda and Kedougou. This has increased efficiency and decreased errors in per di em 
payments.  
60.  RELIT will also develop and implement an online learning system for student teachers. RELIT 
will organize a broad consultation with local experts in e -learning and the structures of the Ministry 
that intervene in the field of information techn ology. The consultation will focus on the possibility of 
training in -service and pre -service teachers in national languages. RELIT will support Service 
Informatique du Ministère de l 'Education Nationale in designing a platform for training that hosts 
learning resources (documents, presentations, video or audio, interactive e -lessons), learning tools 
(memos, glossaries, decision support system), modalities of e -tutoring, e -coaching, e -mentoring 
(personalized support and feedback), collaboration features (onl ine discussion, collaboration 
between learners). RELIT will also help establish a national technical team to include graphic 
designers, pedagogical experts, web developers or multimedia creators, facilitators or online tutors, 
and technical support special ists. 
3.4.4   Jifunze Uelewe – Tanzania  
61.  The purpose of the Jifunze Uelewe ( "Learn and Understand ") activity is to sustainably improve 
learning outcomes in literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional learning for all pre -primary up to 
Grade 4 learners in five targ et regions in Tanzania in FY 2023. This activity supports the adoption 
and implementation of policies and strategies to:  
a. build on the gains of the USAID -funded Tusome Pamoja and Arithmetic and Inclusive 
Education activities to sustainably improve literacy  and math skills;  
b. scale-up the recently piloted pre -primary academic school readiness model in the Iringa, 
Morogoro, Mtwara, Ruvuma, and Zanzibar regions; and  
c. develop an inclusive education model that includes screening, referrals and classroom 
integrati on of deaf and blind students.  
62.  Working closely with Government of Tanzania actors within the education sector in Tanzania, 
Jifunze Uelewe has achieved system -level uptake of our tools, materials, and frameworks. Jifunze 
Uelewe also supports the Ministry o f Education, Science, and Technology (MOEST), Ministry of 
Education and Vocational Training (MOEVT), Department of Information and Communication 
Technology (ICT), and Department of Education Management Information  System (EMIS) to 
effectively use the newly  developed School Information System (SIS) – a tablet -based education 
management system developed with USAID support.  
63.  Jifunze Uelewe is committed to the success of its education management system. The SIS is 
not just a data entry platform, it is a workflow  management system that guides interactions for and 
between schools, communities , districts, teacher centers, and Ministries to enable a data -driven 
planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning environment. Begun in April 2021, the activity 
continues unt il October 2025.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  3.4.4.1   Praise from Government Officials  
64.  "Given the pressing need for quality and timely data for decision making at different levels, the 
government is fully committed to resourcing the system with the right technicians and a strong 
server " – Director of ICT, Policy and Planning, MOEVT.  
4  COMMERCIAL  AND LEGAL PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY  
65.  US agencies such as the Commercial Law Development Program, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, and others provide commercial law technical assistanc e to the governments and 
private  sectors of developing and transitional countries. The programs are demand -driven and 
customized to address priority issues in countries ' business climates. The programs help improve 
the commercial, legal, and regulatory env ironments to attract foreign investment and promote 
private sector -led growth and technology transfer.  
4.1  Building Resilient Communities  in Solomon Islands  
66.  In fiscal year 2023, USAID continues to support the International Federation of the Red Cross 
and Red Crescent (IFRC) to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities in the Solomon Islands 
and expand the ability of the Solomon Island Red Cross Society  (SIRCS) to support disaster risk 
management and community -based health programs. The program aims to empower government 
agencies and targeted communities to assess and manage risks by conducting participatory capacity 
and vulnerability assessments, establ ishing village disaster response committees, and developing 
community action plans. Additionally, IFRC is supporting simulation exercises, training community 
members in first aid and hygiene best practices and supporting the creation of community -based 
early warning systems.  
67.  On June 10, 2023, SIRCS marked its 40th anniversary in Honiara with the theme "Celebrating 
40 years of humanitarian  service to vulnerable people in Solomon Islands. " 
4.2  People to People Peacebuilding  Activity – Central African Republic  
68.   USAID is building capacity in Central African Republic communities to build and maintain peace 
within and across identity lines. Responding to increasing armed groups, interreligious and other 
intercommunal  violence, the activity reinforces and leverages ex isting peacebuilding efforts. Youth 
peacebuilders implement peace education initiatives and are supported by Village Savings and Loans 
Associations and vocational training. The activity  trains community members in savings and 
entrepreneurial skills to mana ge their financial affairs and build socioeconomic networks. The activity 
also targets local news organizations and the youth associations.  The activity is focused in 14 
communities in the southern east of CAR.  Here are some of the project achievements:  
a. Contributed to the formalization of 177 youth associations in Mbomou and 68 in Haut 
Mbomou.  
b. Trained the trainers of 10 partner staff in social cohesion and the fight against hate speech.  
c. Trained 420 young peace ambassadors in the 14 target communities to p romote peace.  
d. Helped the youth peace ambassadors develop 14 action plans in the 14 target 
communities.  
e. Trained 60 youth leaders in Bangassou on community leadership.  
f. Set up and trained 28 groups of mediators composed of community leaders.  
4.3  USAID/Yemen Ec onomic Recovery and Livelihoods Program (ERLP) – Yemen  
69.  The USAID/Yemen Economic Recovery and Livelihoods Program (ERLP) aims to improve 
Yemen 's economy, which has been undermined due to ongoing conflict. ERLP achieves this by 
building the capacity of key R epublic of Yemen Government institutions – including the Central Bank 
of Yemen (CBY), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Customs Authority, and port authorities – and improving IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  the performance of the agricultural and fisheries sectors. This program also strengthen s small and 
medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) to raise household incomes directly.  
70.  USAID has supported technology transfer to the Yemeni government by providing subject 
matter experts to Yemen for hands -on technical and capacity development support. Due to USAID 's 
limited budget, instead of procuring IT, USAID -funded consultants provide the technical assistance 
to ensure that IT is procured based on sound request -for-proposal (RFP) best practices and installed 
and implemented effectively through trained loca l staff. Areas of note during FY 2023 included:  
a. Technical training of staff to coincide with procuring and installing a Debt Management 
and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS 6) debt tracking/monitoring system for the Central 
Bank of Yemen (UNCTAD -purchased ). Training was provided via multiple workshops 
through the end of 2022.  
b. Technical training of staff to coincide with the procurement and installation of a modern 
Vessel Traffic Management Information System (VTMIS) and automatic identification 
system (AIS ) transponder (both UNDP -purchased) in October 2022. In March 2023, 
USAID -funded experts supported the Aden Port in developing new procedures to improve 
the accuracy and timeliness of electronic data provided by shipping agents regarding ship 
arrivals.  
c. Completion of a formal RFPs for a new Integrated Financial Management Information 
System (IFMS) to support budget preparation and execution, fixed asset, human 
resources, and payroll management for the Ministry of Finance in October 2022.  
d. Completion of an RFP  for a Real -Time Gross Settlement/Automated Clearing House 
(RTGS/ACH) payment system for the CBY in February 2023. USAID is coordinating with 
the World Bank for possible funding.  
e. Completion of an RFP for a new tax information processing system with the Ta x Authority 
in January 2023.  
f. Technical training of staff to coincide with procuring and installing a new server for the 
Tax Authority 's Tax Registration System in May 2023.  
g. Supporting the Yemen Customs Authority in identifying and mobilizing potential fi nancing 
operations for installing and operating a modern Automated System for Customs Data 
(ASYCUDA) World system and a basic e -Single Window at the Port of Aden.  
5  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION (IPR) AND ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY 
BUILDING   
71.  US agencies, including the Department of State, the Department of Commerce 's International 
Trade Administration (ITA) (see http://www.trade.gov ) and US Patent and Trademark Office 
(USPTO) (see http://www.uspto.gov ), the Department  of Homeland Security (DHS), and others, 
deliver IPR technical  assistance programs to LDCs to strengthen IPR systems and thus increase the 
likelihood of foreign direct investment (FDI).  
5.1  USPTO Training and Technical Assistance Collaboration with International 
Organizations  
72.  USPTO offers training and technical assistance on IPR protection and enforcement to many 
countries, including  LDCs. USPTO supports the LDC assistance efforts of international organizations 
such as with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and  the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO). For example, USPTO works with WIPO on its Re:Search  and WIPO Green 
programs, to promote access to IPR and technical know -how for relevant policy concerns, including 
neglected tropical diseases and envir onmentally -friendly technologies 
(see http://www.wipo.int/research/en/  and https://webaccess.wipo.int/green/ ). USPTO  also 
collaborates with ASEAN on Intellectual Property Capacity -Building Programs, covering all areas of 
IP, in which LDCs participate.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  5.1.1   USPTO Global Intellectual Property  Academy (GIPA)  
73.  USPTO provides IPR training at its state -of-the-art GIPA in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, and 
throughout the world. USPTO delivers targeted training to foreign IP office administrators, 
examiners, judges, prosecutors , customs officers, and other government and law enforcement 
officials. Additional support is provided by IP Attaché Officers around the world and the DC -based IP 
interagency. For more information about GIPA, see www.uspto.gov/gipa . 
74.  In FY 2023 GIPA conducted more than 105 training, technical assistance, and capacity building 
programs for 110 different countries , including developing countries and LDCs. Among these efforts, 
programming was provided for 20 LDC countries. These countries included: Bangladesh, Benin, 
Bhutan, Myanmar , Cambodia, Djibouti, the Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, 
Mozambique, Nepal, Tanzania, Timor -Leste, Togo , Tuvalu, Uganda, and Zambia.  
75.  In October 2022, the USPTO hosted an Indo -Pacific Regional Workshop on Handling, Storage, 
Disposal and Destruction of Counterfeit Goods in Bangkok, Thailand, that was attended by officials 
from Myanmar , Cambodia, Kiribati, La o PDR, and Timor -Leste.  
76.  In November 2022, the USPTO held an on -line program entitled Smart Shopping Sensitization 
– Public and Private Approaches to Educating the Public on the Dangers that was attended by officials 
from Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Gambia, and Uganda.  
77.  In February 2023, officials from Djibouti, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, and Togo attended a 
Countering Illicit Trade Amid Expanding Trade Infrastructure Investments program held at USPTO 
Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. Also in F ebruary 2023, the USPTO hosted an IP Office 
Administration Program: Best Practices and USPTO Experience in Trademarks held at USPTO 
Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, that was attended by officials from Bhutan, Cambodia, 
Lao PDR, Nepal, and Tuvalu.  
78.  In May 2023, the USPTO hosted a South Asia Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights 
Investigative Methods in Kathmandu, Nepal that was attended by officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, 
and Nepal.  
79.  In June 2023, the USPTO and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of 
Plants (UPOV) co -hosted a UPOV Train the Trainers Program in Geneva, Switzerland, that was 
attended by officials from Benin, Lao  PDR, and Tanzania.  
5.1.2   USPTO IP e -Learning Modules  
80.  In FY 2022, GIPA continued its decade -long co mmitment to produce on -demand content 
through distance -learning modules on the USPTO website. These modules are available in five 
languages and cover six different areas of IP protection. In addition, self -study materials —including 
recordings of events, tr aining slides, and IP toolkits —were updated for asynchronous learning.  
81.  This on -demand content collectively has drawn more than 203,846 unique views, with the most 
recent videos covering patents and trade secrets receiving a combined 67,880 views.  
5.1.3   USPTO Int ellectual Property Attaché Training and Technical Assistance  
82.  USPTO imbeds IP Attachés at select US embassies and consulates around the world. These 
Attachés work with host governments, academia, advocacy groups, international organizations, non -
governmenta l organizations (NGOs), and the private sector to provide IPR technical assistance and 
capacity building programs. Programs have focused on IPR enforcement, as well as patent, 
trademark, and copyright policy engagement and best practices (see 
http://www.uspto.gov/ip/global/attache/index.jsp ). A full list of USPTO IP Attachés is available at 
https: //www.uspto.gov/ip -policy/ip -attache -program .  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  5.2  Global Cybercrime, IPR, and Cybercrime Foreign Law Enforcement Training and 
Technical Assistance Initiative   
83.  A USD 15 million US Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement Affairs (INL) centrally funded and managed, DOJ and DHS -implemented, cybercrime 
and IPR training program is administered cooperatively by INL, the DOJ Office of Overseas 
Prosecutor ial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT), the DOJ Computer Crime and 
Intellectual Property Section and the DHS National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. 
This centrally managed funding supplements existing bilateral rule of law progr ams to specifically 
build the capacity of partner foreign law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime and IPR crime. 
These programs operate as part of the US Transnational and High -Tech Crime Global Law 
Enforcement Network (GLEN), which features: DOJ Int ernational Computer Hacking and Intellectual 
Property Law Enforcement Advisors (ICHIPs); DOJ Global Cyber Forensics  Advisors; and long -term 
federal agent mentors. Under the framework of the GLEN, DOJ and DHS coordinate closely with the 
US Patent and Tradem ark Office (USPTO), which also receives INL funding designed to complement 
the GLEN, in order to develop and deliver IPR and computer crime investigative, prosecutorial, 
judicial, and customs and border enforcement training and technical assistance to fore ign partners 
to improve their capacity to cooperate with US law enforcement in matters involving transnational 
organized crime.  
5.3  IPR Enforcement Coordination  
5.3.1   National IPR Coordination Center (IPR Center)  
84.   The US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) -led Na tional Intellectual Property Rights 
Coordination Center (IPR Center) works to protect public health and safety and the US economy, 
and to stop predatory  and illegal trade practices that threaten the global economy. The IPR Center 
brings together nearly 30 partner agencies and organizations, including 20 federal agencies and five 
international partners including INTERPOL, Europol, the governments of Canada and Mexico and the 
City of London Police in a task force setting. The task force structure enables the IPR Center to 
effectively leverage the resources, skills, and authorities of each partner and provide a 
comprehensive response to IP theft and trade law violations (see https://www.iprcenter.gov/ ). The 
IPR Center 's Operation Joint Venture trains domestic and international law enforcement to build 
strong enforcement capabilities. The IPR Center, through the financial support of the Department of 
State 's Bureau of International Narcot ics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), provides IPR 
enforcement capacity building training to many countries, including LDCs.  
85.  The IPR Center works closely with partner USG agencies, overseas Attachés, and US embassies 
to deliver training and support capaci ty building efforts across the globe. In FY 2022, the IPR Center  
participated in twelve international trainings in support of country specific and regional programs 
funded by INL. More than 170 customs, police, and prosecutors attended the training program s. The 
effects of the COVID -19 pandemic continued to have significant impacts on the IPR Center 's 
international training activities in the field, forcing IPR Center leadership to condense and move 
many of these programs to virtual platforms. Despite the im pacts of the global pandemic, the IPR 
Center hosted and/or co -hosted three Regional IPR Enforcement Workshops. These workshops were 
held in Jakarta, Indonesia (January 2023); Swakopmund, Namibia (March 2023); and Kathmandu, 
Nepal (May 2023); and included c ustoms officials, police officers, and judiciary from Bhutan, 
Botswana, India, Indonesia, Malawi, the Maldives, Namibia, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and 
Zambia. DOJ, CBP, USPTO, GSA, DOD, FDA, and private sector partners supported these workshops, 
which were focused on interdictions, investigations, and enforcement operations related to IP crime. 
The workshops emphasized the health and safety issues related to IP and global trade violations, 
their connection to transnational crime, and the need for broa der cooperation between countries and 
agencies to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.  
86.  In FY 2023, the IPR Center also supported DOJ/ICHIP (International Computer Hacking and 
Intellectual Property Advisors and USPTO -led workshops he ld for foreign counterparts in Argentina, 
Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, 
Ecuador, the Gambia,  Ghana, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, 
Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay , Peru, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leon e, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, 
Türkiye , Ukraine, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan, among others.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  87.  In FY 2023, the IPR Center deployed the first IP -focused ICHIP Agent Advisor to Bangkok, 
Thailand. The purpose of this position is to  support the existing ICHIP network, with specific focus 
on the areas of responsibility for the ICHIP Attorney Advisors stationed in Hong Kong,  China;  
Bangkok ; and Kuala Lumpur. Through this initiative, the USG seeks to foster the development of 
foreign pa rtner law enforcement and border enforcement officials/units capacity to conduct effective 
investigations of IP crime and cyber/cyber -enabled crime – including establishing, where needed, 
new authorities, laws, policies, and procedures, in accordance with internationally recognized 
standards for rule of law and human rights.  
88.  The ICHIP Agent works within the GLEN to build capacity for foreign law enforcement 
counterparts, including investigators, police, and prosecutors, policy officials and lawmakers. This  is 
accomplished through practical technical training and case -based mentoring focused on to effectively 
interdict, investigate and prosecute intellectual property rights crime and related cybercrime in order 
to protect US national and economic security fr om transnational organized crime threats; and to 
deliver the technical skills and resources to targeted countries to interdict and investigate intellectual 
property rights crimes and obtain and preserve evidence at trial.  
5.3.2   STOPFakes.gov  
89.  The US Department of  Commerce 's International Trade Administration 's Office of Standards and 
Intellectual Property (OSIP) manages and leads the STOPfakes.gov inter -agency program, including 
creating  resources for the STOPfakes website ( http://www.stopfakes.gov/ ). The STOPfakes website 
includes industry sector toolkits focused on IP, which provide guidance to US. companies seeking to 
acquire, use, and protect copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets in overseas markets. 
Over the last year, the  STOPfakes p rogram published a new Clean Technology Intellectual Property 
Industry Toolkit for businesses. Additionally, the STOPfakes website includes 79 IP Snapshots which 
provide IP information about a foreign country, as well as numerous country IP toolkits with d etailed 
insight focused on IP protections in foreign markets including LDCs such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, 
and Ethiopia. The STOPfakes Roadshows and webinars are designed to assist businesses with IP 
outreach and education, including the dangers presented by counterfeits. The STOPfakes team has 
resumed in -person Roadshows in 2023 for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. The 
Roadshows bring together interagency partners to provide critical IP information to US businesses 
in their region of ope ration.  
90.  OSIP provides IP business guidance and insight for entities as they seek to expand their 
opportunities for exporting. Further, OSIP participated as a panelist on webinars and at trade shows, 
including ITA 's Select  USA conference and the Consumer E lectronics Show for businesses and 
consumers , providing IP information to a variety of audiences.  
6  TRADE AND INVESTMENT  POLICY, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND INCENTIVES  
91.  Because most technology is developed and owned by the private sector, technology transfers 
are often private sector decisions . Technology transfer should not be required as a precondition for 
investment.  
6.1   Investment and Trade Policy Negotiations  
92.  US bilate ral and multilateral free trade agreements  aim to improve the protection and 
enforcement of IP, thereby improving environments for foreign investment and technology transfer 
often associated therewith.  
6.2  Bilateral Investment  Treaties  
93.  US bilateral investment treaties (BITs) establish a framework of reciprocal protections that 
include the free transfer of investment -related funds, investor -state dispute arbitration rights, 
limitations on specified performance requirements , non-discriminatory treatment, protecti on against 
expropriation, and transparency in governance. These treaties improve the climate for FDI in partner 
countries that can lead to the transfer of technology and know -how. To date, the United States has 
signed five BITs with WTO Member LDCs: Bangla desh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  6.3  Trade and Investment Framework  Agreements  
94.  US Trade Representative -negotiated Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) 
enhance trade relations between the United States and o ther countries. Over the last several years, 
the United States has launched 12 trade and investment agreements in Sub -Saharan Africa, 
including three bilateral TIFAs with LDCs: Angola, Liberia, Mozambique, and Rwanda. Additionally, 
the United States has la unched regional TIFAs with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern 
Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of West African States 
(ECOWAS), and West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA); and a Trade, Investment, 
and Development Cooperative Agreement with the five countries of the Southern African Customs 
Union (SACU). The United States also has bilateral agreements with several LDCs outside of Sub -
Saharan Africa, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar , Cambodia, L ao PDR, and Nepal, as 
well as with ASEAN and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Together, these agreements cover 
30 WTO LDC Members: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Myanmar , Burundi, 
Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibout i, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, 
Lao PDR, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra 
Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, and Zambia (see https://ustr.gov/trade -agreements/trade -
investment -framework -agreements/ ).  
95.  The United States views trade as an effective means to enco urage broad -based economic 
development. Trade constitutes an important means of sustaining momentum for economic reform 
and liberalization. It affords developing countries access to technologies  that would otherwise be 
difficult to obtain, and simultaneous ly opens new market opportunities for US companies.  
6.4  Trade Preference Programs  
6.4.1   US Generalized System of Preferences Program  
96.  The US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, established in 1976, promotes 
economic development by providing duty -free acc ess to the US market for a wide range of products 
from developing countries. GSP promotes sustainable development in beneficiary countries via trade 
with the United States. The program is periodically re -authorized by Congress and has lapsed as of 
31 Decem ber 2020. GSP benefited 119 developing countries and territories during 
October -December 2020 and provided special, additional benefits for products from 
31 least-developed WTO Member beneficiary countries. Nearly 5,000 types of products were eligible 
for duty-free treatment under GSP, including most manufactured products (except apparel and 
footwear), agricultural and fishery products, consumer products, chemicals, minerals, and building 
materials (see https://ustr.gov/issue -areas/trade -development/preference -programs/generalized -
system -preference -gsp). 
6.4.2   African Growth and Opportunity Act  
97.  The African Growth an d Opportunity Act (AGOA) expands US-Africa trade and investment, by 
promoting open markets, stimulating economic growth, and encouraging sub -Saharan Africa 's 
integration into the global economy, while supporting progress toward good governance, poverty  
reduction, and respect for human rights through its eligibility criteria. Since the enactment of AGOA 
in May 2000, the United States has worked closely with African governments, the private sector, 
and civil society stakeholders to help them make the most of AGOA 's trade benefits. In 2015, the 
US Congress renewed the AGOA legislation through 2025 (its longest extension period to date). The 
US government has actively promoted AGOA throughout Africa, developing trade capacity -building 
programs to help African go vernments and both African and US firms to identify and develop new 
market opportunities through AGOA (see https://agoa.info/about -agoa/ ). As of January 2023, 
35 countries are eligible for AGOA:  Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, 
Chad, Comoros, Cote d 'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo , Djibouti, Eswatini, Gabon, the 
Gamb ia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda (limited benefits), Sao Tome & 
Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambi a. IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  6.4.3   Programming from the US Trade and Development Agency  
98.  The US Trade and Development Agency ( USTDA ) helps companies create US jobs through the 
export of US goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA 
links US busine sses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building 
activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries. 
USTDA achieves its mission by funding feasibility studies, technical as sistance and pilot projects that 
integrate US private sector innovation into infrastructure projects at the critical early stages when 
design choices and technology options are determined. The Agency also connects overseas project 
sponsors with US partners  through its reverse trade missions, industry conferences and expert 
workshops.  
99.  Recognizing the importance of trade to the economic growth of LDCs, USTDA works closely with 
its US government partners, as well as regional and multilateral development banks,  to develop 
trade capacity and apply private -sector solutions to development challenges around the world. As of 
June 22, 2023, USTDA has obligated USD 587,191 in appropriated funds in FY 2023 to support 
assistance activities that enhance increased trade an d investment in LDCs.  
6.5  USTDA Reverse Trade Missions  - FY 2023  
100.  Another example of USTDA 's commitment to promoting and encouraging technology transfer 
to LDCs is through reverse trade missions (RTMs). RTMs bring key foreign decision makers to the 
United State s to observe the design, manufacture, and operation of US equipment and technologies 
in advance of major procurements. For example, in FY 2020, USTDA approved funding for an RTM 
of delegates from Bangladeshi entities responsible for the development and mai ntenance of the 
country 's inland waterways and water resources. This complements the Bangladeshi government 's 
existing plans, and the RTM will familiarize delegates with the best practices and advanced  
technologies of US firms for dredging and inland water way management. This activity has been 
paused during the COVID -19 pandemic and restart ed in August 2022. In FY 2021, USTDA approved 
funding for an RTM of delegates from Senegalese and Nigerian entities to support the development 
of and access to healthcare  infrastructure and services. The objective of the RTM is to connect public 
and private healthcare institutions from Senegal and other Sub -Saharan African countries to US best 
practices, solutions, and services in the healthcare sector, with a focus on hea lth IT, hospital 
infrastructure, and medical devices. In FY 2022 -2023, USTDA conducted the following RTMs 
involving LDCs . 
6.5.1   Regional Indo -Pacific Airport Checkpoint Design Reverse Trade Mission  
101.  This RTM took place November 1 –10, 2022, and brought aviation security officials and airport 
representatives from seven Indo -Pacific countries, including Bangladesh, to the United States to 
attend the Transportation Security Administration International De sign Symposium. The RTM 
familiarized delegates  with TSA airport checkpoint design requirements and best practices and 
introduced delegates to US aviation security technologies.  
6.5.2   East and Southern Africa Airport Modernization Reverse Trade Mission  
102.  This RTM t ook place 26 February to 3 March 2023, and connected aviation sector 
representatives from Sub -Saharan Africa, including delegates from Tanzania and Mozambique, with 
US companies seeking to provide aviation equipment, services, and light aircraft to the Sub -Saharan 
Africa market. The RTM was designed to support airport development, modernization, and 
management objectives at the delegates ' organizations.  
6.5.3   Bridging the Digital Divide in Southern Africa Reverse Trade Mission (RTM)  
103.  This RTM took place 12-18 March 2023, and familiarized public and private sector 
representatives from Southern Africa, including Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique, with the latest 
US technologies, services, and financing solutions for last -mile connectivity. The RTM highlighted 
the critic al role that last -mile connectivity plays in expanding internet access and accelerating digital 
transformation across the sub -region in support of bridging the digital divide.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  6.6  Country Projects   
6.6.1   USAID Innovations for Social Accountability in Cambodia (ISAC) Activity  
104.  The ISAC activity uses technology to expand and enhance citizen engagement on issues of 
pressing concern for the Cambodian public through increased access to credible information, 
strengthens coalitions for collective actions, improves  evidence -based policy analysis and dialogue, 
and develops effective social accountability tools using cutting edge information and communications 
technologies (ICT) in order to provide citizens with aven ues in which to hold the Cambodian 
government accountable. ISAC has four objectives:  
a. Improved information access to government decisions and processes, and the planning, 
spending, and investment of public funds;  
b. Increased citizen participation and collect ive initiative to increase accountability for public 
services;  
c. Increased utilization of new or existing technologies, enabling citizen engagement to 
increase accountability for public services;  
d. Education and outreach to raise awareness of accountability and integrity in public 
Administration.  
105.  ISAC supported its seven local implementation partners to customize and roll out digital  tools 
and create digital content to improve citizen engagement and knowledge on social accountability. 
With ISAC 's support, the  implementation partners introduced digital tools into their activities to do 
online Information for Citizens (I4C) dissemination and meetings, especially during the COVID -19 
pandemic , which restricted large gatherings of people and traveling. Thousands of  citizens learned 
about civic rights, standard services, and local government performance and budget in the areas of 
primary school education, health centers, and Sangkat administration from these digital tools. 
Moreover, citizens lodged complaints about p ublic services directly in these digital tools for local 
authorities to address. ISAC saw an increase in the user uptake of the digital tools as citizen 
confidence in the tools rose.  
6.6.2   USAID Promoting Advocacy and Rights – Bangladesh  
106.  The USAID -supported Promoting Advocacy and Rights (PAR) activity helps civil society address 
challenges they face in the digital space and strengthen civil society 's ability to reinforce broader 
democratic values and institutions that help support political pl uralism and the rule of law. Select 
Bangladeshi civil society organizations (CSOs) and five PAR grantees are anticipated to receive 
advanced information, digital safety tools such as software installation support, a user -friendly 
manual on the Digital Security Act, and necessary skills to navigate through the digital space. As a 
result, CSOs and grantees that received PAR support will be able to roll out training knowledge to 
vulnerable populations such as women 's groups, gender minorities and other margina lized 
populations. These interventions benefit from collaboration with the USAID 's Greater Internet 
Freedom (GIF) Project and USAID 's Illuminating New Solutions and Programmatic Innovations for 
Resilient Spaces (INSPIRES) project. In FY 2022, the PAR activ ity organized two events on navigating 
the Digital Security Act with media, CSO practitioners, and lawyers/prosecutors.  In 2022, USAID 
supported Bangladesh 's Ministry of Home Affairs to revise and extend the current National Plan of 
Action to Combat Human Trafficking to 2025, incorporating needs and priorities that emerged during 
the COVID -19 pandemic. USAID programs provided training to more than 11,000 political party 
leaders and activists in democratic values, communication techniques, and political part y building.  
With USAID assistance, 10 new labor unions successfully registered with the GOB, helping them to 
better advocate for more than 40,000 workers ( https://www.usai d.gov/bangladesh/democracy -
human -rights -and-governance ). 
6.6.3   USTDA Central Bank of the Solomon Islands Information and Communications 
Technology (ICT) Modernization Roadmap – Solomon Islands  
107.  In FY 2021, USTDA funded a technic al assistance grant  for the Central Bank of the Solomon 
Islands (CBSI) to develop a roadmap for the modernization of its ICT infrastructure. The technical IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  assistance will identify upgrades to CBSI 's existing ICT infrastructure and develop specifications an d 
an implementation plan for deploying new banking applications that will improve the central bank 's 
operations. IOS Partners, Inc. (Coral Gables, FL) was competitively selected to conduct the technical 
assistance. The technical assistance is underway in 2 023.  
7  DEVELOPMENT  PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR MODELS  
108.  Through the use of the public -private partnership (PPP) model, US development agencies have 
gained additional financial resources for development activities, as well as new technologies, 
intellectual capital, and technical and managerial expertise that address emerging development 
challenges.  
7.1  Development Assistance Prog ramming from the Millennium Challenge Corporation 
(MCC)  
109.  The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a US government corporation that forms 
partnerships with some of the world 's poorest countries, but only those committed to good 
governance, economic free dom, and investments in their citizens. MCC provides countries with 
large-scale grants to fund country -led solutions for achieving its mission of reducing poverty through 
sustainable economic growth. MCC has approved over USD 15 billion in compact and thre shold 
programs worldwide that support projects in energy, agriculture and irrigation, anticorruption, 
business environment improvements, education, health, enterprise development, finance, land 
rights, trade  and transport, and water supply and sanitation i nitiatives. MCC is currently 
implementing compact or threshold programs with nine WTO LDC Members: Benin, Lesotho, Malawi, 
Nepal, Niger, Senegal, Solomon Islands, the Gambia, and Togo. Currently, MCC is developing new 
programs with Mauritania, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. The MCC Board of Directors 
selected Solomon Islands for Threshold Program assistance in December 2018. On 22 January 2022, 
MCC and the Government of Solomon Islands signed the MCC -Solomon Islands Threshold Program 
Grant Agreement,  formalizing a partnership that aims to encourage sustainable development and 
alleviate poverty. The USD 20 million investment will work to yield economic growth in the natural 
resource management and tourism sectors. The program is ongoing in 2023.  
7.1.1   MCC To go Threshold Program  
110.  MCC's Togo Threshold Program entered into force in November 2020 and includes a 
USD 20.5 million Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Project designed to improve 
citizens ' access to high quality and affordable ICT services —both mobile phone services and 
internet—by encouraging private sector investment, developing an independent regulatory regime, 
expanding service to underserved areas, and increasing the use of ICT among women and small 
businesses. The program is ongoing in 2 023. 
7.1.2   MCC Power Compact – Burkina Faso  
111.  The Government of Burkina Faso signed the five -year, USD 500 million Burkina Faso II Power 
Compact on 13 August 2020. The compact is designed to address the high cost, low quality, and 
limited access to electricity. Th e compact consists of three related projects that also align with the 
Government 's national socio -economic development priorities, and collectively contribute to 
increasing the supply and quality of, and expanding access to and the consumption of, cost -effective 
electricity. The Strengthening Electricity  Sector Effectiveness Project focuses on energy sector 
reforms and capacity building of key state actors in the sector. The other two projects aim to make 
improvements to energy infrastructure: The Cost -Effective and Reliable Electricity Supply Project 
(Supply Project), and the Grid Development and Access Project. The Supply Project will support 
activities to facilitate new solar Independent Power Producer (IPP) deals, targeted infrastructure 
improvements and  equipment to improve reliability, and new equipment and studies to foster 
improved regional integration for electricity imports. The Grid Development and Access Project 
supports transmission and distribution infrastructure in and between Ouagadougou and 
Bobo-Dioulasso (which account for more than 80 % of total electricity consumed in Burkina Faso), 
as well as activities to facilitate new electricity connections for households, business, and social 
institutions and to increase productive uses of electricity.  On 31 March 2022, the MCC Board of 
Directors voted to suspend MCC 's assistance to Burkina Faso as a result of the country 's recent coup 
d'état. IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  7.1.3   MCC Niger Compact  
112.  The five -year, USD 437 million Niger Compact entered into force on 26 January 2018, and will  
complete in January 2024 due to a one -year extension granted by Congress given the extenuating 
circumstances due to the COVID -19 pandemic. The compact addresses two major constraints to 
economic growth and investment in Niger: lack of access to water for productive uses, and physical 
access and institutional barriers to trade. In partnership with the government of Niger, the compact 
is increasing rural incomes by improving the sustainable, productive use of natural resources for 
agricultural production and  improving trade and market access for agricultural products. The 
compact is expected to benefit approximately 3.9 million people. In February 2019, Radar 
Technologies International (RTI), in partnership with representatives from the University of Nevada 
Las Vegas (UNLV), contracted with Millennium Challenge Account – Niger (MCA -Niger) to conduct a 
remote sensing and hydrological analysis of 260,000 km2 of Niger 's ground water basin. The purpose 
of this work was to map out aquifer recharge potential across the study area and to develop models 
to verify those findings and demonstrate their sustainable rate of use. MCA -Niger coordinated the 
technical oversight of these studies through a working group comprised of experts from ministries, 
unive rsities, and the private sector responsible for managing Niger 's groundwater resources. This 
same working group will benefit from formal technical training led by UNLV representatives over the 
course of the coming year to ensure that the results and underl ying science of these complex studies 
are fully understood and appropriately integrated into Niger 's groundwater management planning 
and policies.  
113.  On 24 August 2023, the MCC paused compact activities in Niger due to concerns regarding the 
Nigerien military 's actions against the democratically -elected government of Niger. These actions 
are contrary to the principles of democratic governance and the rule of law that underpin MCC 's 
fundamental eligibility criteria. All MCC partner countries are expected to dem onstrate an ongoing 
commitment to these principles. If a partner fails to do so, there can be serious consequences for 
the partnership and funding ( MCC P auses Compact Activities in Niger | Millennium Challenge 
Corporation ). 
7.1.4   MCC Power Compact – Senegal   
114.  The five -year, USD 550 million Senegal Power Compact entered into force on 
9 September  2021. The compact is designed to strengthen Senegal 's power sector, by increasing 
reliability and access to electricity, and aims to help the Government of Senegal estab lish a modern 
and efficient foundation upon which the nation 's power system can grow. One project supports 
energy sector policy and institutional and regulatory reform through robust sectoral training and 
technical assistance programs, as well as through a  performance incentive program which will 
employ a results -based financing approach. The compact also allows for an upgrade of the 
high-voltage transmission network in and around Dakar through a second project, allowing for 
deployment of grid stabilization  technology and installation of what is expected to be the longest 
subsea electric cable in Senegal. Another project will benefit the energy sector through the expansion 
of rural electricity access through distribution network upgrades and enhancements to consumer -
side elements. Ensuring consistent and affordable access to energy in Senegal will allow businesses 
to grow, catalyze private sector investment, increase productivity and employment, and ultimately 
support diversification and growth of Senegal 's economy. The program is ongoing in 2023.  
7.1.5   MCC Health and Horticulture Compact – Lesotho  
115.   The USD 300 million Lesotho compact was signed on 12 May 2022. It is comprised of four 
projects designed to combat constraints to economic growth by strengthening  private sector 
participation and improving government coordination, planning, and execution. The Health Systems 
Strengthening Project aims to strengthen the delivery of primary health care services, improve 
efficiency of government expenditures, and address the  unique needs of gender -based violence 
treatment and referral. The Market -Driven Irrigated Horticulture Project aims to cataly ze private 
sector investment in horticulture through investments in irrigation infrastructure and regulatory 
reform, while creatin g transparent and sustainable access to land and water. The Business 
Environment Project aims to develop a sustainable and inclusive business ecosystem and pipeline 
that includes creating a participatory decision -making process for the provision of critica l services 
by the government to the private sector. The American Catalyst Facility for Development Project is 
a joint effort between MCC and the US International Development Finance Corporation to identify IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  opportunities to further invest in Lesotho 's priva te sector. The projects include women and youth 
empowerment strategies to ensure inclusive growth. The program is ongoing in 2023.  
7.2  Global Development Alliance  Model  
116.  Since 2001, Global Development Alliances (GDAs) have been USAID 's premier model for 
public -private partnerships, helping to improve the social and economic conditions in developing 
countries and deepen USAID 's development impact. As the private sector plays an increasingly 
critical role in shaping sustainable economic and social development, USA ID continues to engage 
corporations, local businesses, financial institutions, investment firms, private foundations and 
others as core partners in our efforts to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve 
business outcomes in developing countries.  In addition to a strong and essential focus on 
development impact, GDAs have several other core characteristics, including:  
a. Based on complementary interests and objectives;  
b. Market -based approaches and solutions;  
c. Extensive co -creation and shared responsi bility; and  
d. Private sector contributions for increased impact.  
7.3  Country Projects   
7.3.1   US Technology for Energy Access and Minigrid Development – Benin  
117.  In FY 2021, USTDA funded technical assistance  for Sherlock Grids SAS to provide a proof of 
concept for a US-made digitalized system for solar minigrid management in Benin. The project is 
anticipated to support economic development and greater social and economic inclusion by 
generating new renewable energy and providing energy access to thousands of people living in rural 
communities in Benin. The activity was obligated funds in FY 2021 and is estimated to be completed 
in late 2023.  
7.3.1.1   Private Sector Praises USTDA Support  
118.  "As a social  enterprise, what mo tivates us is the impact electricity can have on rural 
communities. This is also very much aligned with our mini grid operator business: the more useful 
and transformative our services are, the more electricity people will consume. Both technological 
and b usiness model innovations are key to trigger this kind of virtuous circle of economic and social 
development. We strongly believe that what USTDA is helping us achieve in Benin can contribute to 
solving the electricity access crisis for millions more, " said Tristan Kochoyan, CEO of Sherlock Grids.  
7.3.2   Regional Sub -Saharan Africa: Affordable Internet Expansion – Southern Africa, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Botswana, Mozambique, and Lesotho  
119.  USTDA approved funding for a feasibility study for South African internet service provider 
Jenny Internet (Pty) Ltd that will assess the economic and technical viability of expanding 
connectivity infrastructure in South Africa, Eswatini, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho, and the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Th e study will support the expansion of affordable internet 
connections to rural areas in the target countries utilizing wireless technologies to lower the cost of 
international data transit. US firm Connectivity Capital (San Francisco, CA) will carry out th e study. 
This activity was obligated in FY 2022 and is expected to be completed in late summer of 2023.  
7.3.2.1   USTDA Promotes Sector Innovation  
120.  "USTDA 's study will help prove the technology options for large amounts of bandwidth to 
hard-to-reach areas where fiber optic cable is cost -prohibitive and slow to deploy. We are excited to 
work with USTDA on this opportunity to test and deploy technology to help reach our vision of 
unlimited data access for every African home, " said Werner Stucky, Managing Director of Jenn y 
Internet.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  7.3.3   Manhiça Wind Power and Storage Plant – Mozambique  
121.  In FY 2020, USTDA awarded  a grant to Globeleq Calanga Wind, S.A. for a feasibility study to 
assess the technical, financial, and economic viability of a 130 -megawatt  (MW)  wind power plant to 
be developed in two phases of 65 MW each, along with energy storage of 10 -20 MW (20 -40 MW 
hours), as well as associated transmission and interconnection infrastructure in the Manhiça district 
in Maputo Province, Mozambique. The feasibility study is currently  underway in 2023 and is expected 
to be completed in 2024.  
7.3.3.1   Private Sector Praises USTDA Funding  
122.  "We would like to thank USTDA for filling an early -stage funding gap. The crucial role they are 
playing in the Manhiça  wind project helps us accelerate renewabl e energy choices for the country, " 
said Jonathan Hoffman, Chief Development Officer of Globeleq.  
7.3.4   Mawingu Networks Expansion – Uganda , Rwanda  
123.  In FY 2022, USTDA funded a feasibility study grant for Mawingu Networks Limited to support  
expansion of its network from rural and underserved areas in Kenya to Uganda and Rwanda to 
increase internet access and rural connectivity throughout East Africa. Th e study will evaluate market 
demand in those countries and determine the technical and commercial viability of deploying last 
mile connectivity across rural areas to prioritize expansion opportunities. Mawingu selected Dalberg 
Consulting -US LLC (New York, NY) to conduct the study.  
7.3.4.1   Private Sector Lauds USTDA  
124.  "Reliable internet connectivity  is an essential component for economic growth and 
development, " said Farouk Ramji, CEO of Mawingu Networks. "As pioneers introducing meaningful 
internet connectivity across rural Kenya, Mawingu Networks is excited to collaborate with USTDA 
and Dalberg, to reach more communities across East Africa. " 
7.3.5   SEACOM 's Chief Connectivity Pilot and Feasibility Study in Eastern DRC – 
Democratic Republic of the Congo  
125.  In FY 2022, USTDA awarded a grant  to Global Broadband Solutions SARL (GBS) to fund a 
feasibility study and pilot project that would assess the economic and technical viability of an 
end-to-end long -term evolution (LTE) connectivity solution for data services delivered over satellite 
and fixed wireless technology in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. California -based cellular 
network solutions provider Ukama, Inc. is the sole -source contractor for the study. This activity is 
ongoing.  
7.3.5.1   USTDA Unlocks Private Se ctor Internet Development  
126.  "This study will help prove the decentralized cellular internet network technology and business 
model to get cellular internet connectivity to the people of the DRC, " said Zubeir Mohamed, GBS 's 
Chief Technology Officer. "We are ex cited to work with USTDA on this opportunity to test and deploy 
technology to help further our vision of providing reliable cost -effective data access for individuals 
and businesses alike. " 
7.3.6   Urban Internet Connectivity Expansion – Democratic Republic of the  Congo, 
Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia  
127.  This FY 2023 grant to Poa Internet Kenya Ltd, a Kenya -based internet service provider, 
supports the expansion of affordable fixed wireless internet access to an additional 1 million 
households in low -income urban communities across Africa. The study will assess the market 
opportunity in Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d 'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, 
Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzan ia, Uganda, and Zambia, 
and thereafter recommend three target markets for Poa 's expansion. The study is awaiting selection 
of a US-based contractor.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  7.3.6.1   USTDA and Private Sector Partner on Affordable Internet Access  
128.   "Poa Internet has been facilitating access to unlimited affordable broadband to underserved 
lower -income urban communities across Kenya, " said Andy Halsall, the Poa Internet CEO. "We are 
delighted to form this partnership with USTDA as we continue with our journey to bring affor dable 
internet access to Africa. This grant from USTDA will support our geographic expansion and goals of 
advancing inclusive, secure and sustainable connectivity to lower -income urban communities. " 
7.3.7   Fixed Wireless and Fiber Access Network Expansion – Malaw i 
129.  A FY 2023 USTDA grant is funding a feasibility study to assess the economic and technical 
viability of expanding Converged Technology Networks Limited 's (CTN) fixed wireless and fiberoptic 
access networks to underserved small and medium enterprises as we ll as private households across 
Malawi. US firm Connectivity Capital  LLC (San Francisco, CA) is carrying out the study on a sole -
source basis. The study is ongoing.  
7.3.7.1   Private Sector Praises USTDA Partnership  
130.  "As one of the least connected countries in the wo rld, Malawi needs innovative and bold 
approaches in order to bring the benefits of broadband to the masses. CTN is extremely thrilled to 
partner with USTDA and Connectivity Capital in bringing affordable broadband to all parts of Malawi, " 
said Brian Longwe , Chief Executive Officer of CTN.  
7.3.8   Fiber Backbone and Access Network Expansion in East and Central Africa – 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda  
131.  A FY 2023 USTDA grant is funding a feasibility study to assess the economic and technical 
viability of expanding Bandwidth and Cloud Services Group  Limited 's (BCS) fiberoptic backbone and 
access network in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The study 
is awaiting selection of a US-based contractor.  
7.3.8.1   Private Sector Cele brates Partnership with USTDA  
132.  Yonas Maru, Founder and Managing Director of BCS, said: "Access to broadband internet has 
become increasingly crucial in today 's world, and yet there are still millions of people in East and 
Central Africa who lack reliable, h igh-speed connectivity. BCS, as a carrier neutral wholesale provider  
licensed in eight markets in East, Central and Southern Africa, is committed to playing a part in 
bridging the connectivity gap through partnership with Strategic partners like USTDA. The  fibreoptic 
infrastructure that will be built as a result of this feasibility study will serve Mobile Network Operators, 
Content Providers and ISPs in order to provide reliable connectivity to the underserved people and 
businesses in Eastern and Central re gions. BCS appreciates the value created by this partnership, a 
great start of a journey towards building a more connected and inclusive region. " 
7.3.9   Sukaabe Janngo (Children of Tomorrow) – Senegal  
133.  USDA -Foreign Agriculture Service funded the McGovern -Dole pro ject that was implemented 
by Counterpart International. The objectives of the program are to:  
a. increase the number of students and attendance rates by providing nutritious daily school 
meals for preschool and primary school students;  
b. improve health and di etary practices by providing access to deworming medications and 
increasing knowledge of safe food preparation and storage practices;  
c. improve school infrastructure and increase access to clean water and sanitation by 
rehabilitating latrines and water station systems; and  
d. improve the literacy of school -age children through the provision of improved quality of 
literacy instructional materials and improved pedagogical capacity of teachers.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  134.  The project also seeks to increase the capacity of government per sonnel to guide, implement, 
and maintain school feeding programs; and to increase engagement of local organizations and 
community groups to build capacity and establish Sustainability Action Plans (SAPs). In response to 
the COVID -19 pandemic, USDA authoriz ed distribution of 420 metric tons of food as emergency 
take-home rations to 47,767 McGovern -Dole students. USDA also donated deworming and vitamin 
A medication to the Regional Health Services for 55,000 vulnerable children under the age of five, 
including  5,740 McGovern -Dole preschool children.  
135.  To date, nearly 80,000 school -age children have received more than 25 million meals, 
including more than 2.5 million meals served in preschools. USDA also donated deworming 
medication to the Regional Health Service s for nearly 70,000 students, among whom nearly 16,000 
benefited from vitamin A supplementation each year during the life of the project.  
136.  Through the provision of nutritious daily school meals and deworming medications for 
preschool and primary school stud ents, improved quality of literacy instruction, and increased 
knowledge of safe food preparation and storage practices, Sukaabe Janngo has improved student 
literacy and increased student use of appropriate health, nutrition, and dietary practices. This 
program is ongoing with the target to complete in 2026.  
8  PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD 
SAFETY AND SECURITY  
8.1  Agricultural Technology Transfer Programming from  USDA   
137.  To facilitate technology transfer, US USDA uses contractu al instruments such as Cooperative 
Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), invention licenses, and material transfer 
agreements, and supports public dissemination of research results. USDA pursues patent protection 
and licensing only when a private s ector partner is needed for effective technology transfer. 
Generally, this occurs when the complementary assets needed to manufacture, market, and 
distribute a new technology are provided by a commercial partner that must protect its investment. 
The USDA a nnual report on technology transfer provides details about the mechanisms used for 
technology transfer and types of technologies transferred (see 
https://www.ars.usda.gov/ott/tec hnology -transfer -annual -report/ ). 
8.2  Agricultural Technology Transfer Programming  from the ARS  
138.  By sharing knowledge and technology through close collaboration with national and 
international research institutions to increase research capacity and speed technology development, 
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) continues to transfer technology and enhance 
international trade and diplomacy in fiscal year 2023 (see https://www.ars.usda.gov/ott/technology -
transfer -annual -report/ ). 
8.3  Feed t he Future Initiative ( FTF) 
139.  FTF is the primary US global hunger and food security initiative that continues in fiscal year 
2023. It supports country -driven approaches to address the root causes of hunger and poverty in 
target countries: Bangladesh, the Demo cratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, 
Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Through this initiative, the United States helps countries 
transform their agricultural sectors to grow enough food sustainably to feed their people and build 
resilience to shocks like drought or extreme weather. As a result, food aid can be used for unforeseen 
catastrophes rather than for chronic food insecurity or pr edictable cycles of drought or flooding. 
Technical experts in nutrition have been brought together from agencies including ARS and USAID, 
and from the private sector, to guide and coordinate efforts around food security (see 
https://www.usaid.gov/what -we-do/agriculture -and-food-security/increasing -food-security -
through -feed-future ). FTF catalyzes techno logy transfer through agricultural -led economic growth 
and development by bridging the gap between innovative agricultural productivity solutions and 
sustainable market demand, improving the enabling environment for market led growth, and linking 
large com mercial institutions with smallholder partners.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  8.3.1   FTF Harvest III – Cambodia  
140.  The Harvest III program works with the private sector to catalyze partnerships between 
agricultural producers, agricultural cooperatives , and agribusinesses  distributors, with the g oal of 
accelerating and  promoting sustainable, broad -based economic growth through increased 
diversification, resilience, and competitiveness in Cambodia 's agricultural sector.  The objectives of 
the program are to:  
a. increase the capacity of farmer organizat ions and the private sector to better engage in 
the market to increase both profitability of farming and investment into the sector;  
b. facilitate coordination of efforts, investment, and private sector engagement (including the 
provision of technical assist ance) along the agricultural value chains;  
c. remove obstacles to market access for commercial agricultural products in order to create 
job opportunities and increase rural on - and off -farm incomes; and  
d. strengthen Cambodia 's commercial agricultural sector so that farmers and other 
entrepreneurs are better equipped, not only to increase production, but to effectively 
compete in the local and international markets.  
141.  Building on the success of Harvest II, Harvest III has worked with 7,900 ma rket actors in the 
horticulture sector, of which 54 % were women and 27 % were youth. Harvest III helps build the 
business skills of a number of local small and medium enterprises and producer organizations and 
promoted export growth in regional and internat ional markets. As a result, in FY 2023 Harvest III 
assisted market actors in generating USD 6.7 million in sales, leveraged USD 1.5 million in private 
capital investment, and created 402 new jobs. The program will continue through March 2027.  
8.3.1.1   Remarks by US Department of State Secretary on Harvest III Launch  
142.  During his visit to Cambodia in September 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially 
launched the USD 25 million Harvest III activity, stressing that the activity will be a boon to the 
Cambodia 's farmers by granting them more access to technologies and helping them distribute their 
goods to more markets in the country and abroad. "We have the know -how to improve farming 
across all climates, across all income levels, so that countries have their e nduring capacity to produce 
their own food, " Blinken said, adding "With this new phase [Harvest III], we 're expanding our scale 
to be nationwide. "  
8.3.2   FTF DRC Strengthening Value Chains (SVC) Program – Democratic Republic of the 
Congo  
143.  With a budget of USD 20 million, the purpose of the DRC 's FTF program is to increase 
household incomes and access to nutrient rich crops. Th is is accomplished by linking small -holder 
farmers with all varieties of agribusinesses to strengthen food systems and services. The program  
consists of multiple activities that follow a market system approach while working  with the 
Government of DRC (Ministry of Agriculture, civil society organizations, and the private sector) to 
establish a supportive operating environment where the agricult ure sector can thrive. The program 
also engages in public private policy dialogue to create business enabling policy and regulatory 
changes that are conducive to private sector investment while also facilitating access to finance 
through local financial sy stems . The program is ongoing in 2023.  
8.3.3   FTF – Burkina Faso  
144.  USAID supported Feed the Future innovation labs on various agriculture research through the 
local organization INERA and multiple US universities. Through the Innovation Lab for Legume 
Systems Research with Michigan  State University, USAID researched appro aches to minimize insect 
pests that can severely impact cowpea cropping systems. USAID also developed and deployed 
climate -resilient, environmentally friendly, and economically profitable integrated pest management 
approaches and tools. The lab also increa sed the understanding of the unanticipated consequences 
of fertilizer subsidies on the cowpea value chain in Burkina Faso.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  145.  During FY 2022, the Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement developed a regionally coordinated 
approach to the development and disseminat ion of climate smart varieties of sorghum, pearl millet, 
and cowpea, which are key to smallholder farmers and rural populations of West Africa. This 
approach is known as Crop Innovation in West Africa (CIWA). The International Livestock Research 
Institute (ILRI) has been working to increase consumption of animal -sourced foods by the poor and 
vulnerable, including through milk and feed safety testing, training on feeding strategies using locally 
available feed resources and animal health care, and research o n enhancing the productivity of small 
ruminants. Through the Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab 's (SIIL) work, an Innovation Hub 
at Nazi Boni University of Bobo -Dioulasso was set up, including a field hub on a cooperative farmers ' 
field. The Africa n Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), in partnership with INERA, advances 
adoption of the genetically engineered pod borer insect resistant cowpea through the Feed the Future 
Innovative Maize and Cowpea Technologies to Increase Food and Nutrition Se curity in Africa activity. 
AATF has been supporting local biosafety capacity and working on attaining the necessary permits 
and conducting agronomic trials for cowpea ( https://ilci.cornell.edu/ ). 
146.  Through USAID, the US government is boosting food production, improving natural resource 
management, and increasing resilience to future shocks in the Sahel region. USAID will also program 
USD 3 million in Burkina Faso to enhance food production and improve value chain resilie nce 
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing -room/statements -releases/2022/12/15/fact -sheet-u-s-
africa -partnership -to-promote -food-security -and-resilient -food-systems/ ). 
8.3.4   FTF – Mali  
147.  Feed the Future efforts in 2023 supported by USAID/Mali include Sene Yiriwa (prosperous 
agriculture) and Sugu Yiriwa (prospero us market) in two priority regions of the country. Sene Yiriwa 
aims to increase the use of Climate Smart Agriculture technologies to boost production and improve 
natural resources management, as well as increase farmer access — through digital technologies  — 
to real -time market and climate data. Sugu Yiriwa aims to increase access to agricultural inputs and 
to strengthen value chains through interventions such as improved sanitary and phytosanitary 
practices.  
148.  USAID/Mali is also promoting the scaling up of a  wide range of digital tools to assist the 
production, storage, transformation, and sale of agricultural products. These tools include grazing 
and water point advisory services, marketing apps, and digital climate information.  
149.  USAID/Mali 's partnerships wit h the private sector aim at increasing the production of fertilizers 
that are also exported to nearby countries in West Africa.  
8.3.5   FTF Sera Bora – Tanzania  
150.  Launched in April 2023, SERA BORA ( "Better Policy " in English) activity works to accelerate 
Tanzania 's adoption of more effective policies and programs in order to drive growth of the 
agricultural sector, improve household food security and nutrition, and reduce poverty. SERA BORA 
is organized around three areas of action:  
a. policy research and data;  
b. policy and regulatory reforms; and  
c. strengthening policy institutional architecture and capacity.  
8.4  USAID/NASA SERVIR Program  
151.   A joint development initiative of USAID and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA), SERVIR ( https://servirglobal.net/ ) (https://servirglobal.net/ ) helps developing countries 
use satellite data and geospatial technology to addr ess not only critical challenges in food security, 
but also in water resources, weather and climate, land use, and natural disasters. SERVIR 's tools, 
products, and services empower decision makers with better information to address local 
development issues . The key areas related to food security focus on:  
a. agricultural productivity assessments;  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  b. climate scenarios;  
c. crop yield models;  
d. rangeland management and pastoralism; and  
e. fisheries and aquaculture.  
152.   SERVIR has developed innovative solutions to improve liv elihoods and foster self -reliance in 
Asia, Africa, and the Americas. USAID 's development expertise and field presence in 100 countries 
provide connections and partnerships with local, national, and regional stakeholders. NASA provides 
scientific input with  19 research teams across the United States and data from more than 
20 satellites. With activities in over 45 countries, SERVIR has developed more than 70 custom tools, 
collaborated with over 250 institutions, and trained more than 3,000 individuals, improving the 
capacity to use earth observations for local solutions.  
8.5  Linking Infrastructure, Finance, and Farms to Cashew (LIFFT) – Senegal, the Gambia, 
Guinea -Bissau ( collectively , SeGaBi)  
153.  USDA -FAS's Food for Progress (FFPr) project implemen ted by Shelter for Life (SFL) and 
Connexus Corporation aims to improve the marketing of raw cashew nuts and other cashew products 
in local and international markets through value chain improvement. In September 2022, the 
program received a two -year merit -based cost extension up to December 2025. During FY 2017 -
2023, the program 's objectives are:  
a. increase quality of raw cashew nuts (RCN) by organizing and building the capacity of 
farmers to improve on -farm and post -harvest practices, and increase bargaining power;  
b. Training on good agricultural practices has been provided to 28,689 cashew producers by 
721 model cooperative members trained as trainers on pruning, thinning, nut separation, 
drying, storage, organic standards, and new plantation establishment tech niques. As a 
result, 23,268 farmers have applied improved management practices or technologies on 
over 54,145 hectares of plantations. Processing companies were assisted in obtaining 
organic and industry food safety certifications to open their markets to US buyers. In total, 
3,027 producers (farmers) have received organic certification and have been linked with 
local processing companies that purchase their nuts. The project 's goal is to certify at least 
6,000 farmers over the next two years.  
c. increase processing of RCN within SeGaBi region by increasing access to financial services, 
building capacity, and upgrading value chain linkages;  
d. The LIFFT -Cashew Fund is a sustainable mechanism for investing in cashew processing 
companies. The fund is gr adually scaling up investments to increase value addition through 
processing and leveraging private sector resources. In 2022, five cashew processing 
companies in the three countries received USD 700,000 in loans with an additional 
USD 131,579 leveraged fr om private investors.    
e. promote the collective sale of RCN by developing and upgrading value chain linkages 
necessary to support an integrated regional trade network, which includes creating durable 
market infrastructure and improved access to markets for value chain actors;  
f. The project established 24 cooperatives in SeGaBi aimed to ensure the collective sales of 
RCN both to processors and exporters, and thus far 165,588 MT have been collected and 
sold by the cooperatives. Construction and rehabilitation o f 136 km of feeder and 
connector roads facilitated the expansion of trade in cashew nuts and improved access to 
markets for smallholder farmers and processors. The project has also constructed 
26,126  m3 and rehabilitated 32,422 m3 of warehouse storage.  
g. improve or maintain raw cashew nut quality at 52 -54 lbs.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  h. Good agricultural practices (GAP) activities have resulted in increased quality of RCN since 
2020, with analysis across the project 's region showing a higher outturn in weight per nut 
in each country. The team continues to follow up on by improving capacity among 
producers, focusing on applying GAP and introducing new high -performance varieties.  
154.  The program has already reached three of its targets by strengthening 
associations/cooperatives, increasing c ollective sales of raw cashew nuts to 100,000 tons, and 
increasing raw nut processing  capacity by an additional 30,000 tons per year in target countries. 
The initial six -year project from 2017 to 2023 was recently awarded a merit -based extension to 
2025.  
8.5.1.1   Private Sector Lauds LIFFT -Cashew  
155.  Mr. Ismaila Djiba, president of the Ajac Lukaal cashew farmer cooperative, stated, "Thanks to 
USDA support through the LIFFT – Cashew  project, producers now sign win -win contracts directly 
with international exporters. For  example, Ajac Lukaal started by selling 821 MT of Raw Cashew Nut 
(RCN) in 2020, which has increased annually. Recently we collected and sold 3,000 MT worth 
USD 2.3M in 2023. " In addition, every year, more farmers register as members, and the cooperative 
engages in group sales to increase pricing power and earn more significant profits for farmers. In 
2023 alone, the Ajac Lukaal cooperative registered 92 new members, including 78 men and 14 
women . 
8.6  Country Projects  
8.6.1   Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricul tural Intensification and Nutrition (CE 
SAIN) – Cambodia  
156.  Through this program ( https://www.cesain.org/ ), USAID established a center of excellence at 
the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) to ensure research on agriculture innovations is 
disseminated to farmers, NGOs, and the private sector. The research is meant to mee t market and 
farmer demand for information and technology to reduce production costs and increase efficiencies 
for farmers and agribusinesses, and ultimately to  reduce poverty. In FY 2023 the activity:  
a. added two new Technology Parks in different agro -hydro -ecological zones and 
demonstrated new climate -smart technologies;  
b. strengthened RUA 's capacity to deliver vocational and non -degree training to extension 
professionals, government staff, NGO employees, and farmers;  
c. improved RUA faculty education, researc h and extension capacity through long and short -
term training;  
d. provided technical expertise and research opportunities in the areas of sustainable 
agricultural intensification and nutrition;  
e. empowered farmers, both in the public and private sectors, to s hift from conventional 
production systems to profitable soil and ecosystems, enhancing conservation agriculture 
production systems; and  
f. engaged private sector to scale up agriculture services in conservation agriculture 
practices.  
157.  CE SAIN partnered with 2 4 US land grant universities and institutions to conduct off -farm trials 
to develop new innovative agriculture technologies in Cambodia over the past seven years. The 
program showcased approximately 30 innovative agricultural technologies for adoption by f armers 
and agribusiness representatives. Over 5,000 farmers and private businesses visited the showcases  
of these new technologies at five CE SAIN technology parks, and over 1,000 ha of farmland were 
cultivated with use of these improved practices. Eight P hD and ten master 's degree candidates 
completed post graduate study in Cambodia through support from the CE SAIN scholarship program, 
and over 1,350 farmers and other stakeholders attended CE SAIN short -term training programs on 
innovative agriculture tech nologies.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  8.6.2   Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment Activity  
158.  Beginning in 2022, the Feed the Future Ghana Trade and Investment (GTI) activity 
(https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00ZJN4.pdf ) is a USAID -funded initiative designed to increase 
economic growth and prosperity for the citizens of Ghana with strategic agricultural interventions. 
Specifically, GTI seeks to improve the enabling environment for Ghana 's economi c growth by:  
a. facilitating growth in export -oriented trade;  
b. improving and developing product standards;  
c. catalyzing investments in private enterprises related to high -value commercial crops;  
d. promoting job creation, particularly among women and youth;  
e. promoting economic diversification; and  
f. increasing foreign exchange revenues from high -value export crops.  
8.6.3   Agriculture  Trade Initiative (ATI) - Tanzania  
159.  The ATI mobilizes enterprise -driven solutions that increase trade and investment in Africa. It 
aims to strengthen Africa 's markets  by developing new trade and investment relationships, 
particularly between the United States and Africa, and to achieve development outcomes. In 
Tanzania, ATI is investing up to USD 7.2 million in the agriculture and textile sectors from 2023 
through 2026. In agriculture, ATI is partnering with agribusiness in cashew, edible oils, and fertilizer 
production, processing, and export.  
8.6.4   Kilimo Tija (Agricultural Productivity ) – Tanzania  
160.  This five year (2022 -2027), USD 38 million pr oject is part of the US government 's Global Food 
Security Strategy, which promotes global food security, resilience, and nutrition. Its purpose is to 
sustainably increase  economic opportunities in horticulture market systems, especially for youth. 
This pur pose will be achieved by:  
a. strengthening horticulture market systems to increase enterprise and employment 
opportunities;  
b. increasing access to commercially provided, climate smart, and productivity -enhancing 
agricultural technologies; and  
c. strengthening th e enabling environment for horticulture market systems development.  
161.  Kilimo Tija, like Mboga na Matunda before  it, focuses on making horticultural technology – 
such as climate smart seeds and inputs, soil additives, best agricultural practices, and storage  and 
handling innovations  – accessible in local markets, especially to youth and women, through a private 
sector -led approach.  
8.6.5   Partnership for Inclusive Agriculture Transformation in Africa (PIATA) – Tanzania  
162.  Through PIATA, USAID promotes lucrative markets  for improved crop seeds. The goal of the 
activity is to expand small farmers ' access to improved seeds, allowing them to increase yields and 
profitability. To achieve this goal, PIATA partners with local and national levels of governments to 
streamline re gulatory processes, allowing businesses to produce and distribute high -quality seeds 
to farmers across Tanzania. This activity was originally a small investment to a central mechanism, 
but in response to the global food crisis caused by Russia 's illegal in vasion of Ukraine, USAID 
Tanzania invested USD 3 million of supplemental funding to allow Tanzania to domestically produce 
wheat and sunflower seed and reduce dependence on global markets. The project is projected to 
end in September of 2025.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  9  PROGRAMING AN D INCENTIVES  RELATED TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT  
9.1  Private Financing Advisory Network  (PFAN) – Global  
163.  PFAN is a multilateral public private partnership initiated by the Climate Technology Initiative 
and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (U NFCCC) and is currently hosted 
by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). It identifies and nurtures 
promising, innovative clean development and renewable energy projects by bridging the gap 
between investors, clean energy  entrepren eurs, and project developers. PFAN mobilizes private 
sector expertise in financing climate -friendly projects and technologies to screen business plans and 
select and assist projects that are economically viable, as well as environmentally and socially 
beneficial. PFAN 's partners and donors include: Australia 's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
(DFAT); the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Swedish International Development 
Cooperation Agency (SIDA); and the United States Agency for Internation al Development (USAID).  
164.  Since 2008, PFAN has raised USD 3 billion for 243 completed projects, representing 
1.8 gigawatts of clean and renewable electric power generation capacity. The initiative mobilized 
over USD 650 million in investments in clean energy  over the five -year period to 2022, with over 
70% from the private sector. PFAN has supported stakeholders in over 50 countries and has achieved 
impressive results with a small public investment – the program 's leverage rate is USD  80-100 for 
every dollar of donor funds invested. Applications from prospective candidates may be submitted at 
any time, and are evaluated on a quarterly basis after the announced deadlines.  
165.  Serengeti Energy in collaboration with the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) launc hed 
the 2022 Umoja Incubator. The incubator aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs in renewable energy 
to bring their project to financial close. This is achieved by improving the bankability of the most 
promising renewable energy projects through access to c ommercial and technical knowledge, and 
finally securing the funding.  
166.  This program will contribute to addressing the energy challenges in sub -Saharan Africa, where 
600 million people have no access to electricity. This lack of access limits educational and  business 
opportunities along with the economic prospects and well -being of these populations. Increasing the 
share of clean electricity will not only fight climate change on a global scale, but also help the 
continent to overcome key economic challenges a nd directly support the Sustainable Development 
Goals. The most promising candidates for the program were invited to a one -week workshop in Cape 
Town in November 2022, where the winner of the first Umoja Incubator, a Benin 20 MW solar project 
presented by Sèna Christian Gbogbo and Pulchérie Paula Akouavi Agossanou as the lead developers, 
was announced. ( https://unctad.org/publication/commodities -glance-special -issue-access -energy -
sub-saharan -africa ; https://pfan.net/allgemein/2022 -umoja -incubator -winner ).  
9.2  Regional and Country Energy Initiatives  
167.  US regional energy development programming focuses on sub -Saharan Africa, Oceania, and 
South Asia. US agencies work closel y with multilateral development  banks, other US government 
agencies, the private sector, and local banks or financial institutions to engage on regional energy 
collaboration programs.  
9.2.1    Power Africa – Madagascar  
168.  Power Africa is a US government -led partnersh ip that seeks to add 30,000 MW and 60  million 
electricity connections in sub -Saharan Africa by 2030. Power Africa provides support in most of 
sub-Saharan Africa 's LDCs. For example, o ff-grid electrification solutions, such as minigrids, can play 
a vital role in electrifying Madagascar 's rural areas. However, private developers and operators 
capable of installing and operating minigrid systems often struggle to enter and expand the minigrid 
market because they lack access to project financing. Power Africa awarded USD 885,000 in grants 
for the development of minigrids in Madagascar to bring electricity to more than 3,650 households 
and businesses in rural Madagascar. Beneficiary companies have begun to receive the equipment 
for the mini grids. The first minigrids are expected to be commis sioned in September  2023.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  9.2.2   USTDA Award to eleQtra – Mozambique  
169.  In 2018, USTDA awarded a grant to power developer eleQtra for a feasibility study to assess 
the viability of a 120 MW wind power plant, developed in two phases of 60 MW each, located in 
southern Mozambique. The value of the grant was USD 1.1 million. This estimated USD 280 million 
project, which also received a similar feasibility study grant from the African Development Bank, 
was set to be the first wind power project in Mozambique, creating a benchmark for the industry in 
this country.  
9.2.3   Global Procurement  Initiative: Regional Energy Procurement Program for South 
Asia – Nepal  
170.  In FY 2022, USTDA funded a virtual training series and a virtual forum for South Asian 
countries, including Nepal, under the Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value (GP I). 
The GPI trains public officials in emerging markets on how to establish procurement practices and 
policies that integrate life -cycle cost analysis and best value determination in a fair, transparent 
manner. The purpose of the virtual training series an d virtual forum is to train officials on innovative 
best-value procurement practices to support the development of high -quality energy infrastructure. 
The virtual training series was completed in March 2023 and planning for the virtual forum is 
underway.  
9.2.4    Supplementary Studies for Betmai Hydroelectric Project – Sierra Leone  
171.  This FY 2022 grant to Sewa Energy Resources (SL) Ltd. funds supplementary engineering and 
environmental studies to increase Sierra Leone 's baseload renewable energy through the 
implemen tation of a 27 -megawatt run -of-river hydroelectric plant at Betmai Falls on the Pampana 
River in Sierra Leone, for which USTDA already  provided a feasibility study. US firm Knight Piésold 
and Co. (Denver, Colorado) will carry out the additional studies on a sole -source basis. The studies 
are ongoing.  
9.2.5   Utility Scale Battery Energy Storage System – Zambia  
172.  In FY 2023, USTDA provided a grant to GreenCo Power Services Limited (GreenCo), which 
funds a feasibility study to assess the technical, economic, and finan cial viability of developing and 
implementing a 10 -25-megawatt/40 -100-megawatt -hour (MWh) battery energy storage system 
(BESS) pilot project in Sesheke District, Zambia, and a 400 -MWh BESS portfolio in the country. The 
BESS pilot project will be paired wit h a solar photovoltaic pilot project in the same region and would 
be one of Zambia 's first utility -scale BESS projects.  
9.2.6   Mbandaka City Clean Energy Ecosystem – Democratic Republic of the Congo  
173.  This FY 2023 grant to the provincial government of Équateur fund s a feasibility study that 
would assess the economic and technical viability and perform an environmental and social impact 
assessment for a comprehensive clean energy ecosystem for the city of Mbandaka in the Democratic 
Republic of the Con go: a utility sc ale solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery energy storage system 
(BESS); and a small -scale solar PV system and BESS electric vehicle charging station.  
9.2.6.1   Governor of Équateur Lauds USTDA Support  
174.  "We are grateful that AEG International and USTDA recognize the s trength of our capital, 
Mbandaka, " said Governor of Équateur, Boloko Bolumbu Bobo. "We look forward to working together 
to kick-start the economic opportunities that our great city and port will provide for the province and 
all of northern DRC. " 
9.2.7   Smart Grid  Roadmap Phase II – Bangladesh  
175.  In FY 2023, USTDA funded a feasibility study for Power Cell, a Bangladesh government 
department responsible for power sector reform, for the second phase of a project to implement 
smart grid technology in Bangladesh. Phase I of USTDA 's partnership with Power Cell, which was 
completed in 2022, consisted of technical assistance to develop a roadmap for incorporating smart IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  grid elements into Bangladesh 's electric grid. This second phase feasibility study focuses on smart 
grid.  
176.  The feasib ility study will help Power Cell implement smart grid infrastructure to reduce the 
number and duration of power outages and improve grid efficiency and operations in Bangladesh. 
Power Cell selected Massachusetts -based Boston Consulting Group to carry out t he assistance.  
9.2.7.1   Bangladeshi Official Praises Renewed Partnership with USTDA  
177.  "The first phase of this project showed us a path towards implementation of smart grid in 
Bangladesh power sector and identified the gaps in our system " said Mohammad Hossain, Direc tor 
General of Power Cell. "Now, this extended support from USTDA will give us the confidence to 
successfully implement the project. We thank USTDA for this immense collaboration and support. " 
9.2.8    Regional Sub -Saharan Africa: West Africa Power Pool 225kV Cote  d'Ivoire -Liberia 
Transmission Interconnection Project – Liberia  
178.  In FY 2021, USTDA approved funding for a feasibility study that will provide the West Africa 
Power Pool (WAPP), a specialized power grid coordination institution of the Economic Community of  
West African States (ECOWAS), with a technical, economic, and environmental assessment for a 
225 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and related substation and distribution equipment from Côte 
d'Ivoire to Liberia. The project is anticipated to provide energy access to surrounding communities, 
as well as to create greater resiliency and enable deployment of renewable energy generation for 
the WAPP. This activity was obligated in FY 2022 and is currently awaiting selection of a US contractor 
to implement the fea sibility study.  
9.2.9   Kigali Innovation Smart City – Rwanda  
179.   In FY 2022, USTDA awarded a feasibility study grant to the Rwanda Development Board that 
will assess: (i) various options for deployment of smart city solutions, including energy, 
environmental, and tr ansportation solutions, at Kigali Innovation City, a planned mixed -use 
development intended to serve as a hub for the technology industry in Kigali, and (ii) the feasibility 
of further deployments of smart city technologies throughout Rwanda. The activity is currently 
awaiting final approval of the contract.  
9.2.10   Central Bank of the Solomon Islands Information and Communications Technology 
(ICT) Modernization Roadmap – Solomon Islands  
180.  A USTDA grant to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) is funding techni cal assistance 
(TA) to support modernization of the central bank 's ICT infrastructure. The TA includes developing 
a comprehensive roadmap to guide key ICT infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to 
server rooms and data recovery facilities, network  infrastructure, cybersecurity capabilities, and core 
banking applications. Banking applications include solutions for reserves management, loan tracking, 
foreign exchange control, and enhanced monitoring of CBSI accounts. The TA will define the ICT 
infras tructure requirements for various system upgrades and develop detailed technical 
specifications for the Project. The TA will benchmark CBSI 's ICT environment and banking 
applications to other central banks across the Asia Pacific region, enabling CBSI to l earn from 
international best practices and improve performance expectations within the CBSI organization. In 
addition to recommending ICT infrastructure improvements, the TA will also deliver a staff training 
and human resources development plan to support  CBSI's human capacity needs for successful 
implementation and long -term operation and maintenance of ICT systems. Finally, in support of 
CBSI's anticipated move to a new headquarters facility, the TA will conduct a quality audit and review 
of the new faci lity to ensure the building design and installations meet high -quality standards for 
key ICT systems and technologies, including wiring, power, HVAC and disaster recovery 
requirements. Implementation of the project will improve CBSI 's operations and increa se the 
availability, safety and security of financial services in the Solomon Islands.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  9.2.11   Hospitals and Mobile Healthcare Trailers Public Private Partnership Project – 
Senegal  
181.  USTDA funded a feasibility study in FY 2022 for the Senegalese Ministry of Economy , Planning 
and Cooperation (MEPC) to analyze options for the development of a public private partnership (PPP) 
model to implement four hospitals and approximately three to five mobile healthcare trailers in 
Senegal. This feasibility  study will help MEPC, a s well as the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, 
determine the best PPP approach to developing important healthcare infrastructure in the country.  
9.2.12   South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, 
Nepal and Sri Lanka  
182.  USAID la unched its new regional energy program, called South Asia Regional Partnership 
(SAREP) with the aim to improve access to affordable, secure, reliable, and sustainable energy in 
South Asia. One of the key pillars under SAREP focuses on enhancing regionally integrated grids and 
power markets by promoting cross -border power trade. Much of work undertaken by USAID 's 
SARI/EI program will transition to SAREP with the focus on promoting trilateral and multilateral 
power trade, strengthening national and regional i nstitutions, developing common regulations and 
standards, and building consensus on regional energy cooperation by including all stakeholders.  
183.  SAREP, which was launched in May 2021, overlapped and worked hand -in-hand with the 
SARI/EI program for a gradual transition. This helped in creating a recognition of SAREP as a 
program and in building relations with key stakeholders. The program also initiated specific activities 
focused on implementation which are listed below:  
a. SAREP continued to assist Bhut an in the second year to buy power from the Indian Power 
exchange to meet its shortfall during winters. SAREP provided technical assistance to 
stakeholders in trading in the exchange and built capacity within the stakeholders to 
operate in the power market s efficiently to reduce their own costs. SAREP developed an 
Excel-based optimization tool, guidance note, and a roadmap for Bhutan to participate in 
the exchange. SAREP also hosted a peer exchange program of senior Bhutanese delegates 
to India on power tra de and markets;  
b. SAREP is also providing institutional support to Bhutan Power System Operator by 
developing its vision, business strategy, and operation protocols. This will directly support 
Bhutan 's participation in power trade in the region;  
c. SAREP collab orated with USAID/Bangladesh to host a peer exchange program for officials 
from Bangladesh to India focused on power trade and markets, especially the short -term 
day ahead market. SAREP is also supporting Bangladesh through technical assistance to 
initiate  trade through Indian Energy Exchange, for which it has developed a roadmap in 
partnership with USAID/Bangladesh 's BADGE program;  
d. SAREP is supporting Nepal Electricity Authority in development of an optimization tool to 
improve its performance in the short -term market.  
e. The Strategy Paper on South Asia Forum for Energy Investments (SAFIE) was released by 
the Nepal Prime Minister in the IPPAN Power Summit in February 2023. This included 
focused discussion on the need for an investment facilitation platform; and 
f. SAREP in collaboration with Climate Parliament hosted a regional parliamentary dialogue 
in Egypt on the side -lines of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). This event was attended by 
parliamentarians from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and focused on 
deliberating on the need and modalities for operationalizing the Regional Parliamentary 
Forum on Energy Cooperation.  
9.2.13    Promoting Women 's Participation in Energy Sector (Stree -Shakti) – Nepal  
184.  The project supports 150 young women to pursue a career in the energy sector by the end of 
September 2023 through interaction with energy sector professionals through training and IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  networking events. The project will organize learning  workshops related to project management, 
financial management, and leadership  skills to improve the targeted beneficiaries ' understanding of 
the Nepalese energy sector, labor rights, and gender equality. The participants will increase their 
knowledge of t he energy sector, labor rights, and gender equality and prepare themselves to take 
leadership roles in the profession. They will create a visible female presence and improved gender -
friendly atmosphere, as well as contribute to the development and implemen tation of sectoral 
knowledge.  
10  PROGRAMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED  TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION  
185.  The United States has engaged in a wide range of activities with developing countries, with 
the goal of promoting the development and deployment of climate -friend ly technologies and 
practices, and responsible management of the environment and environmental resources.  
186.  The climate crisis represents an existential threat to the security and prosperity of communities 
in the United States and around the world. At the s ame time, responding to the climate crisis offers 
one of the greatest opportunities in history for innovation, sustainable economic growth, and the 
creation of high -quality jobs. This is why the Biden -Harris Administration has made tackling the 
climate cri sis in the United States and abroad a top priority.  
187.  President Biden called for the preparation of a Climate Finance Plan (herein "Plan"). This Plan—
the first of its kind in the US government—focuses specifically on international climate finance. For 
the purposes of this Plan, "climate finance " refers in part to the provision or mobilization of financial 
resources to assist developing countries to reduce and/or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 
and build resilience and adapt to the impacts of climate cha nge. The Plan also addresses the need 
to better align public and private financial flows consistent with what is needed to achieve the Paris 
Agreement 's temperature and resilient -development goals.  
188.  Meeting the collective goal of mobilizing USD 100 billion per year for developing countries from 
a wide variety of public and private sources, in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and 
transparency on implementation, is a priority for the United States (see 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp -content/uploads/2021/04/U.S. -International -Climate -Finance -
Plan-4.22.21 -Updated -Spacing.pdf?source=email ). 
10.1   US. Program on SilvaCarbon  
189.  SilvaCarbon is a technical cooperation program under the Global Climate Change Initiative and 
a US contribution to the Global Forest Observation Initiative. SilvaCarbon works with more than 
25 tropical forested countries to build capacity in measuring, monitoring, and reporting changes in 
forest and terrestrial carbon, and collaborates globally to iden tify, test, and disseminate good 
practices and cost -effective technologies. SilvaCarbon draws on the strengths of cooperating US 
government agencies including the Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
NASA, USAID, USDA Forest Service (U SFS), and the US Geographical Survey (USGS) of the 
Department of Interior as well as variety of non -governmental, academic, and industry partners (see 
www.silvacarbon.org/ ).  
190.  SilvaCarbon advances low -emission development and increases transparency through 
technical assistance and training on the use of free and open -source tools and methods for accurately 
tracking land use change. For example, working with Google Earth Engine, B oston University, Oregon 
State University, USFS and USGS, SilvaCarbon delivered customized training to selected tropical 
forested countries to support the uptick of state -of-the-art forest monitoring technologies tailored 
to country needs. SilvaCarbon has worked with counterparts from LDCs in Africa (Central African 
Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Zambia) and Asia (Nepal, 
Cambodia, Lao People 's Democratic Republic) to generate and use improved forest data to meet the 
needs  of multiple users and stakeholders. In Asia, the program is helping countries to access and 
implement much needed result -based payments through different REDD+ mechanisms. This is done 
through building technical capacity to meet the Monitoring Reporting a nd Verification (MRV) 
requirements of carbon finance programs in Lao PDR and Nepal. In Cambodia, SilvaCarbon is 
supporting harmonized land cover mapping and improving the agricultural crops data, which is 
important for planning and implementing climate cha nge and food security policy. SilvaCarbon is 
also supporting collaborations with national universities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Nepal for piloting IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  innovative approaches to forest monitoring and training the new generation of forestry professionals. 
In Afr ica, SilvaCarbon has been supporting strengthening countries ' National Forest Monitoring 
Systems and MRV to enable better access to forest and carbon finance. In DRC and Zambia, 
SilvaCarbon has assisted in the creation of National REDD+ Registries. In the Republic of the Congo, 
SilvaCarbon has been technically backstopping the team working on the Forest Carbon Partnership 
Facility Sangha -Likoula project to meet program and monitoring requirements in order to receive 
results -based payments.  
10.1.1   SilvaCarbon Gend er Inclusion in Forest Monitoring Initiative    
191.  In 2021, USGS embarked on a study of the barriers to women 's involvement in forest 
monitoring. For this study, subject matter experts interviewed women from 24 SilvaCarbon 
countries. One of the solutions to re solve women 's inequalities in forest monitoring was to have 
dedicated training sessions for women. Through the USFS -led Central Africa Women 's Initiative for 
Climate Action (WICA), partially funded through SilvaCarbon (also see Climate Fellows Program), 
USFS and SilvaCarbon have been investing in early -career women professionals to engage in climate 
change programs and reporting in their respective countries in Central Africa. Launched in 2021 and 
currently in its third phase, 199 women have participated in  the program, 60 of which have 
completed or in the process of completing diplomas in greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and MRV 
through the internationally renowned GHG Management Institute.  
10.1.1.1   Government Officials Praise SilvaCarbon  
192.  Mr. Yam Prasad Pokharel, Dir ector General of the Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC), 
during a coordination meeting on REDD+ in April, 2023 highlighted the support by SilvaCarbon: 
"FRTC is mandated by the Government of Nepal to monitor the forest cover changes for different 
reasons. Forest carbon finance is a new topic for Nepal, and in the past two years we learned about 
a number of different requirements and information which were not readily available. With the 
support from SilvaCarbon, FRTC remote sensing team was able to q uickly adjust and address the 
needs of the carbon fund. Now, we need to ensure that this is shared and understood by others in 
the FRTC team and used for future work on forest carbon projects. " 
193.  Mr. Phanousith Homsombath, Director of the Forest Inventory an d Planning Division (FIPD) of 
the Department of Forestry Lao PDR, at a planning meeting with development partners on 
18 May 2023 said "SilvaCarbon program has provided long -term support to FIPD that includes 
technical assistance to ongoing FIPD work, and also opportunity to participate at global conferences 
and learn about the latest methods. This increases FIPD staff capacity to work on challenging issues 
such as forest degradation and shifting cultivation. " 
10.2  Sustainable Wetlands  Adaptation and Mitigat ion Program (SWAMP)  
194.  Through USAID 's Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP), the 
USFS supported partners in DRC, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania to improve the 
management, monitoring, conservation, and restoration of critical wetland ecosystems including 
mangroves and peatlands. In DRC, SWAMP is supporting the development of a national strategy for 
the sustainable management and protection of the DRC 's peatlands. In Madagascar, SWAMP 
supported mangrove inventory activi ties and related research to inform sustainable mangrove 
management and restoration best practices. In Mozambique, SWAMP supported the development of 
a mangrove nursery with robust community engagement as well as a restoration experiment which 
produced ove r 5,000 mangrove seedlings, contributing to the implementation of the Mozambique 
Mangrove Strategy. In Tanzania, SWAMP supported the installation of a weather station, training of 
key stakeholders in best practices for mangrove restoration, and development  of an operational field 
manual for mangrove restoration .  
10.3  International Forestry Management Programming  
195.  The US Forest Service (USFS) continues to promote capacity building for sustainable forest 
management and biodiversity conservation internationally by linking the skills of the field -based staff 
with partners overseas in fiscal year 2022. These activities cover a wide range of topics, many of 
which are co -funded with the Department of State and USAID. This work involves a variety of 
partners, including i ntergovernmental organizations, international research and conservation IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  organizations, and other environmental NGOs. USFS scientists and other agency technical experts 
contribute specialized technical assistance to existing projects, conduct training, faci litate research, 
and publish technical guides to promote sustainable forest management and biodiversity 
conservation. These activities encompass many of the most pressing forestry issues, including fire 
management, climate change adaptation and mitigation,  forest monitoring and remote sensing, 
forest health and invasive species, migratory species and habitat management, watershed 
management, protected areas and ecotourism, and sustainable forestry practices.  
10.4  USFS - International Union of Forest Research Or ganizations Partnership   
196.  The USFS and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) signed a 
multiyear partnership agreement in 2014 to enhance the contribution of forest science to 
international forest -related policy processes and imple mentation of sustainable  forest resource 
management, particularly in economically disadvantaged countries. The agreement achieves 
technology transfer through strengthening national forest research systems in Africa, Asia, and Latin 
America, particularly th rough capacity development, assistance to scientists, and institution -
building. Further, the initiative supports IUFRO 's global initiatives on mobilizing and disseminating 
forest -related information through Internet and ICT -based channels (see 
http://www.fs.fed.us/research/partnerships ). IUFRO has a long history of providing support to the 
forest science community in Africa, Asia, and Latin America . IUFRO implements  capacity building 
activities through its Special Program for Development of Capacities (IUFRO -SPDC). These activities 
strengthen research programs and enhance the development and implementation of sound forest 
management policies and practices through the  generation and dissemination of quality -research 
results on forests and trees. IUFRO -SPDC 's capacity -building activities concentrate on assisting 
forest research institutions in partner developing countries to effectively contribute to shaping 
national an d local forest policies and sustainable forest management systems (see 
http://www.iufro.org/science/special/spdc/ ).  
10.5  Supporting Information Services and Knowledge Dissemination  
197.  The United States supports the provision of information services to scientists, educators, 
students, and policymakers in developing countries through (a) IUF RO's new knowledge 
management system which expands the earlier work of the Global Forest Information Service (GFIS: 
http://www.gfis.net/ ), and (b) the Global Forest Expert Panels progra m, which provides information 
and scientific expertise to governments and intergovernmental processes through independent 
scientific assessments of key forest -related issues of high concern in support of more informed 
decision -making at the regional and gl obal level. Between 2009 and 2023 eight thematic reports 
were successfully completed:  Adaptation of Forests and People to Climate Change  (2009);  
International Forest Governance  (2011);  Biodiversity, Forest Management, and REDD+  (2012);  
Forests and F ood Security  (2015);  Illegal Timber Trade  (2016);  Forests and Water  (2018);  Forests 
and Poverty  (2020); and  Forests and Human Heal th (2023). An assessment on the interlinkages 
between Forests and Human Health in the context of Asia is currently ongoing and is planned for 
publication in 2023 (GFEP: https://www.iufro.org/science/gfep/ ).  
10.6  USGS CEOS Capacity Building  
198.  The US Geological Survey, as a part of the Committee of Earth Observations Satellites in 
collaboration with USAID and the US Department of State SilvaCarb on program, promotes capacity 
development in developing countries. The CEOS Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) 
Task team has embarked on an effort to identify and harmonize the best available above -ground 
biomass, forest, land cover, mangrove , and agricultural crop products to support bottom -up 
inventories for the AFOLU sector. With the assistance of the SilvaCarbon program, methods have 
been tested in several countries and proven to be promising for improving existing monitoring 
systems and, most importantly, reducing the cost of national ground surveys. Recently, a training 
in Paraguay 's eastern forest demonstrated the usability of a methodology that uses satellite data to 
calculate biomass in remote and accessible areas. Several countries pl an to uptake the method. 
During the Geo -Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) - SilvaCarbon 
Workshop, Chanthaburi Province and Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, ( 22 February  - 2March 2023), 
the participants were able to:  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  a. learn about  the latest AFOLU datasets and technologies used for monitoring and assessing 
forest and land -use changes globally;  
b. discuss and exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices on using AFOLU 
datasets for land management, conservation, and climate chang e mitigation;  
c. participate in hands -on training sessions to develop practical skills and methods for data 
processing, analysis, and visualization using open -source tools and software; and  
d. collaborate with experts and stakeholders from different regions and sectors to address 
common challenges and opportunities related to AFOLU data management and application.  
199.  The overall results were an improved awareness and understanding of the potential of AFOLU 
datasets for monitoring and managing forests and land use at  a global scale. The CEOS AFOLU group 
will continue to work with forested tropical countries to enhance capacity and skills on cutting -edge 
methods to measure carbon emissions from space in their work, research, and policymaking 
(https://earth.jaxa.jp/ceos -newsletter/2023/04/28/gistda -silvacarbon -workshop/ ). 
10.7  Country and Regional Programs  
10.7.1   Africa and Middle East Region  
200.  In the Africa and Middle East Region (AME), the US Forest Service (USFS) works in over 
30 countries to address natural resource challenges in the least and most forested countries in the 
world. USFS partners with a suite of organizations including US Gover nment entities (USAID, State 
Department), host country governments, academic institutions, and non -governmental 
organizations to promote technology transfer and the exchange of best practices to enhance natural 
resource management, economic development, an d improve community resilience. Specifically, 
across the AME region, USFS provides targeted, long -term technical support and technology transfer 
to our partners on monitoring, reporting, and verification for greenhouse gas emissions accounting 
for agricult ure, forests, and other land uses including systems development, land cover mapping, 
and land use change analyses. USFS also supports broader US government efforts at mitigating 
environmental crime in the region by providing training on law enforcement and  investigations, and 
wood identification techniques and technologies for countering illegal logging.  
201.  The Agency draws on its deep domestic expertise to assist countries in the AME region with 
landscape restoration – from seed sourcing and management, to c utting edge science/technology 
for nursery/plant production, to best practices for planning and implementing restoration projects 
at different scales.  
202.  Across Africa and the Middle East, USFS helps host country governments provide adequate 
support to local  populations during and after fire and all -hazard disasters by supporting institutional 
strengthening and capability for national and on -site incident management, emergency operations 
and coordination, firefighting, post -incident response, and pre -prepared ness, using USFS systems 
and technologies adapted for host -country contexts.  
203.  Lastly, the Agency assists partners with watershed management at different scales, sharing 
tools and technologies from the United States that can be adapted to help partner count ries include 
landscape -level water conservation as part of water security strategies. The programs described 
here are active in Angola, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, 
Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Ni geria, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Tanzania, 
Uganda, and Zambia.  
10.7.2   Climate Fellows (CF) Program – Republic of the Congo  
204.   The US Department of State Climate Fellows (CF) program, implemented by the US Forest 
Service, provides technical assistance to selected partner  country governments focused on 
sustainable management of forest and wetland resources and national efforts to reduce emissions 
and enhance removals of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the forestry and other land use sectors. CF 
technical experts are curre ntly placed in Palau, Fiji, and Viet  Nam. Past CF countries include the 
Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Zambia, and the Philippines.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  10.7.3   CF Regional Initiative  
205.  In 2022, the CF program launched a regional initiative to strengthen the capacity and 
involvement  of women in measuring and reporting GHG emissions and removals to the UNFCCC. 
The initiative – entitled Central Africa Women Initiative for Climate Action (WICA) – was launched in 
four countries: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC), Gabon, an d Republic of the 
Congo (ROC). During FY 2022 -2023, one hundred and three women from the four countries were 
introduced to the science of climate change and GHG accounting. Thirty -five of the women 
successfully completed a rigorous diploma program on GHG m easurement, reporting and verification 
offered by the GHG Management Institute (GHGMI) and are now working with different national 
institutions and NGOs on climate change related issues.  
206.  In FY 2022 and FY 2023, SilvaCarbon, USFS International Program 's office, and USAID/CARPE 
programs built on the achievements of the Climate Fellows Program to continue to provide technical 
assistance to ensure the sustainable functioning of the NFMS and the implementation of REDD+ 
results -based payment programs and National ly Determined Contributions (NDC). The WICA 
program has been expanded to a fifth country, the Central African Republic, and a new cohort of 
95 women have been recruited from the five countries to pursue the program, 25 of which have 
completed or are in the  process of completing the GHGMI diploma program. The third phase 
(WICA  3) was launched in July 2023 and will focus on Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.  
207.  Through the US Department of State 's Support Hub for Forest Finance and Landscape 
Engagem ent (SHUFFLE) program, the USFS is supporting the GDRC in its effort to establish a carbon 
market. Technical support was provided for the establishment of a carbon market regulatory 
framework, strengthening the capacity of national stakeholders on carbon f inance, carbon markets, 
and standards.  
208.  Through USAID 's Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP), the 
USFS is supporting the Global Development Research Center (GDRC) to streamline peatlands into 
the DRC 's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). A national definition for peatlands has been 
elaborated. USFS also supported the development of a national strategy for the sustainable 
management and protection of the DRC 's peatlands.  
209.  Through USAID 's Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), an inter -
ministerial platform has been set to foster dialogue among GDRC ministries implementing the DRC 's 
NDC. A regional study to assess the feasibility of the NDCs of Congo basin countries and their 
respecti ve potential to raise climate mitigation commitments is currently underway.  
210.  Finally, as part of the plan to conserve the critical Congo basin forests, USFS is implementing 
forest landscape restoration programs in the DRC and the ROC aimed at strengthening  the 
management and sustainability of community forest concessions through the provision of technical 
support to government counterparts and local communities. To ensure long -term sustainability, a 
Youth Climate Corps has been established to engage youth i n climate action and promote youth 
employment.  
10.7.4   CF Palau – Engagement with Solomon Islands on Blue Carbon  
211.  A Blue Carbon Climate Fellow (CF) was placed in Palau in November 2022 to support improved 
management, monitoring, conservation, and restoration of bl ue carbon ecosystems  in Palau and 
other countries across the Pacific region, including the Solomon Islands. The CF will assist in the 
creation of a Pacific -wide blue carbon monitoring network that will provide data needed for various 
national and internati onal reports, climate change vulnerability assessments, and the development 
of tools for improved management. The monitoring network will allow resource managers to share 
technology, data, and results across their islands and help them prioritize sites, pr actices, and 
knowledge for co -production of adaptation and resiliency strategies that can be implemented on 
their own island or across the Pacific. Part of this effort is the development of a Pacific Blue Carbon 
Knowledge Exchange Network (PI BLUEX), which  will create a consortium to coordinate efforts and 
pool resources toward a strategic, synergistic approach to blue carbon assessment across the Pacific. 
The CF will also work with partner countries to determine how mangroves and coastal carbon stocks 
can be integrated into national MRV systems, providing the possibility for partner countries to 
incorporate blue carbon into their nationally determined contributions (NDC) process and their Forest IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  Reference Emission Levels (FREL). The CF will also advise and support countries on how to effectively 
conserve and restore mangrove forests and other blue carbon ecosystems through research, 
capacity building, and development of methodologies and management plans.  
10.7.5   CF Republic of the Congo – Central Africa Regional In itiative  
212.  From 2018 to 2021, a Climate Fellow (CF) was embedded within the Republic of the Congo 's 
National Center for Inventory and Management of Forest and Wildlife Resources (CNIAF) under the 
Ministry of Forest Economy to provide technical assistance on  setting up the National Forest 
Monitoring System (NFMS), implementing REDD+, estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions/removals, and compiling reports on climate change mitigation and adaptation compliant 
with United Nations Framework Convention on Climat e Change (UNFCCC) requirements.  
213.  The CF program in the Republic of the Congo also launched a regional initiative to strengthen 
the capacity and involvement of women in measuring and reporting GHG emissions and removals to 
the UNFCCC. The initiative – entitled Central Africa Women 's Initiative for Climate Action (WICA) – 
was launched in four countries: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Republic 
of the Congo. One hundred and four women from the four countries were introduced to the scienc e 
of climate change and GHG accounting. Thirty -five of the women successfully completed a rigorous 
diploma program on GHG accounting measurement, reporting and verification offered by the GHG 
Management Institute (GHGMI) and are now working with different national institutions and NGOs 
on climate change related issues.  
10.7.6   Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development (Compass) in 
Bangladesh  
214.  In FY 2023, USAID 's Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development 
Program (Compass), implem ented by the United States Forest Service Office of International 
Programs, used an integrated approach to supporting natural resource management in Bangladesh. 
Compass has three primary program goals: (1) improve employability and career opportunities 
among marginalized at -risk youth; (2) enhance capacity of institutions to manage natural resources 
and increase tree cover and carbon sequestration in Bangladesh; (3) improve livelihoods and quality 
of life by developing natural resource management -based comm unity enterprise.  
215.  The program 's five components are designed to build competence and leadership in 
sustainable forest management and help youth gain the skills necessary to lead productive lives, 
secure employment, and positively contribute to society. All  of the components promote gender 
equality and increased opportunities for women. These components include:  
a. Establishing a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) to strengthen leadership, environmental 
stewardship, and suitable employment skills of underprivilege d youth. To date, 150 youth 
have graduated the YCC program and another 90 are planned for the remainder of FY 
2023 and FY24. YCC graduates continue to collaborate with the Compass program, and 
with each other, through the formation of a Youth Network. Ongo ing collaborations 
through the Youth Network include community projects, educational outreach, disaster 
response support, entrepreneurial partnerships, environmental volunteerism, and 
individual income generating activities.  
b. Strengthening community capaci ty and promoting public participation by engaging 
stakeholders and community members in participatory environmental restoration of 
degraded forests and natural resources in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. By the end of FY 
2023, Compass will facilitate the rest oration of 1000 hectares of degraded forest land in 
Bandarban of the Chittagong Hill Tracts through a community -driven participatory 
approach. These restoration activities have been conducted in partnership with Arannayk 
Foundation and Tahzingdong, two Ban gladesh non -government organizations, and in close 
collaboration with the local communities, local government, and the Bangladesh Forest 
Department. This work includes nursery establishment, plantations of native species, 
assisted natural regeneration, agr oforestry, construction of organic erosion control check 
dams, educational outreach, governance, and alternative income generating activities.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  c. Increasing technical cooperation on forest and ecosystem management by expanding the 
ongoing partnership with th e Bangladesh Forest Department to reinforce the 
institutionalization and application of the National Forest Inventory data, strengthening 
technical capacity for remote sensing and satellite imagery applications, and ecosystem 
valuation and investment strat egies. In FY 2023, Compass conducted GPS and GIS 
trainings with the Bangladesh Forest Department, supported the 2015 -2021 year Tree 
Cover Change Map in collaboration with University of Maryland, and provided technical 
assistance in the planning of the FY 2 024 National Forest Inventory remeasurement.  
d. Strengthening the capacity of academic and research institutions in natural resource 
management and resilience by supporting faculty, practitioners, and students in science -
based technical cooperation on techni ques, knowledge, and skills in forest management 
and monitoring through activities including trainings, workshops, research projects, 
environmental assessments, field activities, fellowship programs, technical conferences, 
curriculum development, and other s. In FY 2023, Compass supported students and faculty 
research in the application of Google Earth Engine, watershed modeling, and geographical 
and statistical analysis applications. The program collaborated with academic institutions 
on curriculum upgradat ion, nursery establishment, germplasm conservation, and 
development of forestry management plans. This component has also piloted urban 
forestry research in Dhaka City including a city -wide i -Tree survey, urban tree census of 
the National Botanical Garden,  research on the socio -political factors of urban forestry in 
Dhaka, and more.  
e. Promoting global exchange of natural resource knowledge and skills through technical 
collaborations, participation in the USFS International Seminars Series, regional 
coordinat ion and exchanges, and through promoting participation and engagement in the 
USFS global networks. In FY 2023, Compass partnered with University of New Hampshire 
(UNH) to facilitate a six -week Visiting Fellows program for six academicians engaged in 
mutual  research at UNH. This program includes an educational and observational visit of 
nine Bangladeshi students to UNH and leadership visits from Government of Bangladesh 
leadership. This component will facilitate eight participants in the USFS Communities of 
Learning and Practice Exchanges, fourteen international participants in forestry trainings 
and workshops, and a collaboration of seven participants from Bangladesh to the 
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu for 
training on Synthetic Aperture Radar.  
11  PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES RELATED TO HEALTH  
216.  Health research through biomedical and behavioral funding activities of US agencies, including 
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USAID, and Centers for Disease Contro l and Prevention 
(CDC), have contributed to technology transfer and research capacity strengthening in many LDCs. 
For new technologies developed by US scientists, NIH licenses biological materials and/or patent 
rights to institutions that can bring product s to the market in or for LDCs.  
11.1   NIH Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DSI -A) 
– All LDCs in Africa  
217.  Through Harnessing Data Science for Health Discovery and Innovation in Africa (DS -I Africa), 
NIH will support African in stitutions that partner with governments and businesses to leverage data 
science technologies and develop solutions to the continent 's most pressing health problems. 
Important potential topics include artificial intelligence tools to advance decision suppo rt for mobile 
and other point of care technologies, establishment and use of shared platforms to leverage large 
health datasets to reveal disease patterns and risks, and computational approaches and data sharing 
to accelerate discovery of new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.  
218.  Awards were made in FY 2021 for a trans -African network of research hubs, training centers, 
a coordinating center and open data science platform, and associated researchers in ethical, legal, 
and social implications of data scienc e in Africa 
(https://commonfund.nih.gov/africadata/fundedresearch ). The period for this initiative is 
FY 2021-2026.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  219.  New funding opportunities were recently released to support short courses that fill gaps in the 
DS-I Africa consortium and partnership for innovation research projects, which will be led by African 
institutions. Awards will be made in FY 2023.  
11.2  NIH Mobile Health : Technology and Outcomes in Low - and Middle -Income Countries 
– All LDCs  
220.  The focus of the NIH Mobile Health program is to explore the potential for development, 
validation, implementation, scale up, and commercialization of mobile health technologies . In the 
current iteration of the program, the first two years of each award focus on feasibility research and 
development. If the milestones  are met, NIH will dedicate three more years of support for validation, 
larger -scale feasibility, and effectiveness  studies. Private sector partner collaboration is strongly 
encouraged. To date, NIH has funded two rounds of awards for this phased innovation approach in 
FY 2020 and FY 2021. FY 2022 awards are pending and were due on 15 November 2022 and 
9 December 2022.  
11.3  Partnership for Research on Vaccines  and Infectious Diseases ( PREVAIL ) – Liberia  
221.  PREVAIL is a partnership including the US Government (NIH and CDC), the government of 
Liberia (Ministry of Health, National Public Health Institute of Liberia, University of Liberia, and John 
F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center (JFKMMC)) and the World Health Organization. The mission of 
PREVAIL is to conduct collaborative biomedical and public health research in accordance with best 
practices, and to advance science, strengthen  health policy and practice, and improve the health of 
Liberians and people worldwide. The goals are to conduct high quality research, establish and sustain 
the expertise required to conduct research, build sustainable research capacity, and optimize 
organ izational effectiveness. PREVAIL 's specific technology transfer initiatives comprise providing 
training and expertise in all aspects of clinical research studies, including clinical operations, 
laboratory, pharmacy, social mobilization, and regulatory face ts. PREVAIL 's clinical research capacity 
has launched 13 clinical trials, focused on infectious diseases of importance in Liberia, including 
Ebola virus disease, HIV, malaria, COVID -19, and a Lassa fever. Study findings have been published 
in the New Engla nd Journal of Medicine and other high impact scientific journals. Ebola virus clinical 
research efforts have also helped lead to licensed vaccines and treatments for Ebola virus disease.  
222.  PREVAIL has improved clinical spaces and laboratory infrastructure at four clinical sites in 
Liberia, including the establishment of imaging capabilities and a microbiology laboratory at JFKMC. 
PREVAIL has also helped to establish the West African Consortium for Clinical Research (WAC), which 
includes clini cal research experts from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and the Ivory Coast. The 
mission of the WAC is to advance regional preparedness for global health security by sharing regional 
research, best practices, and evidence to inform infectious diseas e policy. PREVAIL has also 
considerably expanded sequencing capabilities in Liberia by providing equipment and training. 
Biostatistics professors from NIH and Columbia University developed a series of trainings in 
Bioinformatics and Biostatistics to be del ivered in Liberia in collaboration with PREVAIL and Liberian 
biostatisticians and professors from the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (UL CHS).  
223.  The Research Sustainability Initiative in Liberia (RETAIN) was initiated by PREVAIL, University  
of Liberia, and other governmental and academic partners. RETAIN builds a sustainable foundation 
to support the funding and conduct of excellent research programs in Liberia by building a higher 
education, training, and mentoring platform to serve partner s and stakeholders. RETAIN is 
establishing the first PhD program at the UL CHS and infrastructure at the University of Liberia to 
handle all facets of grants management. RETAIN established a health research organizational 
structure, which includes: an Offi ce of Health Research to support curriculum development, teaching, 
and research training; an Office of Sponsored Research Services to support grants and contracts 
management and administrative policies; and an Office of Financial Services to support resear ch 
infrastructure, finance, funds control, and auditing.  
224.  The UL CHS has received support to develop senior level scientists and academics to lead 
training and human resource development in Liberia. The UL CHS is also working with partners to 
identify, tra in, and mentor PhD students to serve as the next generation of Liberian biomedical 
research leaders and faculty. Regional model PhD programs were identified in Ghana, Mali, 
Mozambique, and Zambia. Program data were collected and analy sed to provide the fou ndation for 
an assessment of program requirements in Liberia. Assessment data were used to develop a UL CHS IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  PhD program proposal, which is currently under revision by RETAIN partners and the Liberian 
National Commission on Higher Education. UL CHS, PREVAIL , and RETAIN partners are actively 
working to develop curricula, seek funding opportunities, and identify faculty, advisors, and students 
for the UL CHS PhD program.  
225.  To support faculty development, the UL CHS collaborated with Vanderbilt University and th e 
University of Massachusetts to develop a curriculum for medical doctors and to coordinate training 
and mentorship of Liberian teachers who will serve as instructors at the UL CHS. Liberian health 
sciences students enrolled in graduate schools abroad cont inue to collaborate with and receive 
mentorship from UL CHS and RETAIN partners. Twenty -eight Liberian students are currently 
admitted to masters and PhD programs in various disciplines at Boston University, University of 
California San Francisco, Universi ty of Hawaii, Case Western Reserve University, University of Ghana, 
Karolinska Institute, Ludwig Maximillian University, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 
and Bowen University. A robust mentorship program is in place to assist promising Liber ian students 
with applications to international graduate programs and for development of collaborative research 
projects in Liberia.  
226.  After two years of operation and support to the center from PREVAIL, NIAID, and NIH, the 
JFKMC imaging center was transfer red to be fully managed by the medical center in May 2021. 
Advanced medical imaging capabilities are being developed, and a suite to hold an MRI and a 
"Somatom Go Now " CT scanner has been constructed. The Microbiology laboratory development 
project has bee n completed and JFKMC is currently training its staff. Staff are proficient in not only 
the use but also troubleshooting, maintenance, and basic repairs for multiple transferred 
technologies to allow for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing using point of care or near point 
of care instruments, serologic assays, and routine clinical laboratory assessments. The NIAID 
Division of Clinical Research continues to collaborate with partners in Liberia to enhance the 
laboratory capabilities in the region. Introd uction and development of sequencing capabilities is a 
priority. The team partnered with the Global Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness (GAPP) from 
Columbia University and the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZB) to develop capacity on two sequencing 
platforms. Tra ining is ongoing to support sequencing for SARS -CoV-2, Lassa fever virus, and 
pathogen discovery. Through GAPP, the Illumina MiSeq platform is being serviced after years of 
being offline and a new instrument has been procured. In addition, through PREVAIL and CZB, an 
iSeq 100 platform has been provided for Liberia. Research capacity for flow cytometry, Luminex 
MAGPIX, and Quanterix SP -X technologies are also being implemented. These instruments will serve 
as valuable research tools and will open the door fo r advanced characterization of immune responses 
to infectious diseases.  
227.  From the PREVAIL 2020 -24 Strategic Plan: "The partnership was conceived during the largest 
and most complex Ebola outbreak since Ebola the virus was discovered in 1976. Prior to the 
outbreak, Liberia 's healthcare infrastructure was weak and vulnerable, following years of civil war. 
The outbreak brought the health care system to a near halt. PREVAIL combined all available 
resources to establish a functional infrastructure at four clinic al sites and the Liberian Institute for 
Biomedical Research (LIBR) research lab. It also built Liberian capacity to conduct clinical research. 
The successes have led to the decision by the partners to protect and enhance this valuable resource 
by establish ing PREVAIL as a sustainable enterprise that conducts ongoing research while retaining 
the ability to respond to future outbreaks. " 
11.4  International Centers for Excellence in Research  (ICER) – Uganda  
228.  The International Center of Excellence in Research (ICER) program was launched in 2002 by 
the NIAID Division of Intramural Research (DIR). The ICER program is focused on infectious disease 
clinical research, and each center i s enabled to address the research and training needs of greatest 
relevance to the local population. Through long -term collaborations with colleagues in country, DIR 
has developed a core research program at each ICER site and has provided opportunities to e xpand 
research capabilities and programs. The improvement of laboratory and clinical field site 
infrastructure and the enhancement of information technology capability have been critical 
components of this effort. In addition to DIR, NIAID extramural divis ions also have provided support 
to investigators at these sites and aim to continue to support ICER programs through the 
engagement of the extramural scientific community.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  11.5  Disease Detection – Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand  
229.  The US Department of Defense, Defen se Threat Reduction Agency 's Biological Threat 
Reduction Program (BTRP) is working with the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit 
(MORU) to provide training and education at the local level in field diagnosis, sample collection, and 
shipment. Thes e activities are closely coordinated between BTRP, WHO, US CDC, and MORU. More 
than 80 veterinarian officers have been trained on and practiced biosafety and biosecurity, and the 
samples shipped from the field to the national laboratory correctly and safely. The program started 
in 2016 and is ongoing. USAID in La o PDR supports the One Health Workforce and One Health 
University Network, which support global health security by creating a global health workforce 
capable of rapidly responding to and mitigating disease threats across the human, animal, and 
environmenta l health sectors. These activities are slated to end in FY 2024.  
11.6  Laboratory Diagnostics – Lao PDR, Cambodia, Thailand  
230.  BTRP also supports MORU to assess and train relevant staff at the National Animal Health 
Laboratory (NAHL) in multiple areas, such as samp ling, sample handling, and molecular diagnostics. 
These activities are being closely coordinated between BTRP and IPL, LOMWRU, and MORU. NAHL 
has increased qualified staff for field activities such as animal diseases surveillance, outbreak 
investigation th rough enhanced animal disease diagnosis techniques, and quality assurance. The 
program started June 2021 and is ongoing in 2023.  
11.7  Laboratory Project Extension for Community Healthcare  Outcomes (ECHO) – 
Tanzania  
231.  Running during  2016-present , CDC 's Laboratory Project ECHO is a distance learning and 
mentorship model designed to build capacity for health care workers through satellite training. Using 
the hub and spoke approach, CDC provides training and technical assistance to four facilities (hubs), 
and more tha n 273 facilities (spokes) in Tanzania. As of June 2022, the CDC -supported program has 
trained more than 1,280 MDR tuberculosis management experts, and more than 19,200 HIV non-
laboratory  testers. This support involved more than 1,236 mentoring and training  sessions. 
Participants are evaluated after each distance learning session and continue to show measurable 
gain in knowledge. As of June 2023, out of the 27,000 trained  HIV non -laboratory testers , 10,500  
have been certified and licensed , surpassing the  target of training  more than 25,000 HIV testing 
personnel at testing points in health facilities.  In July 2022, with CDC technical support and funding, 
Muhimbili National Hospital launched a COVID -19 and other Epidemic Case Management "virtual 
community of pr actice " through Project ECHO.  Plans are also underway to expand Project ECHO to 
multiple hubs with the inclusion of all district hospitals as spoke sites.  
11.8  NIH Research Training Programs for Low -and-Middle -Income -Countries  
232.  NIH's Fogarty International Center  is dedicated to advancing the NIH by supporting and 
facilitating global health research conducted by US and international investigators, building 
partnerships between health research institutions in the United States and abroad, and training the 
next generation of scientists to address global health needs. These long -term investments in science 
help to prom ote technology transfer to LMICs.  
233.  NIH's Fogarty International Center supports several research training programs that include 
training for LMICs biomedical researchers and research institutions and contribute to technology 
transfer and capacity building. P rograms include the Global Infectious Disease Program, the Fogarty 
HIV Research Training Program, and the Health Professional Education Partnership Initiative. The 
programs involve researchers and health professionals from LMIC countries (see 
https://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/default.aspx ). 
234.  In FY 2022, the funding opportunity titled Infrastructure Development Training Programs for 
Critical HIV Research at Low -and Middle -Income Country Institutions allows applicants to submit 
programs that support training of staff necessary to develop technology transfer and intellectual 
property protection capacity, amongst other research infrastructure support function s.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  11.9  District Health Information Software 2  (DHIS2)  
235.  DHIS2 is a free and open-source health management data platform used by multiple 
organizations and governments worldwide.  
11.10   Strengthening DHIS2 for the Management of Epidemics – Guinea  
236.  CDC-funded Universit y of Oslo/HISP and  CDC-funded partner, AFENET , assisted the M inistry 
of Health  National Agency for Health Security (ANSS in French) specialists in strengthening, adapting 
and maintaining epidemic disease (e.g. , COVID -19, Ebola, Marburg, Lassa Fever) module s and 
dashboards in the DHIS2 platform . They also assisted  the National Inst itute for Public Health 's 
reference laboratory to incorporate DHIS2 into their data systems. These teams provided DHIS2 
technical assistance to capture and perform analyses for all  epidemic diseases ' surveillance data 
(e.g., COVID -19, Lassa fever, Marburg, measles, and Ebola) including cases, contacts, vaccination, 
alerts, case management and laboratory data. CDC and its partner AFENET continue to support the 
COVID -19, Marburg, Lass a fever, Ebola and vaccine -preventable diseases outbreak responses 
through the deployment of Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) graduates. The graduates 
have been leading surveillance, contact tracing, active case finding, and data management in th e 
DHIS2 system used by the Ministry of Health.  
237.  At the national level, CDC and AFENET staff have provided technical assistance for the 
development and monitoring of response strategies for these zoonoses including surveillance guides, 
case definitions, and response plans.  
11.10.1   Article highlights the use of DHIS2 in Guinea for epidemics  
238.  A British Medical Journal article highlighted how "Guinea was successful in rapidly deploying 
an EVD module and enhancing it amid an outbreak response despite challenges such as limited 
resources and data quality issues, creating a module that will be a useful tool in future viral 
haemorrhagic  fever outbre aks" (https://reliefweb.int/report/guinea/implementing -dhis2 -ebola -
virus-disease -module -during -2021-guinea -ebola -outbreak ). 
11.11   DHIS2 and Kassai e -Learning Software  – Angola  
239.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the President 's 
Malaria Initiative (PMI) is investing in the implementation of existing digital technolog y and 
development of new digital platforms to improve the health information system and health care 
services in Angola. Investments cover a wide range of activities including improving data reporting 
and data quality for decision -making, training and super vising health workers (HWs) for improved 
health care services, and monitoring health product distributions. Overall, USAID and PMI are 
contributing to the development of a digital eco -system in the country that facilities the work of 
health professionals f or managerial and service delivery at central, provincial, municipal and health 
unit (HU) levels. The digital eco -system includes the DHIS2, Health Network Quality Improvement 
System (HNQIS), E -Learning platform named KASSAI and digital Rapid Data Quality Assessment 
tool (Digital RDQA). UNITEL, the largest telecommunication company in Angola, provides free 
internet access to DHIS2 and Kassai as part of their social responsibility program and partnership 
with USAID and PMI.  
240.  In June 2020, USAID and PMI, through the Health for All project led by PSI, launched the 
eLearning platform Kassai. In July 2021, the Kassai platform was approved by the Ministry of Health 
for national roll out. Kassai currently has 17 courses in Malaria, Family Planning and Reproductive 
Health, Maternal and Child Health, and COVID -19. Two more courses, one in Nutrition, funded by 
Nutirset and Unitel, and another in Medical Semiology, funded by ExxonMobil, will be launched before 
October 2023. Kassai has en rolled learners from all 18 provinces in Angola, and features:  
a. over 7700 unique users;  
b. more than 34,000 course enrollments;  
c. more than 15,300 certificates of successful completion issued and;  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  d. over 25,000 hours of health providers using Kassai for learnin g. 
241.  Another feature of Kassai in Angola is management reports that triangulate data from Kassai 
(learning scores), Health Network Quality Improvement System (HNQIS) supervision scores, and 
DHIS2 (sisangola) health outcome and stock out data. These triangula tions are presented in a report, 
automatically issued and emailed by the system to the national and subnational MOH managers and 
implementing partners. PowerBI is used for data visualization. These reports allow health managers 
to better target their quali ty improvement activities and resources, focusing their efforts on high 
impact – high burden health facilities.  
242.  USAID implementing partners have attracted funding from different funders and donors such 
as: 
a. PEPFAR;  
b. the Impact Malaria project;  
c. the Bill and M elinda Gates Foundation;  
d. Maverick;  
e. the private sector (Unilever and Packard);  
f. the Dutch Government; and  
g. the World Bank.  
11.12   Kassai expansion outside Angola  
243.  Currently, Kassai is supporting remote capacity building activities of frontline health workers 
in Burun di, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of the Congo , Eswatini, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lao PDR, 
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Viet  Nam. USAID implementing 
partners are working with the Ministries of Health of Cameroon and Zimbabwe t o add e -Learning 
courses to the platform.  
11.12.1   GRA Statements:  
244.  "Kassai is a digital self and blended learning tool which requires less logistical costs, such as 
transportation of trainees and governmental per diems associated with it. It also saves  time for the 
health providers who are being trained as they do not need to be taken  outside from their places of 
work for long training days, resulting in best use of th eir time and less on job absentees ." – Dr Helga 
Freitas, Head of the National Public Health Directorate.  
245.  "Kassai streamlines health care workers training process, which w ith little time and resources 
can reach a large number of trainees, improving programmes and providing data visibility  that allows 
us to improve the way we make decisions and act on them ." – Dr Fransisco Ketha, Head of the 
Primary Health Care Department, D irectorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Angola.   
246.  "Kassai 's ability to Data triangulation  assists to better target health facilities that are at 
greatest need of capacity building, thus channeling the resources to the places where the highest 
health impact can be achieved ." – Dr. Ana Paula Machado, Head of Information Technology and 
Institutional Communication Cabinet.  
11.13   Dhibiti Malaria Tanzania  
247.  Dhibiti Malaria (2022 -2027) addresses the urgent healthcare needs of malaria in at -risk 
populations - especially vulnerable pregnant women and children under five - and supports other 
partners to initiate and execute malaria programs while building sustain ability from the start of 
activity. It strengthens the capacity of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and Zanzibar 
Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP) to implement evidence -based activities to improve the quality IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  of diagnosis, treatment, and malar ia in pregnancy (MIP) services through quality improvement 
activities, surveillance, entomological monitoring in up to 25 councils in mainland Tanzania and 
11 districts in Zanzibar.  
248.  This activity builds upon the success of recent USAID and PMI investments , including PMI 
Impact Malaria (IM), Okoa Maisha Dhibiti Malaria, and USAID Boresha Afya to support the GOT in 
improving case management and MIP services, strengthening positive health behaviors, enhancing 
malaria surveillance and systems, and conducting e ntomological monitoring. This support includes 
improving linkage between the health management information system (HMIS) / district health 
information system (DHIS2) platform, surveys, and studies and program -specific information 
systems to monitor and eva luate the country 's health status and health sector performance, 
including for malaria. To further progress on their respective paths to malaria elimination, Dhibiti 
Malaria provides technical assistance to NMCP and ZAMEP to strengthen the quality of their  malaria 
surveillance, as well as their capacity to analyze and interpret data for use in evidence -based 
decision -making. Additionally, Dhibiti Malaria will strengthen the GOT 's capability to detect 
insecticide resistance, and to conduct vector surveillanc e - to include surveillance for the new malaria 
vector, An. stephensi.  
11.14   Shinda Malaria - Tanzania  
249.  Shinda Malaria (August 2022 – August 2027), implemented by Ifakara Health Institute, 
supports the Government of Tanzania (GOT) in reducing malaria burden and i n moving towards 
malaria elimination. It is also achieving USAID 's strategy to support institutional growth and capacity 
development for local institutions. The project will address the urgent healthcare needs of malaria 
at-risk populations, especially vul nerable pregnant women and children under five, and support 
Tanzania partners to grow and execute malaria programs sustainably and successfully. The project 
combines the technical competencies of the Ifakara Health Institute, Health Information System 
Program, and Tanzania Communication and Development Center from Tanzania and Akros from 
Zambia. Under this activity, Shinda Malaria will work closely with the GOT to improve the capacity 
for sustainable malaria case management. It will also identify and streng then malaria -related health 
information systems and build capacity at national and sub -national levels to facilitate use of data 
for evidence -based planning in addressing malaria needs. Shinda Malaria will also support continued 
efficacy monitoring of both  first-line malaria treatment and alternative treatment drugs to enable 
the NMCP to obtain timely, relevant, reliable data and information that can be readily used to inform 
malaria treatment policy, should efficacy decrease below acceptable levels.  
11.15   Additional Country Programs  
11.15.1   Africa Laboratory Information System (A -LIS) – Uganda  
250.  Starting in FY 2017, President 's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the CDC 
provided support to the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) to simplify, standardize, and ma intain good 
laboratory practices. This helped the MoH meet national and international standards for accurate 
and reliable testing needed for accreditation. To accomplish this goal, the US-funded PEPFAR and 
CDC programs helped the MoH customize its open -source computing for good basic laboratory 
information system software, renaming it the Africa Laboratory Information System (A -LIS) and the 
Results Download System (RDS). The A -LIS captures real time laboratory testing data used for both 
clinical decision -making and health indicator reporting, while the RDS allows real -time access to the 
lab results for HIV, TB, disease surveillance, and outbreak investigation.  
251.  Using automated laboratory equipment, the MoH enhanced A -LIS's capabilities, enabling the 
automatic  relay of data over the internet from remote health facilities across the country to a central 
national repository used to populate dashboards for monitoring diseases, such as HIV and TB. In 
2021, this important upgrade assisted MoH efforts to manage the C OVID -19 pandemic.  
252.  In FY 2022, the CDC, with PEPFAR funding, continued to support the equipment maintenance 
and calibration program at the Uganda National Equipment Calibration Centre Laboratory (NECL) of 
the MoH. Building on prior years ' achievements, for the period September 2020 – June 2022, an 
additional cost saving of USD 850,000 was realized, attributed largely to cost saving on the 
calibration of equipment such as temperature guns, biosafety cabinets, automated pipettes, and IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  other auxiliary equipment in addition to required equipment maintenance during the COVID -19 
pandemic.  
253.  Due to the increased country capacity the CDC built, the equipment maintenance/calibration 
response turnaround time improved from more than a month to two weeks and is expected to reduce 
to one week or less when the center refurbishment is completed over this financial year. With this 
increased capacity the demand for calibration and maintenance services increased, therefore the 
CDC is supporting the center refurbishment to create a  safer and more appropriate working 
environment and facility physical capacity.  
254.  In efforts to sustain the investment made, the NECL biomedical engineers/technicians have 
embarked on building the regional biomedical technicians ' capacity in equipment maint enance and 
calibration through hands on training. The support to the NECL is expected to continue in order to 
ensure long term sustainability.  
255.  Building on the achievements of PEPFAR investment in NECL and Regional Equipment 
Maintenance Workshops (REMWs) ov er the years (2018 – 2022), CDC Uganda has continued to 
strengthen the Uganda MoH 's laboratory capacity for equipment management, with a focus on 
government ownership. NECL now has a business plan that has helped MOH to increase its cost 
recovery and cost saving strategy which leads to institutional self -reliance and sustainability. Over 
the years, the NECL maintained ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation status with an increased scope, which 
meets the national and international technical competence requirement neces sary to consistently 
provide technically valid testing and calibration results. The Department of National Health 
Laboratory and Diagnostic Services (NHLDS) now takes the lead on the operations of the NECL. 
Leveraging on the capacity and infrastructure gai ned with support from CDC, NHLDS was able to 
attract funding from Global Fund to procure additional equipment for the NECL and thus expand its 
scope.  
256.  Additionally, the NECL has been able to improve the equipment downtime (from more than a 
month to less tha n a week) and this improvement has been sustained. These improvements have 
minimized testing interruptions for HIV and TB testing and created the capacity to address 
equipment maintenance needs of other programs, like Global Health Security, for disease ou tbreak 
preparedness and control. For example, biosafety cabinets were certified to ensure safety during 
COVID -19 and Ebola -Sudan Virus outbreaks. In 2020 -2022, USD 1,150,600 was saved from services 
that would have been outsourced. To further reduce equipme nt downtime in the region and in 
peripheral laboratories, NECL is building regional capacity for equipment maintenance at the REMWs 
through decentralization of the calibration functions, which will reduce referral of equipment to NECL. 
The program is ongoi ng in FY 2023.  
11.15.2   Promoting the Quality of Medicines (PQM+) – Bangladesh  
257.  The Promoting Quality of Medicines Plus (PQM+) program strengthens the institutional 
capacity of relevant Government of Bangladesh (GOB) institutions, including the GOB 's Directorate 
General of Drug Administration (DGDA), that are responsible for regulatory processes, quality 
assurance, and quality control systems to ensure that international standards are met. During FY 
2020-2021, the program provide d assistance to the DGDA drug testing laboratories in Dhaka and 
Chittagong to achieve WHO Prequalification  accreditation. PQM+ also provides technical support to 
manufacturers of quality -assured priority medicines for TB, maternal and child health (MCH), and 
family planning/reproductive health  (FP/RH). The program will be ongoing until September 2024.  
11.15.3   Field Epidemiology Training Program – Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC)  
258.  During FY 2017 -2023, the CDC supports the DRC in strengthening the capacity of its workforce 
to investigate and respon d to disease outbreaks through the establishment of a Field Epidemiology 
Training Program (FETP). FETP trains field epidemiologists  — or disease detectives — to identify and 
contain outbreaks before they become epidemics. Participants focus on "learning by doing " to 
develop the skills for gathering critical data and turning it into evidence -based action. The DRC FETP 
has trained 500 disease detectives who are crucial to accurately detecting and identifying outbreaks, 
including the recent Ebola and monkeyp ox outbreaks. The program started in 2013 and the first 
cohort graduated in 2015 . Disease detectives helped support the responses to the 2014, 2017, 2018, 
and 2022 Ebola outbreaks.  In 2023, 60 health officials, from the national and provincial level s, were  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  trained on public health emergency management for effective management of outbreaks. 
Additionally, CDC has supported strengthening capacity of the national reference laboratory and the 
National Biomedical Research Institute (INRB). The capacity for diagno sis of Ebola Sudan was 
established at INRB in Kinshasa and the provincial INRB in Goma, North Kivu province. A mobile 
genomic sequencing laboratory was established together with INRB to help with outbreak 
investigations.  
11.15.4   Establishing Virtual Communities of  Practice (vCOP) to Combat HIV/AIDs in the 
Chadian Military – Chad  
259.  In FY 2023, the Department of Defense 's HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), in 
partnership with the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) project, purchased and 
delivered vide o conferencing equipment for military hospitals in N 'Djamena and Sarh as an important 
step in developing a virtual community  of practice (vCOP) to combat HIV/AIDs within the Chadian 
military. ECHO expects full operating capacity at the two sites by Decembe r 2023 and has plans for 
installations next year at three additional sites.  
11.15.5   USAID Enhancing Quality of Healthcare Activity (EQHA) – Cambodia  
260.  During 2018 -2023, the Enhancing Quality of Healthcare Activity (EQHA) program works to 
improve the health of the C ambodian people by empowering national and provincial leaders, as well 
as public and private healthcare managers and providers . The program aims to improve the quality 
of health services by scaling up modern quality improvement (QI) methods, strengthening 
healthcare regulation and transforming preservice education by 2023. The project intends to reach 
these goals through these steps:  
a. improve policies, guidelines and standards for streamlined quality assurance;  
b. increase efficiency and effectiveness of servi ce delivery;  
c. strengthen implementation and enforcement of the regulatory framework; and  
d. strengthen preservice public health training.  
261.  The EQHA program supports the Ministry of Health Human Resource Development Department 
and the Cambodian Council of Nur ses to transform the health workforce by adopting competency -
based clinical education, which includes: (1) revision and transition of the Associated Degrees for 
Nursing and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing training curriculum from traditional knowledge -based 
to competency -based programs by developing an educational glossary, and revising and updating 
the Nursing Core Competency Framework (CCF) to align with Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
(ASEAN) core competencies; (2) applying distance learning at  four Regional Training Centers ( RTCs) 
and the University of Puthisastra to facilitate e -learning, especially in the COVID -19 pandemic 
context; (3) providing simulation teaching equipment, including high -fidelity mannequins, to the 
Battambang and Kampong C ham RTCs to enable students to practice clinical skills and give them 
confidence to practice. The EQHA program supports the establishment of the first National Health 
Accreditation System in Cambodia by developing the Cambodian Hospital Accreditation Stand ards 
(CHAS) and the Cambodian Health Center Accreditation , training and certifying senior surveyors  and 
hospitals accreditation coordinators , and selecting  20 hospitals  to field test the standards . The 
Ministry of Health of Cambodia has adapted the accredi tation standards to be used for the National 
Quality Enhancing and Monitoring systems. As a result, 240 hospital directors and Quality 
Improvement coordinators from 120 public hospitals across Cambodia, as well as 11 accreditation 
coordinators and core tra iners, were trained .  The core trainers  further trained 43 assessor trainers 
to use CHAS and facilitate public hospitals assessments.  EQHA has introduced a mobile platform, 
namely SwipeRx, to support continuous professional development (CDP) modules for self -learning 
by pharmacists to strengthen their capacity and knowledge related to tuberculosis and family 
planning.  EQHA support s development of three digital CPDs, which include : (1) TB presumptive 
client screening and referral practices at the pharmacy, (2) pharmacy scope and standards, and (3) 
contraceptive choice, including the benefits of injectable, implant, and IUD contraceptive methods. 
A total of 987 pharmacists received CPD cr edits from the Pharmacists ' Council of Cambodia (PCC) 
on TB screening and referral, 958 pharmacy professionals completed and passed the digital CPD on 
family planning, and 418 completed and passed the digi tal CPD r eelated to pharmacy standards.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  11.15.6   Promoting Healthy Behaviors (PHB) Program – Cambodia  
262.  USAID 's PHB program 's objective is to improve healthy behavio urs among Cambodians and 
ensure that Cambodians seek and receive quality health care with decreased f inancial hardship 
through more sustainable systems. There are two main objectives: 1) strengthen public sector 
systems for oversight and coordination of SBC at national and provincial levels; 2) improve ability 
of individuals to adopt healthy behavio urs. W omen and men in the six provincial communities of 
Kampong Cham, Battambang, Pailin, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Chhnang, and Phnom Penh are 
receiving health information/education about family planning, tuberculosis, hygiene and sanitation, 
maternal and child heal th, and nutrition, non -communicable diseases, and malaria. Communities in 
the targeted provinces appreciate the opportunity to learn more information on family planning and 
TB, and they will participate in the program by referring those with suspected symp toms to health 
centers for screening.  
263.   In addition to the six provinces above, and due to the dynamic malaria epidemiology as 
Cambodia approaches elimination, PHB is also supporting SBC activities specific to malaria in Pursat 
and Kampong Speu provinces an d can potentially support additional provinces.  
264.  The lessons learned by GEMS (Greater Mekong Subregion Elimination of Malaria through 
Surveillance) extend beyond malaria elimination and touch on wider issues of public -private 
partnerships, health systems st rengthening, quality of care, understanding and engaging 
communities, effective disease surveillance, and working towards sustainability and government 
oversight of private sector engagement. PHB is ongoing in 2023.  
11.15.7   Health Service Delivery (HSD) – Guinea  
265.  Notre Santé, a program run by USAID/Guinea Health Service Delivery (HSD) is committed to 
ensuring that quality health data is produced, used, and transparently shared with communities and 
non-health actors to drive inclusive, evidence -based programming . It builds on the existing, 
structured process for routine data reporting within DHIS2 to create a culture of active data quality 
control, analysis, use, and bi -directional feedback. The project works with the Système National 
d'Information Sanitaire (SNIS) t o use epidemiological and routine health systems data from Guinea 's 
health management information system (HMIS) to target interventions for maximum impact. In the 
first year of the project, the project supported the development of a strategic plan for Bureau of 
Strategy and Development  (BSD) of the Ministry of Health  for 2023 -2027, supported health data 
reviews at multiple levels of the health system, contributed to the annual review of national 
programs,  conducted  training on the use of DHIS2 for reproduct ive health  providers , and reinforced 
the capacity of key staff in digital health skills at skills through the training at the DHIS2 Community 
Tracker Academy in Côte d 'Ivoire (ongoing).  
11.15.8   Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) – Democratic Republic of the Con go (DRC)  
266.  During 2018 -2024, USAID is providing USD five million for technical assistance, leadership, 
and training to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation component of the National Malaria Control 
Program (NMCP) and the National Health Management Information Sys tems in the DRC. PMI also 
provides technical training on molecular insecticide resistance monitoring techniques for malaria 
vector species that increases  the capacity of the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, the 
national research laboratory, in e ntomological surveillance. PMI additionally supports the monitoring 
of mosquito net durability and resistance  through the Kinshasa School of Public Health and 
entomological data on mosquitos through the DRC 's NMCP. The entomological surveillance will help 
improve future decision -making regarding choice of vector control tools. The program is ongoing in 
2023.  
11.15.9   CDC SARS -CoV-2 Genomic Sequencing – Malawi   
267.  Despite the WHO deceleration ending the COVID -19 Pandemic as a public health emergency, 
the need to continu e monitoring SARS -VOC-2 variants remains a public health priority. Capacitating 
laboratories to perform SARS -CoV-2 genomic sequencing is imperative to track variants and inform 
public health interventions, including informing COVID -19 vaccine choice. Betwe en 2020 - present, 
numerous samples have been successfully sequenced within Malawi and this technology has been IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  used to sequence cholera samples. The country will soon start sequencing multi -drug resistant 
tuberculosis.  
11.15.10   Maji na Usafi wa Mazingira (MUM) – Tanzania  
268.  MUM began in 2021 and runs until August 2026. MUM works with national, regional and district 
stakeholders to improve Tanzania Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)  systems for planning, 
financing, and implementing actions to expand WASH and water re sources management service, 
using four complementary  implementation strategies: building ownership through continuous 
stakeholder engagement, strengthening organizational systems and services, applying 
market -based principles and learning by doing. MUM is a five -year activity that was awarded in 
August 2021 and works across 10 districts in Tanzania. MUM is working to: (1) increase access to 
sustainable water services managed by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency and urban 
water utilities; (2) incr ease access to finance for water, sanitation, and hygiene; (3) strengthen the 
market for sanitation and hygiene products and services; and (4) strengthen basin water boards 
and water user associations to enhance stewardship of water resources.  
11.15.11   Public Secto r Systems Strengthening Plus (PS3+) – Tanzania  
269.  PS3+ began in 2020 and runs until August 2025. The activity strengthens key Government of 
Tanzania management systems, notably the Planning and Reporting system and the Facility Financial 
Accounting and Report ing System, as well as their interoperability with other central 
planning/budgeting and financial management systems. These systems promote evidence -driven 
decision -making using data and information. Better management and coordination of these systems 
enhances rural and urban community systems and improves the planning and management of public 
services, especially agriculture, education, nutrition, water, and sanitation. Improved public services 
facilitate private sector engagement as a partner in the provi sion of public goods and services. Lastly, 
stronger management systems improve capacity at Regional Secretariat, local government 
authority, and facility levels to plan, generate, and transparently use resources through direct facility 
financing and paymen t systems. PS3+ targets systems strengthening across all 26 regions in 
Tanzania. The goal of PS3+ is to improve evidence -based planning and management of public 
services at local levels, strengthen local governance through citizen engagement and social 
accountability, and increase efficiency in the collection and transparent use of financial resources. 
PS3+ has extended work in Zanzibar in this financial year to extend the use of strengthened digital 
public sector systems in planning and reporting as well a s electronic medical records.  
11.15.12   Human Resources for Health (HRH) Initiative – Tanzania  
270.   Under a public private partnership established in 2019, the Touch Foundation is coordinating 
the development of a bottom -up Human Resources for Health (HRH) intervention with three 
Government of Tanzania ministries –Ministry of Health, President 's Office: Regional and Local 
Government, and President 's Office: Public Sector Management and Good Governance. The platform, 
known as Workload Indicator of Staffing Needs – Priorit ization and Optimization Analysis 
(WISN -POA), calculates and prioritizes HRH need at the public facility and district level and transmits 
the request to the national level. Districts are then informed of how many HRH will be allocated, 
which often requires  some re -prioritization based on their budgets. By September 2022, the 
government were for the first time operating from the same HRH database that calculates HRH need 
at the lowest level and permits the national level agencies to make their own calculatio ns based on 
national budget and the pool of HRH candidates. Prior to this, the ministries were operating 
independently and were using hardcopy transmittal of data based on a lot of guesswork.  Technical 
assistance helps private health facilities implement HRH innovations that enable them to absorb and 
retain human resources that cannot be employed in the public health sector.  
11.15.13   Frontier Health Markets Engage - Tanzania  
271.  Frontier Health Markets Eng age (2021 -2026), aims to create greater participation in the 
delivery of health products and services though the private sector. The activity has developed a 
simulation dashboard to bring greater visibility to gaps in supply of products and services in the  
health system. The entities of particular focus are private pharmacies and drug outlets, known as 
Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs). Given that there are more than 15,000 ADDOs, most 
of which are in rural and peri -urban areas where there are no p harmacies, these private drug outlets IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  can reach areas of the market that cannot be served by health dispensaries. FHM Engage is 
coordinating USAID efforts to address policy barriers and enhance ADDO business viability and 
quality of services. For example, FHM Engage is working with Maisha Meds, an organization that 
provides free point -of-sale and inventory software to ADDOs, and other partners will upgrade the 
knowledge of ADDO dispensers in providing products and services for HIV, malaria, family planning , 
and children under  five years with pneumonia, diarrhea, or malnutrition.  
11.15.14   Digital Square – Tanzania  
272.  Digital Square is a global USAID mechanism that coordinates investments into smart, scalable 
health technology solutions and creates an environment in which  they can be sustained , particularly 
by strengthening the country 's efforts to develop national digital health infrastructure. In Tanzania, 
strengthening healthcare service delivery through sustainable, harmonized, and interoperable digital 
health solution s has been identified as one of the key strategic outcomes of Tanzania 's Health Sector 
Strategic Plan V (2021 -26). While the country has made significant progress in digital health, Digital 
Square is supporting the Ministry of Health to address the remaini ng challenges by strengthening 
digital health governance and enhancing existing digital systems to address government priorities. 
It is also supporting the design, implementation , and scaleup of digital health solutions for HIV/AIDS, 
malaria, TB, and mater nal and child health programs, including the expansion and scaleup of the 
Unified Community System (UCS; OpenSRP) with community -based functionalities. Finally, Digital 
Square is supporting the development and implementation of health enterprise architectu re in 
Zanzibar and operationalization of a partner coordination group in Mainland  Tanzania . Throughout 
this, the mechanism is actively supporting the UCS governance committee to ensure coordinated 
UCS deployment and ensure the establishment of harmonized a nd interoperable digital health 
systems.  
11.15.15   m-mama  – Tanzania  
273.  m-mama, an emergency  transportation system for women and newborns at risk, is being 
expanded nationally with funding under a cooperative agreement between USAID and Vodacom 
Foundation. The system  has been expanded to 16 regions on the mainland and all 5 regions in 
Zanzibar. By September 2023, the system will have been rolled out to all 31 regions. Vodafone 
Foundation will provide technical assistance until 2025 to ensure that the system is fully f unded and 
managed by the GOT. Vodacom Tanzania is coordinating the use of a nationwide 24/7 toll free 
number that medical staff can use to call for GOT ambulances and private cars (community drivers) 
to respond to expectant mothers needing emergency care. During incoming calls, a dispatch nurse 
uses a tablet that applies an algorithm to screen the calls for key issues (e.g., long labor, bleeding) 
and determines the appropriate level of care at which health facility. A real -time dashboard shows 
the movement and travel time of the vehicles to ensure that medical staff are immediately available 
to attend to the case. As of June 2023, more than 25,000 women and newborns have benefited from 
the m -mama program, which will help achieve Tanzania 's goal of reducing t he maternal mortality 
ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. m -mama is expected to transport more than 
300,000 pregnant women over the next three years, engage more than 1,400 community drivers, 
and save 9,000 lives.  
11.15.15.1    Government Appreciatio n for m -mama  
274.  The service has had significant impact and visibility  since President Samia Hassan launched 
m-mama in April 2022. On 22 June 22, USAID Administrator Power joined Vice President Philip 
Mpango and three government  ministries in commemorating the progress of m -mama. Administrator 
Power applauded the cooperation and collaboration of the various ministers in implementing m -
mama.  She remarked, "Minister Nnauye has been instrumental in building the digital infrastructure 
that is the backbone of m -mama. Minister Kairuki has displayed remarkable leadership in organizing 
and funding community drivers throughout this large country. Min ister Mwalimu has been a strong 
champion for maternal and child health. And Vice President Mpango  and President Samia have put 
the lives of women and their children at the center of their agenda for Tanzania. And the results 
speak for themselves. " IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  11.15.16   Field Ep idemiology Training Program - Rwanda  
275.  CDC has supported the Rwanda Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) since 2010 to 
build local epidemiological capacity through supporting and evaluating multi -disease surveillance 
systems, strengthening emergency pr eparedness, and enhancing outbreak response capabilities. To 
date, FETP residents have led over 60 outbreak investigations throughout the country. Trainee 
projects align with national health priorities aimed at informing public health action . With over 80 % 
of graduates employed in government institutions, FETP contributes to improving workforce capacity 
and strengthening local and national institutions in Rwanda. Recently, the program has expanded 
beyond the advanced tier to include the addition of a frontl ine tier that was launched in response to 
the COVID -19 pandemic and , in 2022, the initiation of an intermediate tier in response to the need 
for sub -national capacity building.  
12  PROGRAMMING AND INCENTIVES  RELATED TO BUILDING LABOR CAPACITY  
276.  US agencies, in cluding the US Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Justice, and 
Department of State, seek to ensure that workers around the world are treated fairly and are able 
to share in the benefits of the global economy. DOL has developed international projects and joint 
efforts that aid other countries and international organizations to better understand the problems 
facing workers throughout the world and to strengthen international labor standards and worker 
protections.  These programs build capacity in global  labor markets and help to level the playing field 
among trading partners.  
13  COMPLETED PROJECTS  
13.1  MoLab – Togo  
277.  MoLab is a US Embassy Togo mobile STEM (science, technology, engineering and math fields) 
learning lab. Built by young Togolese inventors, it is a vehicle filled with science, engineering, 
chemistry, and math activities . The US Embassy and Contour Global, an American e nergy company 
with a power plant in Togo, financed MoLab. The vehicle operates as a non -profit organization. Its 
mission is to bring STEM education to under -resourced rural schools, and it has a full calendar of 
activities. Although the funding and origina l program is completed/closed out, the embassy 
continued to work with this partner, which now owns the mobile lab van, on an ad -hoc basis in 2022 
when the embassy needs to use the van for a scientific program or activity.  
13.2  Vaccine Design and Development  Collaboration – Mali 
278.  The GAIA Vaccine Foundation received funding from US Embassy Bamako 's Public Affairs 
Section to foster collaboration between Malian and US Graduate Students in FY 2022. Fifteen Masters 
and Graduate studen ts from Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako 
(USTTB) and 15 Infectious Disease and Veterinary Students from the University of Georgia 
participated together in a 10 -week interactive web -based course on research activities in  the field 
of vaccinology. The course covered topics related to infectious diseases and vaccine design and 
development. The course featured guest speakers from both USTTB and the University of Georgia. 
The course prioritized female students during recruitm ent and g ave them access to female doctors 
during mentorship discussions. At the end of the course, students from USTTB competed to join 
personnel from GAIA Vaccine Foundation to attend the International Society for Vaccines (ISV) 
Annual Congress, where bo th an American and Malian who taught the online course will present 
research on vaccinology. The students attending the congress learned about the latest research in 
the field of vaccinology and network ed with scholars and researchers working in the field.  
13.3  TradeHub Support to Exporting Companies  – Lesotho  
279.   The USAID TradeHub supported exporters in Lesotho with trade enhancing services such as 
organic certifications, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listing, and product testing to enhance 
their competi tiveness for entry into the US market. The USAID TradeHub further supported the 
textile and apparel industry in Lesotho with best labor practices and compliance by co -hosting an 
information webinar with Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) fo r apparel 
exporters. As the world 's largest independent certification program focused on the apparel, footwear, 
and sewn products sectors, WRAP is expertly placed to outline the increasing importance of IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  social -compliance verification in the garment industr y. Social compliance certification is becoming 
central to market -entry requirements, with buyers increasingly considering humane and ethical 
factory standards, compliance with national laws, and the treatment of garment workers. The value 
of the support is  USD 49,607.18 comprising of USD 4,120.00 for US FDA listing, USD 1,306.83 for 
product testing, USD 2,180.35 for organic certification, and USD 42,000 value of sales following 
organic certification.  
13.4  TradeHub Support to AGOA Steering Committee  – Lesotho  
280.  The USAID TradeHub supported utilization of AGOA in Lesotho by assisting the Lesotho AGOA 
Steering Committee to host an in -person capacity  building workshop in Maseru on 6 April 2022. The 
workshop was attended by 21 participants, representing the Lesotho gove rnment, parastatals, and 
private sector. The core objective was to provide capacity building to improve the AGOA Steering 
Committee 's functionality, performance, and self -sufficiency to ensure utilization of opportunities 
presented by AGOA. The AGOA Steeri ng Committee is tasked with implementing an AGOA country 
plan that is focused on seven areas: footwear, leather, and leather accessories; handicrafts; textiles 
and apparel; bottled water; canned foods; and natural/organic products. In support of the worksh op, 
the USAID TradeHub provided technical input on the workshop design and paid for the conference 
venue and facilities. Ahead of the workshop, the USAID TradeHub shared resources such as AGOA 
manual videos and links to relevant webinars on US market requi rements. The program 's support 
to the Lesotho AGOA Steering Committee started with the development of the Lesotho AGOA 
Implementation Strategy in 2019 and its launch in  2020. From May through August 2021, the USAID 
TradeHub provided capacity -building suppo rt at the AGOA Steering Committee bi -annual meetings, 
and in drafting the AGOA Utilization Strategy progress report to support the AGOA position paper 
for Lesotho for the AGOA midterm review. Further, in March 2022, the USAID TradeHub sponsored 
three AGOA Steering Committee members from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Lesotho 
National Development Corporation (LNDC), and the Lesotho Textiles Exporters Association (LTEA) 
to attend the Regional AGOA Peer Learning event in Cape Town, South Africa. The U SAID TradeHub 
contributed USD 1,387.84 to support hosting of the capacity building workshop.  
13.5  Lecture Pour Tous – Senegal   
281.  In Senegal, the Lecture Pour Tous activity scaled -up its digital platform to include more 
teachers, directors, inspectors and parents.  LPT partnered with the telecommunications company 
Orange to provide teachers with credit to access distance learning training modules in a 
smartphone -friendly format. The virtual training included introductory audio clips and instructional 
videos for Grad es 1, 2, and 3 teachers and coaches. In addition, the program utilized text message 
surveys using Orange SMS Pro for one -way messaging  and Telerivet for two -way communication 
(surveys and questionnaires). These messages focused on information sharing and m essages to 
motivate teachers and directors to actively participate in distance learning activities. When in -person 
teacher training resumed in spring 2021, LPT paid 12,000 teachers and school directors their training 
per diems using the US mobile money pay ment company Wave. LPT and training participants praised 
the increased efficiency allowed by using mobile money payments.  
282.  The USAID Lecture Pour Tous activity concluded in December 2021. During its five -plus years 
of programming, the program achieved  the following: 40,000 prevention text messages to school 
personnel and education officials; 308,000 individual prevention and home -learning messages sent 
to over 121,000 stakeholders; 1,400 WhatsApp messages sent to youth empowered as community 
liaisons; nine instructional videos produced & aired on television; 24 radio lessons series produced 
and broadcast.  
13.6  Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong (SIM) – Lower  Mekong Initiative  
283.  Founded in July 2013, the Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong (SIM) program offers  
governments participating in the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) (rebranded in 2020 as the 
Mekong -US Partnership or MUSP)  an array of technical advisory, capacity building, and support 
services related to climate -smart, environmentally sound and socially eq uitable infrastructure, clean 
energy development, and land and/or water resources use related to sustainable management of 
the Mekong. Through a multi -agency US government agreement, SIM has access to some of the US 
government 's best engineers, scientists , and technical and policy experts to support such activities. 
The initiative officially closed on 18 October 2022.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  13.7  USPTO Patents for Humanity Program  
284.  The USPTO Patents for Humanity program encourages assistance to LDCs by providing 
business incentives for patent owners and licensees to apply their technology towards humanitarian 
purposes. Participants submit descriptions of how they are improving lives in five broad categories 
of global challenges: household energy, living standards, medicine, nutrition, an d sanitation. 
Independent experts review submissions and recommend awards. Winners receive accelerated 
processing of a patent application or certain other matters. (See 
http://www.uspto.gov/patentsforhu manity ). The latest award closed in September  of 2021 and 
winners were announced on 15 December  2022 (for more information, see 
https://www.uspto.gov /patent/initiatives/patents -humanity ). 
13.8  Global Health Supply Chain Technical Assistance - Tanzania  
285.  During 2016 -2023, this USAID program focused on improv ing the health commodities supply 
chain in Tanzania , leading to better commodity and essential medicines availability and improved 
health outcomes for Tanzania. This program closed on target June 2023 and has improved the health 
commodities supply chain by:  
a. Assisting the Tanzania Ministry of Health to implement its strategic plans;  
b. Establishing a governance platform to manage future system changes/updates to the 
electronic logistics management information system;  
c. Supporting key supply chain actors to use the  Logistics Management Unit 's performance 
monitoring plans for greater accountability;  
d. Strengthening the governance of the supply chain system at the district level by tracking 
stock availability;  
e. Institutionalizing supply chain data quality and use;  
f. Supporting the rollout of results -based financing in the country; and  
g. Assisting the Ministry of Health Pharmaceutical Services Unit and Policy Planning Unit to 
better budget for health commodities.  
13.9  Strengthened Counter -Poaching  in the Rungwa/Kizigo/Muhesi Ga me Reserve 
Complex – Tanzania  
286.  This project supported the Government of Tanzania 's counter -poaching effort. Working with 
the Tanzanian Wildlife Authority (TAWA), the project: strengthened technical skills to prevent, deter, 
and respond to poaching activitie s; supported mobility to and within the Rungwa Game Reserve 
complex; built capacity of the Rungwa Game Reserve wardens; and increased the impact of 
environmental law enforcement activities in the Ruaha -Katavi Landscape and more broadly within 
Tanzania. In particular, the project focused on SMART data collection by using smart phones or 
tablets and reporting software as a wildlife monitoring/management law enforcement tool and by 
training and mentoring on SMART and integration of the data collection and anal ysis platform for 
wildlife law enforcement thru September 2021. The project completed successfully with all targets 
achieved.  
13.10   Digital Development for FTF (D2FTF)  
287.  D2FTF was a collaboration between the USAID Global Development Lab and Bureau for Food 
Securit y to demonstrate how leveraging digital technology holistically and according to best practices 
can improve the cost effectiveness and development  results of the US government 's FTF Initiative. 
D2FTF focused on four categories of digital tools, based on ev idence of their impact:  
a. precision agriculture (including sensor technology);  
b. digital financial services;  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  c. data-driven agriculture; and  
d. ICT-enabled extension.  
288.  D2FTF scal ed the use of these tools in LDCs through various methods of engagement including: 
technical assistance to FTF programs, capacity  building for FTF teams, and strengthening the 
knowledge base on best practices. The program was focused primarily on FTF target countries and 
has transitioned into the Digital for Resilience and Food Security program 
(https://www.usaid.gov/digitalag ). The program closed in FY 2023.  
13.11   SERVIR Mekong – Cambodia  
289.  This program supported the ongoing development and implementation of the SERVIR Mekong 
geospatial platform, managed by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. It helped NGOs and 
government institutions improve environmental management and resilience to climate change in the 
Lower Mekong region.  
290.  SERVIR -Mekong worked hand in hand with the USAID Greening Prey Lang activity to enhance 
the development and implementation of the Cambodia Environmental Information Monitoring 
System (CEMIS). SERVIR Mekong also  developed the Cambodia Protected Area Alerts System, which 
monitors near real -time forest changes and external threats such as forest fires within the Prey Lang 
Extended Landscape. The Cambodia Protected Area Alerts System is a key component of the 
Protec ted Area Monitoring Platform, launched recently by Cambodia 's Ministry of Environment, which 
integrates ground -based and remotely sensed data to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of 
law enforcement and conservation activities. The program also suppo rted capacity development and 
training for the Ministry of Environment, academia, and NGOs on how to use tools and apply remote 
sensing technologies to monitor forest cover and landscape management.  
291.  SERVIR Mekong ended in September 2022. It was successful in developing tools for geospatial 
mapping and protected area mapping.  
13.11.1   Praises from the Private Sector  
292.  Ali Tareque Parvez of the International Labour Organization emphasized during a SERVIR -SEA 
stakeholder consultation workshop in May 2023 that Satellite data from SERVIR SEA will directly 
benefit local farmers in Cambodia. "Enlisted farmers can receive free  of cost weather alerts and crop 
advisories for their insured crops via SMS in their local language using forecasted data from SERVIR -
SEA."  Farmers can use this information to improve crop management practices, reduce wastage, 
and increase earnings.  
293.  Accor ding to Matthew Edwardsen, Chief of Party for USAID Greening Prey Lang, "Discussions 
around deforestation in Cambodia tend to focus on the illegal timber trade, which, while an extremely 
serious problem, it is not the greatest cause of forest loss. What we  are seeing is widespread illegal 
forest clearance for agriculture that is driven by land speculation. Early identification of these 
clearings and permanent expulsion of illegal farmers from them must occur if we want to see a 
decrease in the deforestation  trends in the protected areas where we are working. "  
13.12   Power Africa – Burundi  
294.  US Embassy 's Deal Team, the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Power Africa 
are continuing to support US energy companies active in Burundi. In May 2022, US company Vi runga 
Power signed an MOU with the Government of Burundi (GoB) with a focus on rural electricity 
distribution  — a project that could bring much -needed power to between 8 and 10 million people 
(out of the 12 -million -person population ). The MOU includes a 12 -month period of exclusivity and 
will hopefully lead to a public -private partnership. Additionally, the two hydroelectric power stations 
for which the Songa Energy/Virunga Power group previously secured agreement should begin 
construction in late 2022. Mea nwhile, late February saw the GoB formally approve a 25 -year 
operating agreement in support of US company Gigawatt Global 's photovoltaic plant in Gitega.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  13.13   South Asia Regional  Initiative for Energy Integration (SARI/EI) – Bangladesh, 
Bhutan, India, and Nepal  
295.   USAID 's SARI/EI focuses on supporting greater regional grid integration by promoting cross -
border power trade in South Asia through harmonization of policy, legal, and regulatory 
mechanisms; advancement of transmission system interconnections; and the es tablishment of a 
South Asia Regional Electricity Market. These are cataly sed through three inter -governmental task 
forces established under the program with representation from national governments, power 
transmission utilities, regulators, and other relev ant representatives from participating South Asian 
countries. Currently, the program focuses on moving the region from bilateral trade to multi -
lateral/tri -lateral power trade and facilitating participation of neighbo uring countries in Indian power 
exchang e. The program also seeks to establish a platform and an investment forum for South Asia 
energy market players.  
296.  In its last year of implementation, SARI/EI organized several outreach events to share the 
learnings and impacts over the last ten years. In add ition, several reports, activities, and trainings 
were brought to conclusion. The program ended on 30 September 2022, and some of the key results 
and impacts are provided below:  
a. SARI/IE hosted a regional workshop to celebrate the success of the program in  the last 
ten years, which included high -level participation of officials from South Asia. The event 
was inaugurated by the Government of India 's State Minister of External Affairs and the 
US Embassy in New Delhi 's Chargé d 'Affaires.  
b. Cross -border power tra de in the region went up by more than three times, from 1200  MW 
in 2012 to 4,879 megawatts (MW) in FY 2022.  
c. Outreach events for the South Asia Energy Database, a tool that consolidates energy data 
from South Asia and presents it in user friendly manner, w as organized along with training 
sessions in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The tool was earlier launched in 
India by senior Government of India officials from the Ministry of Power. The tool will 
address the data asymmetry existing in the regio n and provide quality data to support 
policy makers, researchers, and academics. Efforts were made to engage the officials in 
each country that are responsible for updating and maintaining the tool so that information 
remains current.  
d. Over the past year, N epal increased its sale of hydropower from 39 MW in FY 2021 to 
474 MW in FY 2022 in the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), becoming one of the top ten 
market participants in the IEX. This is a direct result of SARI/EI interventions over the 
years to build the c apacity of key stakeholders in Nepal, including a mock exercise on 
South Asia Regional Energy Power Exchange.  
e. SARI/EI further consolidated support for the South Asia Forum of Infrastructure 
Regulations (SAFIR) to undertake a study to model the reduction in  the cost of power due 
to power trade and development of an ancillary services framework for the region. SARI/EI 
also partnered with SAFIR to undertake specific trainings for regulators, including a three -
week training focused on Energy Cooperation and Exc hange of Electricity that involved 
45 electricity regulators, as well as the third in a series of Infrastructure Conferences that 
focused on the role of power markets in the integration of renewable energy, which 
included senior regulators from SA countrie s.  
f. SARI/EI built consensus on the benefits of and need for regional energy cooperation 
through mobilizing the second phase of the South Asia Think Tank Forum with five partners 
across the region. The forum is engaging civil society, media, academia, and y outh through 
research fellowships. The second phase resulted in five studies looking at cross -border 
power trade from perspective of each country and funded 10 research fellows and 
15 media fellows with several articles and research on the benefits of powe r trade. The 
studies were presented in country -specific events and a regional event.  
g. SARI/EI strengthened human and institutional capacity through several capacity building 
interventions, including two weeks of intensive power systems training with the Ind ian IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  National Grid Operator and a study tour to Europe. In total, USAID organized a total of 
21 events training 1761 people over FY 2022.  
13.14   NIH Human Heredity and Health in Africa  (H3Africa) – All LDCs  
297.  The US National Institute of Health (NIH) leads H3Africa ( https://h3africa.org/ ), which  
supports research and builds technical capacity in Africa for genomics, bioinformatics, and associated  
technologies to improve health in Africa. There are 51 projects led by African institutions and 
500 consortium members, including members in LDCs. The program ended after FY 2022.  
13.15   PEER Project: Affordable  Technologies for Cervical Cancer Screening – Mozam bique  
298.  The project provided over 3,500 cervical cancer screenings using the GeneXpert HPV testing 
platform. A subset of samples was stored and tested on a novel point of care (POC) HPV test, which 
was developed by Rice University, and has the potential to dramatically decrease the costs of 
HPV-based cervical cancer screening. Results were compared to those from the "gold-standard " 
GeneXpert platform. After a pause due to COVID -19 pandemic, POC testing resumed in August  2021. 
The project ran between January 2019-June 2022.  
13.16   FTF "Hinga Weze " – Rwanda  
299.  Through the "Hinga Weze " project, USAID promoted irrigation technologies using solar pumps 
and digital tools in agricultural inputs management. The project made post -harvest technologies 
easily accessible to farmer s and reached its targets by 2022 through the:  
a. Distribution of small scale irrigation technology using solar pumps supported irrigation of 
300 ha of land. Targeted crops included high -iron beans and maize, along with 
watermelons, chilis, onions, cabbages, and French beans. The use of solar energy for the 
pumps was a major step forward for sustainability of irrigation since, with no diesel costs 
for farmers, there was more acceptance of the system over the long -term.  
b. Distributed a supply chain management sy stem that allowed for end -to-end digitization of 
an agro -input subsidy program. Currently, over 1,400,000 farmers are registered on the 
platform, 500,000 of whom are farmers located in 10 Hinga Weze districts.  
c. Introduction of the Kumwe Harvest "Cob Model, " whereby farmers sold maize cobs 
immediately after harvest for eventual sale to a processor. Since the project started in 
early 2019, by 2022 it has served 42,000 farmers across Rwanda, 15,125 of whom are 
from Hinga Weze districts. Using the granted equip ment, Kumwe Harvest eliminated post -
harvest losses for these farmers, reduced grain rejections due to aflatoxin contamination 
from 90 % to below 1%, and processed over 16,000 MT of high -quality local maize in 
16 months, ultimately providing farmers with rel iable access to high -value markets for a 
value of sales above USD 430,000 annually.  
d. Distribution of post -harvest equipment to farmers, including new technologies such as 
solar dryers. Using this equipment, farmers were able sell maize cobs or grains to 
aggregators and processors at a premium price, earning not only more money but also 
supplying high quality grain free of aflatoxin. Since the project started in 2017, it has 
served more than 300,000 farmers, helping them acquire new technologies and access 
new markets.  
13.17   Capacity Building in Agriculture  – Tanzania  
300.   Implemented in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Capacity 
Building in Agriculture program support ed, from August 2015 to August 2023, the Government of 
Tanzania to improve data collection and information dissemination and to connect key actors in the 
agricultural se ctor to develop income -generating activities for smallholder farmers and to improve 
climate -smart approaches in the agriculture sector. Over 30,000 individuals in the agriculture sector 
received short-term productivity or food security training. Over 12,00 0 farmers applied improved 
agriculture technologies or management practices , such as improved seeds, planting techniques, 
and pest management. Approximately 7,000 hectares of land were under improved technologies or IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  management practices. Over 2,500 people used climate information or implementing risk reducing 
actions to improve resilient agriculture. The program closed successfully in August 2023.  
13.18   Global Health Supply Chain Technical Assistance  – Tanzania  
301.  USAID 's Global Health Supply Chain Technical assist ance, which ran between 2019 -2023, 
improved the health commodities supply chain in Tanzania. This activity improved the health 
commodities supply chain by: 1) assisting the Tanzania Ministry of Health to implement relevant 
strategic plans; 2) establishing a governance platform to manage future system changes/updates 
to the electronic logistics management information system ; 3) supporting key supply chain actors 
to use the Logistics Management Unit 's performance monitoring plans for greater accountability; 
4) strengthening the governance of the supply chain system at the district level by tracking stock 
availability; 5) institutionalizing supply chain data quality and use; 6) supporting the rollout of 
results -based financing in the country; and 7) assisting t he Ministry of Health Pharmaceutical 
Services Unit and Policy Planning Unit to better budget for health commodities. USAID also provided 
similar technical assistance in Cambodia (2017 -2022) and Guinea (2017 -2022).  
13.19   FTF - Mboga na Matunda – Tanzania  
302.  The pur pose of Mboga na Matunda was to increase the competitiveness and inclusiveness of 
the horticulture sector, while improving the nutritional status of Tanzanians  through:  
a. scaling improved technologies and practices that lead to increased productivity of 
smallholders, including large numbers of women and youth, in targeted commodities;  
b. scaling market system models that are able to reach large numbers of direct and indirect 
beneficiaries, including vulnerable populations, while increasing trade for targeted 
commodities; and  
c. strengthening the overall capacity of the industry.  
303.   Interventions encourage d the adoption of innovations at the farm level, and efficient business 
models at the market level to create a more broad -based distribution of benefits all along t he chain, 
including the smallholder , particularly women. The activity sought to increase the productivity and 
profitability of horticultural value chains for 447,000 targeted beneficiaries, comprising 50 % women 
and 30 % youth. The activity used  a market sys tems approach to deliver technical support and 
encourage the adoption of farm -level innovations like improved technologies, farming practices, and 
efficient business models. To foster the sustainable competitiveness of the horticulture sector, the 
activity  worked with local partners , including private sector entities and public extension officers. 
Mboga na Matunda ran from January 2017 to June 2022. The activity closed successfully in 
June 2022 and met all targets.  
13.20   WindGen Village and C&I Minigrids – Sierra  Leone  
304.  In FY 2019, USTDA awarded a grant to the Ministry of Energy in Sierra Leone for a feasibility 
study to provide the technical and financial analysis to implement approximately 45 minigrids in the 
country. USTDA 's study will specifically support a private-sector -led standard for off -grid 
development and serve as a model for other West African countries to replicate. The project is 
envisioned to increase energy access for more than 8,000 rural households and several hundred 
businesses in Sierra Leone. T he feasibility study was recently completed in 2022.  
13.21   Community Resilience in Central Africa  – DRC & CAR  
305.  In this project, USAID is extending a system of high frequency radios across south -eastern 
Central African Republic (CAR) and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as an 
early warning network against the LRA (Lord 's Resistance Army insurgent group) and other security 
threats. USAID programming helped connect communities across the region using FM radios to share 
information and  assist ed communities in recovery through trauma healing and community -based 
reintegration activities . The program targets ended in March 2023.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  13.22   Protecting Malian Farmers: Testing a Response to the Threat of Fall Armyworm 
Program – Mali 
306.  USAID/Mali partnered  with myAgro to protect Malian farmers and their harvests from the Fall 
Armyworm (FAW). Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, myAgro changed their in -person farmer group 
agricultural training, and pivoted to focus on video, radio, and telephone training formats to  continue 
delivering content to farmers and local planting interns despite the restrictions imposed by the 
pandemic. In the run -up to Village Farmer Experts (VFE) training and equipping outreach events, 
myAgro updated farmer and VFE training materials, inc luding by developing training videos detailing 
proper insecticide treatment and storage. As part of their training offerings, myAgro produced five 
videos on peanut, maize, sorghum, and okra cultivation, as well as a video on FAW and integrated 
pest managem ent practices. They posted these videos to their YouTube channel and shared them 
with field team members, VFEs, and planting interns via WhatsApp. With the videos on their phone, 
VFEs could show or transfer the videos to farmers during their interactions t hroughout the payment, 
delivery, and planting periods . 
307.  Malian farmers participating in myAgro 's FAW program grew 88 % more food than farmers in 
the control group and earned USD 135 of additional income per farmer. MyAgro maize farmers in 
Mali also had an av erage yield of 2.93 tons per hectare, which was 31 % higher than the average 
yield of the farmers in the control group.  
308.  The FAW activity was a three -year program that came to its scheduled end in December 2021. 
It was successful at achieving most of its objectives. Over 200,000 farmers received training in 
detecting and responding to FAW, of which almost 30,000 received training in integrated pest 
management. Farmers who used improved seed varieties and/or pesticides had yields almost double 
those in the control group and gained an average of USD 116 in additional income. The organization 
that implemented the program will continue to provide technical assistance to farmers through an 
Agriculture Hotline; it also forged relationships with the private sector  so that interested farmers can 
continue to access these improved technologies . 
13.23   Young Logisticians Professionals  Program (YLPP) – Benin  
309.  USAID 's YLPP supports 30 young professionals to work with decentralized civil and health 
authorities in 29 communes to improve data collection, supply chain reporting, and health 
commodities management. The YLPP aims to strengthen health commodities supply chain analytics 
and decentralized health governance by improving data visibility and quality and promoting 
accountabil ity among mayors and health professionals and managers. The program started with 15 
YLPPs and scaled up to 30 YLPPs covering 18 health zones and 29 communes. To promote 
sustainability and self -reliance, USAID has engaged the Benin Ministry of Health, mayor s, and the 
Private Sector Health Partnership to commit to expanding the program.  
310.  During numerous trips to the field in fiscal year 2022, the embassy staff has collected 
statements from Ministry of Health staff, mayors, and municipal council members that pr aise the 
program and attribute to it less frequent disruption of critical medical product stock.  
13.24   Intellectual Property Program  – Rwanda  
311.  In May 2021, the US Mission in Rwanda facilitated IP law discussion sessions between Professor 
Justin Hughes from Loyola  Law School in Los Angeles, the Rwanda Development Board, and the 
Ministry of Trade and Industry . Rwanda is in the process of creating its own Patents and Trade Office. 
Professor Hughes gave an overview of patents and trademarks and how a patent and tradem ark 
office runs. Professor Hughes gave his thoughts on the Government of Rwanda 's new IP law which 
the Cabinet presented to Parliament. He also conducted a geographical indication seminar focusing 
on how tea and coffee growers can take advantage of their R wandan origins to secure IP protection.  
13.25   ASTER – Burkina Faso  
312.  USAID provided assistance to improve and secure access to land for vulnerable people in the 
Centre -Nord, Sahel, and Est regions. Since 2019, USAID supported the establishment, staffing, and 
effective operation of rural land tenure service offices and village land tenure councils through 
ASTER, the USAID land tenure security activity. Implemented by the local organization National Land IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  Observatory (ONF -BF), ASTER improved secure access to land for vulnerable groups in Burkina Faso, 
particularly women and youth, and promotes peaceful management of land conflicts in rural areas. 
It used two inclusive and participatory approaches, Mobile Application to Secure Tenure (MAST) and 
People to People (P2P). M AST was used to strengthen rural land governance through delivery of land 
property rights certificates, while P2P was used to improve arbitration and mitigation for land 
conflicts arising from agriculture, pastoralism, and mining. USAID developed MAST, a s martphone 
application that improves efficiency, reducing time and costs associated with land titling and mapping 
in rural areas. Following a successful pilot using the MAST technology, USAID ASTER extended its 
use to 27 communes across three regions (Centr e-Nord, Sahel, and Est) of Burkina Faso in the 
resilience zones of implementation. The conflict -sensitive P2P approach, recently integrated into 
ASTER, used dialogue, pacific interactions, peace, and trust building within the community, working 
with the vi llage land tenure councils, traditional land chiefs and religious leaders ' groups, women, 
youth, farmers, herders, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities to manage 
land-related conflict and promote social cohesion. MAST and P2P improved the enabling environment 
for long -term investment in land to improve agricultural productivity and enhance sustainable 
livelihoods. USAID would like to see the MAST technology adopted and expanded in other parts of 
Burkina Faso. The FY 2021 -2022 program is  now concluded.  
13.26   Criminal Defense Training – Burkina  Faso, Chad  
313.  DOJ/OPDAT (DOJ Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training) has 
provided training to attorneys in criminal defen ce skills for terrorism cases.  Through the Burkina Bar 
Association, OPDAT offered ten Burkinabe lawyers training in 2020 -2021. Since there is no public 
defender 's office in Burkina Faso, all criminal defendants are represented by private attorneys. 
Instructors have included the Federal Public Defender 's Office for the District of Alaska, former 
federal and military defen ce counsel and prosecutors, and the president of the Niger Bar Association.  
314.  In May 2022, 24 members of the Chadian police and military forces completed Managing an 
Antiterrorism Training Program, which equipped them with the skills to build a sustainable and 
scalable antiterrorism training program by developing training curricula, developing program faculty 
and staff; managing program facilities, equipment, and materials; managing course a dministration 
and finances; and sustaining an antiterrorism training program.  
13.27   Bridges Project – Madagascar   
315.  The Bridges Project was an agreement between the leading US based prefabricated metallic 
bridge company and the Government of Madagascar to provide and install hundreds of bridges in 
several regions of the country. This program  was divided into multiple phases. The programs aimed 
to provide about 100 modular metallic bridges to the Government of Madagascar in phase 1 to 
replace existing bridges or ins tall on new routes. The host countries ' engineers, technicians, and 
workers received comprehensive training which will allow them to independently install bridges 
throughout the country. The program ran during FY 2021 -2023.  
13.28   Bangladesh Inland Waterways Mana gement  Reverse Trade Mission  
316.  This RTM took place 1-11 August 2022, and involved delegates from Bangladeshi entities 
responsible for the development and maintenance of the country 's inland waterways and water 
resources. This RTM, which complemented the Bangladeshi  government 's existing plans, familiarized 
delegates with the best practices and advanced technologies of US firms for dredging and inland 
waterway management.  
13.29   Nigeria and Senegal Healthcare  Innovation Reverse Trade Mission (RTM)  
317.  This RTM took plac e 21-27 August 2022 and brought delegates from Senegalese and Nigerian 
entities to the United States to support the development of and access to healthcare infrastructure 
and services. The objective of the RTM was to connect public and private healthcare i nstitutions from 
Senegal and other Sub -Saharan African countries to US best practices, solutions, and services in the 
healthcare sector, with a focus on health IT information technology, hospital infrastructure, and 
medical devices.   IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  13.30   ARIPO -USPTO IPR Capaci ty Building Program Series for Officials in ARIPO member 
States  
318.  In partnership with the African Regional IP Office, USPTO provided trainings through its Global 
IP Academy (GIPA) for ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization) member States 
and observers, as well as African Union representatives in FY 2021.  
319.  By the first quarter of FY 2021, ten programs reached over 470 African officials through the 
ARIPO member States and observers network as well as African universities and research 
institutions. Notably, in June 2021, ARIPO and USPTO conducted a program on Fostering Technology 
Transfer in Africa. Government officials, university representatives and researchers from 
15 Sub-Saharan African countries took part in the program.  
13.31   USPTO Inte llectual Property Attaché Training and Technical Assistance  
320.  On 20 May USPTO in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 
hosted a session for university students on IP Strategy for Start -ups. In a meeting with American 
Chamber  of Commerce (AMCHAM), Bangladesh, it was noted that with Bangladesh on track to 
graduate from LDC status , AMCHAM seeks to partner with the USPTO South Asia office to re -assess 
and work toward creating a better IP system in Bangladesh. USPTO 's South Asia o ffice continued 
efforts to organize regional training sessions along with country specific IP programs in FY 2022.  
321.  In order to meet the growing demand for specialized knowledge and skills from Southeast 
Asian LDCs, in the second quarter of FY 2022, the IP Attaché for the Southeast Asia Office, in 
collaboration with the OPIA ASEAN Team, the Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA), US 
Embassy Phnom Penh, and US Embassy Viet  Nam, co -organized a sub -regional training program for 
IP officials of the Cambodia  Department of Intellectual Property and the Lao  PDR Department of 
Intellectual Property. The training focused on the Vienna Classification of figurative/design elements 
of marks and the USPTO system of design coding; searching for conflicting marks and th e Nice 
Classification of goods/services, as relating to three -dimensional (3D) and motion marks; and USPTO 
examination of 3D and motion marks. Approximately 60 Cambodian and Lao  PDR officials, including 
trademark examiners and relevant IP officials, partic ipated in the program.  
322.  USPTO also engaged with IP officials in Lao  PDR and Cambodia to assist in the implementation 
of IP initiatives and capacity -building programs. In January 2022, USPTO met with representatives 
of the Lao  PDR Department of Intellectual  Property (DIP) to discuss the new organizational structure 
(DIP's move from the Ministry of Science and Technology to be under the Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce, and the appointment of the new Director General), examination capacity, e -filing 
system, MOUs, legislative updates, enforcement coordination, and future training with Lao  PDR DIP. 
In February 2022, USPTO and representatives of the Cambodia Department of Industrial Property 
(DIP) under the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovati on (MISTI) met to discuss 
cooperation regarding the patent acceleration program under the MOU signed between the USPTO 
and MISTI in October 2020, along with possible capacity -building programs for Cambodian patent 
examiners.  
13.32   Hybrid Power Generation in Nitti – Sierra Leone  
323.  In FY 2021, USTDA funded a feasibility study grant for the development of an approximately 
192-megawatt hybrid power generation plant near the village of Nitti in Sierra Leone. The study 
assess ed how best to maximize the use of solar photo voltaic energy and provide reliable power 
generation. The Sierra Leone Ministry  of Energy, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of 
Sierra Leone, was the grantee. Inglett & Stubbs International, LLC (Mableton, GA) was selected as 
the US contractor for this study. The study was completed in 2022.  
13.33   MaMoni Maternal  and Newborn Care Strengthening Project (MaMoni -MNCSP) – 
Bangladesh  
324.  The USAID MaMoni Maternal and Newborn Care Strengthening Project (MNCSP) activity 
was designed to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and increase contraceptive prevalence by 
strengthening the capacity of health systems and facilities through the provision of quality maternal 
and newborn health care, postpartum family planning, and nutrition services. The activity further IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  strengthened newborn care at all levels,  including essential newborn care, special care newborn 
units (SCANU), helping babies breathe, chlorhexidine use for cor d care,  and a method of care for 
preterm and low birth weight infants called  Kangaroo Mother Care.  The activity began on 
26 April 2018, and ended on 31 July 2023 and supported the  Ministry of  Health and Family Welfare 
(MOHFW)  through the following technolo gical innovation s: 
a. Electronic Management Information System (eMIS) : The project designed, piloted, and 
scaled up an electronic health information system for different levels of health facilities in 
44 districts across the country. The MOHFW 's Directorate General of Family Planning 
(DGFP) will scale up the eMIS tools in all 64 districts by 2023.  
b. mHealth : The project successfully tested mobile phone technology to increase access to 
health -related knowledge through an mHealth  SMS reminder techn ology throughout the 
Habiganj district. mHealth sends SMS notifications to registered clients who are due for 
their pregnancy -related services. In addition to text messages, voice messages were 
developed and included in the system. Pregnant women who recei ved text message 
reminders for at least four visits of antenatal care (ANC4) were 57 % more likely to visit 
facilities for ANC4 than women who did not receive the same text message reminder. 
Pregnant women receiving text messages for ANC/normal vaginal delivery (NVD) were 
44% more likely to deliver in public health facilities. DGFP included  the mHealth expansion 
in their operational plan.  
c. OpenMRS : The project developed the collaborative OpenMRS (open -source medical record 
software) electronic patient record system in a district hospital and one sub -district 
hospital in the Manikganj distric t. Patients ' registration and ANC and postnatal care 
(ANC/PNC) outpatient consultation use the OpenMRS system. Due to the OpenMRS -based 
system, registration counters can save up to 78 minutes per day at district hospitals and 
up to 18 minutes per day at se lected upazila health complexes (UHC). The OpenMRS 
system made developing monthly reports easier and shorter and 57 % of the interviewed 
clients at the facilities stated that the waiting time at the ticket counter was reduced due 
to queue management. The Di rectorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has added 
OpenMRS to its operational plan and is implementing, in two phases, use of the software 
at 100 hospitals.  
d. Special Care Newborn Units (SCANU) : MaMoni MNCSP supported establishing nine new 
SCANUs, which p rovide standardized, safe, specialized  care for sick newborns who do not 
require mechanical ventilation or major surgery, across the project districts and provided 
technical and maintenance support to 20 SCANUs. A total of 129,626 sick newborns 
received tr eatment from these 20 SCANUs during the life of the project. The project 
supported a national register and  digital online  dashboard for reporting.  
e. KIOSK Based Client Feedback System:  MaMoni developed a prototype digital client 
feedback system using Raspbe rry Pi technology for feedback on ANC, PNC, and delivery 
services. The system provides real time knowledge for hospital managers and 
administrators on clients ' feedback . The system has been tested in the Manikganj District 
Hospital.  
13.34   Health Policy Plus (HP+ ) – Madagascar   
325.  During FY 2015 -2022, HP+ support ed the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Ministry in 
charge of water, hygiene, and sanitation, to improve the enabling environment in the areas of policy, 
advocacy, finance, and governance . HP+ provide d support for the review, development, and 
dissemination of policies and strategies and health financing for health systems strengthening and 
universal health coverage. The targets , which were achieved, for this program were to: 
a. contribute to the dissemina tion of the Family Planning Law (training of journalists);  
b. initiate the evaluation of the existing Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan;  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  c. elaborate strategic documents for a community -based approach (Guide PAC workshop), 
the Strategic Plan for Reprodu ctive Health/Family Planning 2021 -2025, and Demographic 
Dividend; and  
d. support the Government of Madagascar to take strategic decisions on Health System 
Strengthening and WASH initiatives, including developing and implementing the National 
Health Insurance  Fund as part of the Universal Health Coverage system.  
326.  The program ended in July 2022 with visits from general director of the National Institute of 
Public and Community Health, which falls within the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health; several 
director s of ministerial health departments; the director of planning for the Ministry of Economy and 
Finance; the USAID Madagascar Mission team; and several experts from HP+, including the global 
director of the project via video.  
13.35   International Cybersecurity Semi nar – Burkina Faso  and Other Countries  
327.  In June 2021, US Embassy Ouagadougou partnered with Germany and the George C. Marshall 
European Center for Security Studies to sponsor an international cybersecurity seminar for Burkina 
Faso and other African partners . The Embassy nominated  three Burkinabe officials covering 
cybersecurity and information services portfolios for the seminar. The training allowed the officials 
to gain insights into the Framework for Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace, in particular  on 
the value of implementing confidence building measures (CBMs) to reduce the risk of misperception 
that results from cyber disruptions. It also allowed the officials to interact with other partners and 
to learn from one another by sharing information, b est practices, and experiences.  
328.  The impact of this program in Burkina Faso has been very significant. Since terrorism first 
arrived in Burkina Faso in 2015, attorneys shied away from taking cases of terror suspects for a 
number of reasons (social stigma, threats, inability, or low pay). However, since this program 
started, there is more and more interest because attorneys are now more confident in their technical 
skills and feel ready to take on such cases. Moreover, in a July 2022 Juvenile Justice Worksho p, the 
bar association reported that one attorney (a woman) is representing some juveniles charged with 
terrorism and is even looking forward to the trial. This was unthinkable three years ago when the 
program started and demonstrates how the program is ad vancing justice in Burkina Faso.  
13.36   MCC Power Compact  – Benin  
329.  The USD 391 million Benin Power Compact entered into force on 22 June 2017, and completed  
in June 2023 due to a one -year extension granted by Congress given the extenuating circumstances 
due to the COVID -19 pandemic. The compact sought  to unlock private investment by supporting 
policy reforms and investing in electricity generation, distributi on, and off -grid electrification to 
increase business and household access to reliable electricity. The compact include d a strong 
emphasis on strengthening the independence  and management of Benin 's national utility, reforming 
electricity tariffs, developi ng an Independent Power Producer framework, and creating policies to 
enable off -grid electrification. The compact moderniz ed Benin 's electricity distribution infrastructure 
to reduce losses, improve reliability, reduce outages, and accommodate rapidly grow ing demand. 
Over a twenty -year period, an estimated 10.6 million Beninese are expected to benefit from MCC 's 
investment.  
13.37   RAMA -BC – Mozambique  
330.  USAID 's Resilient Agriculture and Markets Activity (RAMA -BC) program 's overarching goal was 
to equitably increase agricultural productivity and climate resilience by increasing adoption of 
resilient agricultural technologies and practices. Over the life of the project, RAMA -BC implement ed 
activities under four component areas  to increase the adoption of resilient agri cultural technologies 
in the Beira corridor. Components 1 and 2 aimed to increase demand by raising awareness and 
demonstrating effectiveness of key technologies and practices, including improved seed conservation 
agriculture (CA) practices and water manag ement and irrigation solutions. Components 3 and 4 
support ed supply -side improvements, leading to increased availability, accessibility, and affordability 
of inputs and other technologies, and improved private sector led advisory services.  IP/C/R/TTI/USA/4  
 
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  331.  Since its incept ion and through FY 2022, the RAMA -BC project assisted smallholder farmers to 
apply new and improved technologies to 30,729 ha of land for 20,916 farmers. This led to increased 
sales by smallholder farmer that amount to USD 1.1 million. The project also man aged to establish 
2,011 awareness events for several stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, private sector 
partners, partner government entities, and the local universities and agricultural colleges. RAMA -BC 
closed successfully in December 2022.  
332.  Additional RAMA -BC model family farms also achieved the following goals: a 40 % increase in 
yield of maize due to Climate Smart Practices on intercropping with legumes, green manure, 
minimum tillage, improved seeds, crop rotation, etc .; a reduction in damage fr om pests; and higher 
return on investments in labor and agriculture inputs. In addition, vermicomposting yielded nutrition 
retention for a longer period comp . Vermicomp ost was better than cattle manure and normal 
compost  – it increase d water retention, microbial diversity and protect ion against diseases.  The use 
of mobile kraals improve d hygienic conditions, reduce d disease spread, reduce d theft and food costs , 
and improve d soil health . Animals were rotated on a daily or weekly basis, and kraa ls allowed for 
mixed animals, like chicken and pork. Farms saw yield increases from efficient and healthy manure 
spreading practices.  Finally, c ooking demonstrations  were used  to diversify diets and introduce new 
dishes such as sweet potato and cassava . 
13.38   COVID-19 Preparation and Prevention – Burundi  
333.  USAID ha d programming on COVID -19 pandemic preparation and prevention through a USAID 
grant for government health program service providers who receive training. USAID also donated 
COVID -19 pandemic prevention eq uipment to a health center in Burundi. The project also include d 
rehabilitation of water reservoirs to meet critical water, sanitation, and hygiene gaps for health 
centers. The target pop ulation was rural Burundians, particularly those who cannot access he alth 
services that might be available in larger cities.  The program closed successfully in December 2022.  
As part of its COVID -19 Preparation and Prevention  response, USAID helped to procure the fol lowing 
COVID -19 laboratory supplies:  
 
HO Description – 2022 purchases  Qty PU PT USD  
Sample collection kit: swab and viral transport medium  40650  1.00 40,650.00  
Extraction kit  20000  0.78 15,600.00  
Abbott Real -time SARS -CoV-2, for use on the Abbott m2000 systems 
(includes extraction kit and PCR test)  2400 10 24,000.00  
COVID -19 Antigen Tests  35000  2.55 89,250.00  
Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS -CoV-2 test, for use on the Cepheid Xpert 
systems  6000 14.9 89,400.00  
ETHANOL ABSOLU (Litre)  20 63.83  1,276.60  
   260,176.60  
 
13.38.1   Burundi Health Workers Praise USAID 's Program  
334.   Health workers in the rural areas of Cankuzo and Ruyigi provinces said the program was 
critical to being able to provide health services to local populations who cannot afford the costs of 
traveling to cities where hospitals  are located. One healthcare worker expressed gratitude for the 
programming, noting that "the (USAID) program allowed his clinic to build an incinerator to burn 
medical waste, build a cistern so that the clinic had a steady supply of clean water, and provi ded 
basic (PPE) equipment and training on corona (COVID -19 pandemic) ". The health worker noted the 
PPE was especially critical, given that his province of Cankuzo is a border province and migrant 
workers and others transited the border informally, often ar riving from Tanzania without testing, 
and would then seek treatment at his clinic.  
 
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