IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
28 September 2017  
(17-5177) Page: 1/40 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights  Original: English  
 
REPORT ON THE IMPLEM ENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 
OF THE TRIPS AGREEME NT 
UNITED  STATES  OF AMERICA  
Addendum  
 
The following communication, dated 20 September 2017 , from the delegation of the United States, 
is being circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Decision on Implementation of Article 66.2 of 
the TRIPS Agreement (IP/C/28).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  2 
2   GENERAL TECHNOLOGY T RANSFER PROGRAMS, IN CENTIVES, AND 
PARTNERSHIPS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  2 
3   EDUCATIONAL AND UNIV ERSITY -LED PROGRAMS  ................................ ......................  4 
4   COMMERCIAL AND LEGAL  PROGRAMS TO STRENGTH EN CAPACITY  .............................  7 
5   INTELLECTUAL PROPERT Y PROTECTION AND ENF ORCEMENT CAP ACITY 
BUILDING  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  8 
6   TRADE AND INVESTMENT  POLICY, CAPACITY BUI LDING, AND INCENTIVE S .............  10 
7   DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMM ING AND INCENTIVES T HROUGH PRIVATE 
SECTOR MODELS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  14 
8   PROGRAMS AND INCENTI VES RELATED TO AGRIC ULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 
AND FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY ................................ ................................ .................  16 
9   PROGRAMMING AND INCE NTIVES RELATED TO EN ERGY DEVELOPMENT  ...................  24 
10   PROGRAMMING AND INCE NTIVES RELATED TO EN VIRONMENTAL  
PROTECTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  28 
11   PROGRAMMING AND INCE NTIVES RELATED TO HE ALTH  ................................ .........  32 
12   PROGRAMMING AND INCE NTIVES RELATED TO BU ILDING LABOUR 
CAPACITY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  39 
13   PROGRAM AND INCENTIV ES RELATED TO TRANSP ORTATION  ................................ . 39 
 
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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 (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 pursuance of the commitments of developed countries 
under Article 66.2 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.  
2.  The intellectual property (IP), trade capacity, trai ning, 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 encoura ge the effective, voluntary transfer  of technology to LDC Members. No 
report can represent every activity that directly or indirectly incentivizes enterprises and 
institutions for the purpose of promoting and encouraging technology transfer, but this repor t 
attempts to describe the most significant activities and programs and to convey the breadth and 
depth of U.S. efforts.  
3.  Much of the United States Government research conducted by federally operated laboratories 
and federally funded research and developmen t (R&D) centers results in inventions or findings that 
contribute to the development of new technologies and pro cesses. Commercialization of these 
outputs can yield economic and social benefits that increase returns on the investment in 
federal  R&D. 
4.  The Un ited States continues to believe that the effective functioning of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS 
Agreement requires a robust dialogue between developed country and LDC members, in order to 
target incentives in a way that is most responsive to the self -identifi ed technology trans fer 
interests and needs of LDC Members. The United States encourages the efforts of the TRIPS 
Council Secretariat and member states to organize discussions among the M ember states 
regarding Article 66.2 implementation.  
2  GENERAL TECHNOLOGY  TRANSFER PROGRAMS, I NCENTIVES, AND PARTN ERSHIPS  
5.  Through the Bay -Dole A ct of 1980, the U.S. Congress directed that inventions that result from 
federally funded research are used to promote commercialization and public access through 
practical application. United States laboratories often partner with external organizations to 
conduct cooperative research and development.  
2.1  Federally Sponsored Research and Development  
6.  The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) workgroup on Lab to Market coordinates 
federal initi atives on technology transfer. Federal agencies implement these initiatives, which 
include development of human capital, and small business innovation. The National Institute of 
Standards and Technology prepares an annual report that summarizes g overnment -wide 
technology transfer efforts. This report can be found at https://www.nist.gov/tpo/federal -
laboratory -interagency -technology -transfer -summary -reports  
2.1.1   Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer  
7.  Technology transfer is most effective when the technology is requested by the entity  that will 
use the technol ogy. 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 national  network of approximately 
300 U.S. 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 g overnment agencies. FLC collaborates with organizations 
that promote technical cooperation, and works to improve the effectiveness of technology transfer 
through training, recogn ition, awards, and evaluation. Moreover, the FLC encourages technology IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  transfer and, through its member laboratories, se eks partners around the world. The FLC offers a 
broad set of tools incl uding the ability to search available laboratory technologies, find laboratory 
expertise and facilities, and find available partnership mech anisms for different agencies. The FLC 
Toolkit is available at https://www.federallabs.org/T2 -Toolkit .  
2.1.2   Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research  
8.  The Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program directly supports 
scientists in USAID -presence countries through institutional research awards r anging up to 
$300,000. U.S. scientific agencies such as National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA), 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National 
Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmosp heric Administration (NOAA), Smithsonian 
Institution, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agriculture 
Research Service, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as well as universities and research 
institutes around the world, hav e partnered with scientists in developing countries through PEER 
awards. Since its launch in 2011, PEER has supported more than 250 projects in 50 countries with 
a USAID investment  of approximately $50 million. PEER aims to build capacity among local 
scientists and research institutions, strengthen research partnerships world -wide, and better 
translate data and evidence into policy.  
2.1.3   PEER site  visits under project #3 -100: Building Mekong Genetic Biodiversity 
Network - Lao PDR  
9.  The PEER participants study the genetic structure of Mekong River fish to improve fisheries 
management, to monitor fish populations, and to enable a better understanding of the impacts of 
hydropower development on fish populations.  In June 2017, PEER grantees conducted their third 
annua l meeting in Pakse, Lao PDR  entitled ‘Building a Mekong River Genetic B iodiversity Research 
Network '. The purpose of the meeting was to review the grantees fisheries research results to date 
and to continue to build the capacity of fo r fishery research scientists. The participants included 
researchers from Lao PDR , Viet Nam , Cambodia, and Thailand.  
2.1.4   Research and Innovation Fellowship Program  
10.  The Research and Innovation Fellowships program connects early -career U.S. researchers and 
scientists to hosting organizations in the developing world to conduct co llaborative research 
projects. Projects span up to a year, and are funded by USAID and its partners at no cost to 
the hosting organization. Research and Innovation Fellows fill technical g aps with capacity that 
may not be available in -country. Ideally, each fellowship serves as a catalyst for continued 
engagement  between stakeholders. Host organizations include government ministries, 
non-governmental organizations, private sector companies,  and univers ities in developing 
countries. More information is available at https://www.usaid.gov/RIFellowships.  
2.1.5   Global Innovation Exchange  
11.  Through the Global Innovation Exchange platform, a network that connects innovators, 
donors, academia, and the priva te sector to innovative devices, data, technologies, approaches, 
processes and funding opportunities, USAID also facilitates support for innovations beyond what 
the Agency can directly provide. Since the launch of the Exchange in 2015, over 20,000 
collabor ators have registered, sharing over 6,000 promising innovations and over $400 million in 
funding opportunities.  
2.1.6   Innovation Discovery & Testing  
12.  Generating new ideas for innovation, building evidence of their efficacy, and helping attract 
further investment helps development solutions reach more people more quickly and sustainably.  
The Lab uses two approaches to identify promising innovations, which are then rigorously tested, 
iterated, and put in use on a broad scale for global impact. The first approach - open innovation - 
includes the Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) program, a year -round grant competition 
open to nearly any individual or organization for any sector in any  country where USAID operates. 
Grants are awarded based on cost -effectiveness, e vidence of impac t, and the potential to scale. 
The second approach, directed innovation, develops solutions to specific challenges, like improving IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  childhood literacy, providing energy for agriculture, and addressing the Ebola epidemic. The Lab's 
innovation  discovery and testing programming specifically see ks to engage local innovators. 
Through 2016, the Lab fostered over 600 development innovations through DIV, GCD, and other 
programs.  
2.2  Science and Technology Agreements  
13.  The United States utilizes science and  technology (S&T) agreements as frameworks for 
increased international collaboration by facilitating cooperation between U.S. technical agencies 
and foreign counterparts on topics including public health, watershed management, agriculture, 
environment and biodiversity protection, biotechnology, earth sciences, marine science, and 
altern ative energy. These agreements support relationships that strengthen science education 
systems, build institutional and human resource capacity, and promote a deeper apprecia tion of 
innovation and its role in technology t ransfer and commercialization. The United States supports 
programs that strengthen institutional capacity to translate research into commercial activity, 
while improving individual capacity to enter labor mark ets (see http://www.state.gov/e/oes/stc/ ). 
Through these efforts, U.S. scientific and technical agencies and their counterparts promote 
economic growth and jobs creation.  
2.3  Programming to Advance Entrepreneurship  
14.  Through the Spark Initiative, the United States aims to advance ent repreneurship around the 
world.  Many of Spark 's 14 programming streams that make up the Spark Initiative seek to 
advance entrepreneurship  in LDCs. Linkages between entrepre neurs in LDCs and innovative 
leaders from both the public and private sectors, including those in WTO Developed Country 
Members, encourage effective, v oluntary technology transfers. The annual White House -led Global 
Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) brings tog ether entrepreneurs from across the 14 Spark 
programming streams, as well as from the host country and its wider region to showcase the latest 
trend s, training, and technologies. The 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will be held in 
Hyderabad , Indi a during November 28 -30. The Summit will focus on supporting women 
entrepreneurs and foste ring economic growth globally. The GES 2017 theme is Women First, 
Prosperity for All. Past GES took place in the United States , Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, 
Malaysia, Morocco, and Kenya.  
2.4  Smart Infrastructure for the Mekong (SIM) - Lao PDR  
15.  The SIM activity is implemented through an interagency agreement between the U.S. State 
Department and the U.S. Department of Interior.  It provides the Lower Mekong partner 
governments with rapidly deployable and focused technical assistance from U.S. government 
scientists and engineers to mitigate potential negative social and environmental consequences 
from infrastructure projects (e.g., hydroelectric dams) and  other developmen t activities.  
2.5  Horticulture Training and Service Center Smart – Guinea  
16.  USAID runs a "Horticulture Training and Service Center " to introduce novel technologies that 
will improve horticultural production practices and to reduce postharvest losses targeting pi neapple 
production in India.  
3  EDUCATIONAL AND UNIV ERSITY -LED PROGRAMS  
17.  U.S. agencies such as the Department of State and USAID work closely with universities to 
encourage student exchanges and other programs that promote technology transfer and 
knowledge through harnessing the intellectual power of students to address challenges including 
climate variability, food security, and global health.  
3.1  Educational Enrolment in the U.S. University System  
18.  The U.S. university system constitutes a major a venue for techn ology transfer. Foreign 
students employ acquired knowledge and s kills in their home countries. Since many U.S. 
universities are established as not -for-profit (tax -exempt) entities, U.S. taxpa yers subsidize this IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  education. Additionally, many U.S. private en dowments that assist foreign students are tax 
exempt.   
3.1.1   University Enrolment by Foreign Students  
19.  In 2015, there were 29,457 students from LDCs enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher 
education , representing an increase of 1% over 2014, and 3.3%  of the total  U.S. higher ed ucation 
enrolment. U.S. institutions of higher education hosted many students from LDCs, including large 
numbers from Nepal (9,662 students) an d Bangladesh (6,513 students). The top five most popular 
fields of study for international student s in the United States in 2015 were Science Technology 
Engineering and Math (23.9 %); Business (20.1 %); Social Sciences (17.3 %); Foreign Language 
and International Studies (7.7 %); and Fine and Applied Arts (6.9 %). 
3.2  Exchange Programming from the Departme nt of State's Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs  
20.  The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) designs and 
implements educational, professional, and cultural exchange programs that increase mutual 
understanding between people of the United States and the people of other countries (see 
http://eca.state.gov /). 
3.2.1   Programming from ECA  
21.  Through its programs, ECA enables students, exchange alumni, and young adults to pursue 
higher education,  leadership, and professional devel opment opportunities globally. The Fulbright 
Program sponsors approximately 8,000 participants annually from the United States and more 
than 150 countries, many of whom do in -country  work in LDCs. These programs included 
participants in FY 17 (AY17 -18) from almost every LDC country. The students enter the United 
States as no n-immigrant exchange visitors ("J -1"), which make them ineligible to remain in 
the United States after their s tudies. Thus, stu dents participating in these education programs 
generally return to their home countries, thereby bringing back knowledge and training.  
3.2.2   Ongoing grants on technology and entrepreneurship - Benin  
22.  Mission Benin 's Public Affairs Section (PAS) has funded and implemented numerous programs 
focusing on training young Beninese, in particular young women, on using technology to facilitate 
openi ng new businesses/enterprises. These program grants have primarily gone towards 
sponsoring training on coding, computer app lication (app) development, b usiness planning, and 
finance. Approximately 90 % of those trained either own businesses that are currently operational, 
or have received higher pos itions in large organizations. Since 2016, 100 young Beninese were 
trained to u se technology for business formed primarily in eCommerce.  
3.2.3   Makerspace Program – Nepal  
23.  The Makerspace program aims to enhance critical thinking, leadership, and technological skills 
in Nepal 's public school s. It promotes entrepreneurship and science, technol ogy, engineering, and 
math (STEM) educ ation, especially among women. The Makerspace program is run out of 
the Embassy -supported Innovation Hub (iHub) in Kathmandu, with grant funding to establish 
Makerspaces at all of the American Corners in Nepal ( America n Corners  are a type of U.S. 
government public programming spaces tha t supports five core programs: English language 
learning, Educational advising, Alumni activities, Cultural programs, and Information about 
the United States). This will support the missi on's goal of assisting in the economic development of 
Nepal through entrepreneurship an d women's involvement in STEM. Makerspace programs at 
the iHub and other American Spaces enhance critical thinking, leadership and technological skills, 
encouraging yout h and wom en to join the STEM community. Summary of Impact numbers from 
Makersp ace sessions in 2015 at iHubs: 700 students from different public schools from 
Kathmandu, Lalitpur and as far as Sindhupalchowk received a chance to have a unique learning 
experi ence at the Innovation Hub (iHub); 61 students participated in the three hour long Karkhana 
Innovators ' Club (KIC) sessions; 639 students participated in the one hour long BeeCreative 
classes; 15 students trained to use a laser cutter; 10 students trained to use a 3D printer; and 
four events: three in Kathmandu and one in Bhairahawa.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  3.3  Higher Education Solutions Network  
24.  USAID's Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) launched in 2012 is a constellation of 
eight development laboratories that promote the crea tion and application of new science, 
technology, and engineering approaches to solve the world's most cha llenging development 
problems. With $137 million over five years from USAID and leveraging nearly equal investments 
from the institutions, the universi ties established the laboratories by collaborating with a network 
that extends beyond 650 partner institutions in academia, civil society, and government across 
69 countries, including developing countries (see http://www.usaid.gov/hesn/ ). 
3.4  Common Practices for University -Led Technology Transfer  
25.  Common practices that encourage technology transfer from U.S. universities include:  
 publication of research results in open academic literature that is accessible globally 
through the Internet or other public systems, enabling the free -flow of research to be 
utilized by scientists, engineers, and researchers in all sectors;  
 interaction between creators and users of new knowledge (e.g.  through professional 
meetings, conferen ces, seminars, industrial liaison programs and other venues);  
 collaborative research projects;  
 entrepreneurial activity of faculty and students outside the university without involving 
university -owned IP; and  
 licensing of IP to established firms and new s tart-up companies.  
3.5  Regional Programs  
3.5.1   All Children Reading Cambodia  
26.  Implemented by Research Triangle Associates, the "All Children Reading Cambodia " began in 
March 2017, and it is scheduled  to continue until March 2021. The program has embedded 
technical as sistance into its work with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to 
develop a harmonized and coherent national early grade reading program, concentrating on 
Grades 1 -3. 
3.5.2   University Support and Workforce Development Program (USWDP) – Afghani stan 
27.  The $91.9 million program with Family Health International (FHI 360) supports the Ministry of 
Higher Education and eleven selected public universities in the establishment of higher education 
programs relevant Afghanistan 's job market. The program 's successes include the launching of 
first associate degree in Bio -Medical Equipment Technology, an Information Technology Associate 
degree program, the enrolment of 24 students in the second class of Masters of Public Policy and 
Administration, and the estab lishment of a Bachelor 's Degree program in food technology.  
3.5.3   Support to the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) - Afghanistan  
28.  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) joined the Ministry of Higher 
Education, Afghan business leade rs, and private donors in Afghanistan and abroad to establish 
the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) in 2006. USAID 's contri bution is $45 million.  AUAF 
opened in 2006 with 53 students, AUAF has increased enrollment to 717 students in graduate  and 
undergraduate programs; 41 % are women; awarded 430 undergraduate degrees and 
391 graduate degrees as of December 2015; developed a campus plan for building new state -of-
the art educational facilities on a 75 -acre site provided by the Afghan government, with 
construction to begin this academic year.  
3.5.4   Future 's Entrepreneurs and Leaders Activity (FuEL)  
29.  The overall objective of the Feed the Future Entrepreneurs and Leaders Activity (FuEL) is to 
use Positive Youth Development (PYD) Approaches to empower rural Tanzanian youth and educate 
them on viable business options for rural economies, highlighting the income -generating potential 
across agricultural and other rural value chains and facilitating access to information, skills and 
opportunities to ensure succes sful business start -ups and sustained employment. FuEL will help IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  create sustainable economic g rowth opportunities for Tanza nians aged 15 to 35 who w ork in 
the agriculture sector. The activity focuses on youth who already possess some ability to develop, 
operationalize, and/or expand a smal l or medium enterprise (SMEs). Several activities in USAID 
Tanzania 's current Economic Growth and Health portfolios provide economic opportunities 
disadvantaged youth.  
3.5.5   Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural Research and Dev elopment (BHEARD)  
30.  The $7,500,000 BHEARD activity supports long -term training program for Bangladeshi 
agricultural researchers and agriculture university faculties at the  master's and doctoral levels. 
It supports the development, testing and evaluation of new model s for local capacity building. 
The BHEARD activity advances the transfer of new agricultural research technology, encourages 
collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity, and builds the human resources 
capacity of selected research institutions/universities . 
4  COMMERCIAL AND LEGAL  PROGRAMS TO STRENGTH EN CAPACITY  
31.  U.S. agencies such as the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), National Institute 
of Standards and Technologies (NIST), and others provide commercial law technical assistance 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 regul atory environments to attract foreign 
investment and promote private sector -led growth and technology transfer.  
4.1  Programming from the Commercial Law Development Program  
32.  CLDP programs strengthen intellectual property rights (IPR) protection systems, thereby 
raising investor confidence technology associated with foreign direct investment (FDI) will be 
effectively safeguarded.  In 2017, CLDP provided assistance to the following LDCs:  
 Angola : A workshop for government officials to improve private investment, and  thereby 
tech transfer, in power projects.  
 Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger : A regional capacity building workshop to improve 
power purchase agreements and power project tenders in order to generate investment 
on power infrastructure, including the licensing of technologies.  
 Mali: A workshop on combatting counterfeiting using  mobile phone product 
authentication (developed by Sproxil) to detect counterfeit products affecting public 
health, including pharmaceuticals and agro -inputs such as seeds and fe rtilizers.  The 
technology allows consumers to verify a product in a matter of seconds.  
4.2  Programming from the National Institute of Standard and Technology  
33.  NIST coordinates inte ragency Lab -to-Market efforts. It convenes an Interagency Workgroup 
for Technolo gy Transfer, and serves as the host agency for the Federal Laboratory Consortium for 
Technology Transfer (FLC). NIST provides technical expertise in the area of technology transfer to 
support other U.S. government ou treach and assistance efforts. NIST rese arch laboratories, user 
facilities, and other programs focus on advancing measurement scien ce, standards, and 
technology. In particular, NIST's Guest Researcher Program, and its Cooperative Research and 
Development Agreements (CRADAs) enable work with tech nical experts on projects that use NIST 
laboratories and equipment,  staff, and research tools. NIST guest researchers (or their employing 
institutions) may retain rights to inventions conceived by the researcher while wor king with 
researchers at NIST. Each year, NIST hosts hu ndreds of foreign researchers. In 2017, NIST hosted 
resear chers from the following LDCs: Bangladesh (3); Benin (2); Burkina Faso (2); Ethiopia (1); 
Madagascar (1); and Nepal (5) (see https://www.nist.gov/iaao/office -international -
affairs#foreign ). 
4.3  Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA)  
34.  BTCA works directly with governments and large companies in many USAID host countries to 
support the transition from cash to el ectronic payments.  Digitalization of government payments 
and revenues collection improves public sector efficiency and transparency.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  4.4  Financial Inclusion: Accessible Finance and Inclusive Finance projects - Haiti  
35.  USAID/Haiti 's Financial Inclusion effort in cludes the following two projects: Accessible Finance 
(January 2017 – January 2020), and Inclusive Finance proje cts (April 2017 – April 2019). Each has 
a $5 million budget. The Accessible Finance project aims to increase the use of digital tools, field 
officer banking, and financial literacy to address the challenges and high trans action costs of rural 
banking. The Inclusive Finance project works to expand access and use of secure and affordable 
financial services, including payments, savings, and credit.  
5  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY  PROTECTION AND ENFOR CEMENT CAPACITY BUIL DING  
36.  U.S. agencies, including the Department of Commerce's International Trade 
Administration  (ITA) (see http://www.trade.gov ), CLDP, the Department of State, the Department 
of Homeland  Security (DHS), U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (see 
http://www.uspto.gov ) and others  deliver IPR technical assistance programs to LDCs to  strengthen 
IPR protections and thus increase the likelihood of Foreign Direct Investment.  
5.1.1   USPTO Collaboration with International Organizations  
37.  USPTO offers training and technical assistance on IPR protection and enforcement to m any 
countries, including LD Cs. USPTO supports the LDC assistance efforts of international organizations 
such as with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Intellectua l 
Property Organization (WIPO).  For example, USPTO works with WIPO on its Re:Search and WI PO 
Green programs, to promote access to IPR and technical know -how for relevant policy concerns, 
including neglected tropical diseases and environmentally -friendly technologies (see 
http://www.wipo .int/research/en/ , and https://webaccess.wipo.int/green/ ). USPTO also 
collaborates with ASEAN on the Intellectual Property Office Administration Program in which 
LDCs participate.  
5.1.2   USPTO Global Int ellectual Property Academy  
38.  USPTO provides IPR training at its state -of-the-art Global Intellectual Property Academy 
(GIPA) in Alexandria, Virginia and throughout the world.  USPTO delivers targeted training to 
foreign IP office administrators, examiners, j udges, prosecutors, customs officers, and other 
government and law enforcement officials.  
39.  In FY2017, GIPA conducted more than 90 training, technical assistance, and capacity building 
programs for over 4,000 participants from over 98 different countries, in cluding the  following 
LDCs: Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lao 
People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, 
Tanza nia, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. A GIPA Techno logy Transfer training in March 2017 included 
partici pants from Nepal and Ethiopia. (For more information about GIPA, see 
www.uspto.gov/gipa ). 
5.1.3   IPR e -Learning Modules  
40.  USPTO hosts 31 free IPR e -Learning modules available to the public.  These modules cover six 
different areas of Intellectual Property, and ar e available in five languages: Arabic, English,  
French, Russian, and Spanish. By the end of FY2017, the e -learning modules had received over 
64,000 hits. In F Y2017, GIPA produced a new on -demand Trade Secrets video (see 
https://www.uspto.gov/learning -and-resources/glo bal-intellectual -property -academy -gipa/uspto -
webinars -and-ip-e-learning ). 
5.1.4   Intellectual Property Attaché Program  
41.  USPTO posts IPR attachés at select U.S. embassies an d consulates around the world. These 
attaches work with host governments, academia, advocacy groups, international organizations, 
NGOs, and the private sector to provide IPR technical assistance a nd 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 ). IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  5.1.5   Capacity -Building on Intellectual Property – Nepal  
42.  Working with Embassy Kathmandu, the USPTO New Delhi Attaché Offi ce has taken steps to 
strengthen the overall intellectual property rights (IPR) regime and incorporate strong IPR as part 
of high -level industrial policies in Nepal. The goal of the capacity building is to help shape and 
implement an intellectual property (IP) regime that promotes innovation and 
the commerci alization of creative content. The program is centered on consultations and trainings 
that facilitate exchange of best practices, experiences, and knowledge on IP awareness among 
the public sector, priva te sector,  and educational institutions. In July 2017, USPTO conducted 
a training course in Kathmandu for government and private sector representatives that focused on 
issues related to the Madrid Protoc ol and trademark registration. USPTO also met with Ne pal Police 
and customs officials in April 2017 on intellectua l property rights enforcement. In September 2016 
two Nepali officials attended a USPTO administrative training program in Alexandria Virginia for 
patent officials from the South Asia region. The Government of Nepal enacted an Intellectual 
Property policy in March 2017 following input from USPTO and has sought additional assistance to 
draft an IP law. In September 2017, USPTO and the Department of Justice organized 
an "Intellectual Property Rights Border Enforcement Workshop " in Bangkok, in which a few Nepali 
officials will participate.  
5.1.6   Capacity -Building Integrated Border Management – Mozambique  
43.  The U.S. Department of State, in partnership with the Mozambique National Migration Service, 
runs a FY201 7 program to build capacity in  Integrated Border Management. The program is 
intended to protect the national borders of Mozambique and to combat transnational crime. 
It includes provision of equipment for screening and vetting documents and at border cross ings. 
5.2  Patents for Humanity  
44.  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 h ow they are improving lives in five 
broad ca tegories of global challenges: household energy, living standards, medici ne, nutrition, and 
sanitation. Independe nt experts review submissions. Winners receive accelerated patent 
application processing. (See http://www.uspto.gov/patentsforhumanity ). In late 2016, the f our 
latest award winners were: the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for developing an improved 
meningitis vaccine production process used to i mmunize 235 million people in high -risk African 
countries; Case Western Reserve University for creating a low -cost, highly accurate malaria 
detection device that allows better diagnosis and treatment; and GestVision, Inc. for developing 
a quick, simple dia gnostic test for preeclampsia, a potentially life threatening pregnancy 
complication, for use in developing regions.  
5.3  IPR Enforcement Coordination  
45.  The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) 
leads the National Intelle ctual Property Rights Coordination Centre (IPR Centre), which works to 
protect public health and safety and the U.S. economy, and to stop predatory and unfair trade 
practices that threaten the global e conomy. The IPR Centre brings together 23 partner agenc ies, 
consisting of 19 federal agencies, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and the governments of Canada and 
Mexico in a task -force setting. The task force structure enables the IPR Centre to effectively 
leverage the resources, skills, and authorities of each partner and provide a comprehensive 
response to IP theft (see https://www.iprcenter.gov/ ). The IPR Centre 's Operation Joint Venture 
(OJV) trains domestic and international law enforcement to build st rong enforcement capabilities. 
The IPR Centre, through the financial support of Department of State's Bureau of International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), provides IPR enforcement capacity building training 
to many countries, including LDCs.  
5.3.1   National IPR Coordination Centre (IPR Center)  
46.  In FY2016, the IPR Ce nter conducted 16 international training se ssions and 63 outreach 
events. In August 2016, the IPR Center, in collaboration with ICE Attachés Frankfurt, Dakar, and 
Casablanca, organized and conducted a week -long intellectual property enforcement training IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  program at the George C. Marshall European Security Center in Garmisch -Partenkirchen, 
Germany, for 30 African police and customs officials from Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Sen egal, 
and Togo. The instruction focused on IPR investigations, intellectual prop erty crime trends, 
investigative t echniques, and best practices. The IPR Center provided a week of intellectual 
property enforcement training (August 15 -19, 2016) that largely emphasized health and safety 
investigations and the use of the Internet to facil itate the sale an d smuggling of these products. 
The presentations stressed the sharing of intelligence and resources with other organizational 
assets to effectively investigate int ellectual property violations. This training assisted in the 
development of ongoing multilateral partnerships among participating countries and law 
enforcement representatives from ICE HSI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Department of 
Justice - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (DOJ CCIPS), INTERPOL, German  
Customs, and private industry representatives from Underw riters Laboratories and Bayer. 
In addition, the IPR Center collaborated with INTERPOL on capacity building for third country 
investigations focused on IP enforcement, information sharing and interna tional cooperation.  
5.3.2   StopFakes.gov  
47.  The Department of Commerce developed and maintains a website that hosts online resources, 
including information about key U.S. agencies and programs (see http://www.stopfakes.gov/ ) 
aimed at helping businesses protect IPR.  The IPR Training Module, hosted on STOPfakes, is 
available in  English, French, and Spanish. The United States encourages LDCs to use the module, 
which familiarizes small businesses with IP issues, and provides tip s on h ow to protect and enforce 
IPR. LDCs and other countries can use  this resource free of charge. Inventors, investors, and 
businesspersons from the United States and around the world may use the "Contact Us" function 
on the website to ask qu estions abou t IPR enforcement. Additionally, STOPfakes enables 
businesses to report IPR trade barriers and enforcement issues to the Department of Commerce.  
5.3.3   Counter -Narcotics and Transnational Organized Crime (CN/TOC) - Benin  
48.  In April 2016, the Justice Department 's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development 
Assistance and Training (OPDAT) organized a conference to bolster transnational cooperation and 
information sharing in CN/TOC investigations, specifically along the Abidjan to Lagos corridor. 
The State Department 's INL bureau funded this conference.  In early 2016, OPDAT completed 
a Best Practices Manual (BPM) for CN in vestigations and prosecutions. It conducted a distribution 
tour acr oss Benin in July -August 2016. In Feb/March 2017, OPDAT began curriculum developm ent 
work for its core group members and specialized trainings to law enforcement units and courts 
most directly involved in high -level narco tics cases. To date, OPDAT has trained close to 
1,000  mid-level to senior level Police Officers at Benin 's National Police Academy, as well as 
24 court clerks and magistrates at the Court of Fi rst Instance in Abomey -Calavi. It has distributed 
2,500 of the 5,00 0 BPMs which it has published. OPDAT 's signature BPM project in Benin has 
provided financial and technical suppo rt to draft and distribute a CN procedural manual to 
harmonize and elevate the national practice for investigating and prosecuting narcotics cases.  
6  TRADE AND INVESTMENT  POLICY, CAPACITY BUI LDING, AND INCENTIVE S 
49.  Technology transfers are often private sector  decisions.  They should not be required as a 
precondition for investment.  
6.1  Investment and Trade Policy Negotiations  
50.  U.S. bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements aim to improve protections for IP, 
thereby improving environments for foreign investment and the associated technology transfer 
often associated therewith.  
6.1.1   Bilateral Investment Treaties  
51.  U.S. 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, protection 
against expropriation, a nd transparency in governance. These treaties improve the climate for FDI 
in partner countries that can lead to the transf er of technology and know -how. To date, the United IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  States had signed four BITs with sub -Saharan Africa WTO Member LDCs: Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Senegal.  
6.1.2   Trade and Investment Framework Agreements  
52.  USTR -negotiated Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) enhance trade 
relations between the Unit ed States and other countries. Over the last several years, the United 
States has launched 13 trade and investment agreements in sub -Saharan Africa, i ncluding three 
bilateral TIFAs with LDCs:  A ngola, Mozambique, and Rwanda. Additionally, the United States has 
launched 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 a greements with several LDCs outside of Sub -Saharan Africa, 
including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal, and Yemen, as well as with ASEAN and the 
Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Together, these agreements cover 29 WTO LDC Members:  
Angola, Bangladesh, Ben in, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, Djibouti, 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/ ). 
6.2  Trade Preference Programs  
53.  The United States views trade as an effect ive means to encourage bro ad-based economic 
development. Trade constitutes an important means of sustaining momentum for econo mic reform 
and liberalization. It affords developing countries access to technologies that would otherwise be 
difficult to obtain,  and simultaneously opens new market opportunities for U.S. companies.  
6.2.1   U.S. Generalized System of Preferences Program  
54.  The U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, established in 1976, promotes 
economic development by providing duty -free access  to the U.S. market for a wide range of 
products from developin g countries. GSP promotes sustainable development in beneficiary 
countries via trade with the United States.  The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 renewed 
the GSP program through Decembe r 31, 2017, and authorized refunds of duties paid on GSP 
imports during a lapse in GSP authorization from August 2013 to July 2015. GSP benefits 122 
developing countries and territories and provides special, additional benefits for products from 31 
least-developed WTO  Member beneficiary countries. Nearly 5,000 types of products are eligible for 
duty-free treatment under GSP, including most manufactured products (except apparel and 
footwear), agricultural and fishery products, consumer products, chemicals, m inerals, and building 
materials (see https://ustr.gov/issue -areas/trade -development/preference -programs/generalized -
system -preference -gsp). 
6.2.2   African Growth and Opportunity Act  
55.  The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) expands U.S. -Africa trade and investment, 
by promoting open markets, stimulating economic growth, and encouraging sub -Saharan Africa's 
integration into the global economy, wh ile supporting progress toward good governance, poverty 
reduction, and respect for human rights thr ough its eligibility criteria. Since the enactment of 
AGOA in 2000, the United States has worked closely with African governments, the private sector, 
and ci vil society stakeholders to help them make the most of AGOA's trade benefits. In 2015, 
the U.S. Congress renewed the AGOA legislation for its longest extension  period to date, through 
2025. The U.S. Government has actively promoted AGOA throughout Africa, developing trade 
capacity -building programs to help African governments and firms identify and develop new 
market opportunities through AGOA (see https://agoa.info/about -agoa/ ). As of August 2017, 38 
countries are eligible for AGOA: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, 
Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, 
Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, M auritania, Mauritius, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, 
Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  6.3  Trade Capacity Building  
56.  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID ) and the U.S. Trade and Development 
Agency (USTDA) promoting models such as public -private partnerships (PPPs) and grant funding 
programs to support the development of infrastructure projects that advance economic growth and 
often involve transfer of tech nology to LDCs. Trade Capacity Building (TCB) assistance is 
a cornerstone of the U.S. Government strategy to enable developing countries to negotiate and 
implement market -opening and ref orm-oriented trade agreements. TCB strengthens the link 
between trade and development by providing the know how to  maximize trade opportunities. 
The United States considers its TCB activities to be an integral element of its efforts to provide 
incentives for technology transfer (see https://www.usaid.gov/what -we-do/economic -growth -and-
trade/trade -and-regulatory -reform/trade -capacity -buildingaid -trade ). Since FY2011, U.S. 
Government funding fo r TCB has totaled over $4.5 billion. USAID operates three Trade and 
Investment Hubs across the continent in West, East, and Southern Africa to support AGOA 
utilization through capacity building programs.  
6.3.1   Programming from the U.S. Trade and Development Agen cy 
57.  USTDA advances U.S. economic development initiatives in developin g and middle income 
countries. USTDA funds technical assistance (e.g. early investment analysis, training, reverse 
trade missions, and business workshops) that support the development of m odern infrastructure 
and a fair  and open trading environment. USTDA promotes public -private partnerships and 
provides grant funding for infrastructure development project s that support economic growth.  
Recognizing the importance of trade to LDC growth USTD A works closely with other U.S. 
Government agencies and regional and multilateral development banks to develop trade capacity 
and apply private -sector solutions to dev elopment challenges worldwide. In fiscal year 201 7, 
USTDA provided over $6.9 million in a ppropriated funds and over $2.4 million in transfer funds to 
support assistance activities designed to create an enabling environment for increased  trade and 
investment in LDCs. Transfer funds were allocated from the Department of State (U.S. -Africa 
Clean Energy Finance Initiative - ACEF) and USAID (Power Africa).  
58.  An example of a recent USTDA assistance activity benefiting an LDC is a $899,456 technical 
assistance grant provided to Energie Rurale Africaine  S.A. in FY 2017 for the implementation and 
operation of solar minigrids in 31 villages in the regions of Kaffrine -Tamabacouda -Kedougou, 
Senegal. This will help increase energy access in Senegal and create economic growth 
opportunit ies for over 3,500 house holds. The technical assistance also includes piloting and field -
testing U.S. advanced metering, payment collection, and remote monitoring technology.  
6.3.2   Cold Chain Bangladesh Alliance (CCBA) – Bangladesh  
59.  The Cold Chain Bangladesh Alliance (CCBA) activity is a three -year (2013 -2016), pilot 
program implemented by Winrock International under a Global Development Alliance (GDA) 
mechanism —USAID's model f or public -private partnership. USAID is partnering with Golde n 
Harvest, a Bangladeshi food processing and transportation company, to establish the country 's 
first refrigerated transportation and storage network to reduce losses and spoiling of produce after 
it is harvested.  Establishing a refrigerated infrastructur e system and "cold chain " network, USAID 
and Golden Harvest are ensuring the delivery of high value agricultural produce to the market and 
improving the availability of locally produced food.  The specific objectives of the activity are:  
 Increase the incom es of small and marginal farmers, particularly women, through 
training in high -value agricultural production based on market demand;  
 Leverage and support ongoing U.S. government and private sector investments in food 
security by establishing a cold chain n etwork  for product aggregation and integration of 
complementary businesses along the value chain, including extension;  
 Introduce first -in-Bangladesh cold chain technologies and management practices that 
will reduce food losses and increase the supply of sa fe products to consumers; and  
 Address infrastructure constraints, particularly  storage, through a mix of proven and 
innovative industry -led technologies suitable for Bangladesh.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  6.4  Investment Incentives through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation  
60.  The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is the U.S. development finance 
institution, mobilizing private investment in more than 160 developing e conomies and emerging 
markets. OPIC has supported more than US$225 billion of investment in over 4,000 de velopment 
projects in key sectors such as agribusiness, energy small -and-medium -sized enterprises (SME) 
and micro -finance (see https://www.opic.gov/opic -action/all -project -descriptions ). 
6.5  Pre-Shipment Inspection Migration Strategy – Mozambique  
61.  During the last quarter of FY2017, USAID is partnering with local customs and tax authorities, 
to provide them with technical assistance to migrate from a Pre -Shipment Inspection syste m to 
a risk-based screening system, in accordance with the WTO  Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
6.6  Trade Facilitation Support – Mozambique  
62.  During FY2017, USAID worked with Mozambique 's Ministry of Industry and Commerce to 
provide technical assistance, to assist in ratifying and implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement. As a result, Mozambique ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, completed the 
categorization of all provisions, submitted the categorization to the WTO, created their National 
Trade  Facilitation Committee, and is already implementin g Category A and B provisions.  
6.7  Leveraging Effective Application for Direct Investments (LEAD) - Haiti  
63.  LEAD strengthens the capacity of small and medium enterprises (SME) to engage in best 
business practice s to attract foreign and diaspora investments, grow businesses, create jobs, and 
generate income.  The project uses a grant matching mechanism to leverage private investments 
in Haitian SMEs identified through  business plan competitions. Examples of innova tive technologies 
employed by grantee firms include tablet computer production, efficient cook stoves, and plastics 
recycling.  
6.8  Local Enterprise Value Chain Enhancement (LEVE) - Haiti  
64.  LEVE (December 2013 – December 2018) aims to increase employment in Haiti  and to 
support micro -, small -, and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the target sectors of 
construction, apparel/textiles, and agri -business.  The project provides business development 
services to MSMEs, technical assistance and capacity building to loc al organizations, and workforce 
development training.  Many beneficiaries of LEVE 's services employ innovative technologies, such 
as solar panels for fish ponds and grain processing technology.  
6.9  Opportunity for the Haitian Youth - Haiti  
65.  The Opportunity for the Haitian Youth (OHY) (September 2015 – May 2017)is a program 
which aims to increase the economic security of 300 marginalized 16 - to 26 -year-old women and 
men, creating work opportunities through job creation and entrepreneursh ip, and work -based 
interns hip. The project provides training and job placement services to the enrolled students into 
formal and informal businesses in the apparel, construc tion, and hospitality sectors. Areas of 
technology transfer include the development of vocational training mo dules among which, 
a government -accredi ted solar electric curriculum.  
6.10  Rezo Nord - Haiti  
66.  During July 2015 – August 2018, Build Change is implementing a training and certification 
program in the North (Trou -du-Nord), which provides skills training for SME block makers, 
construction professionals (aka "builders ") in the informal sector, and unskilled vulnerable youth 
who are in terested in construction work. Once the minimum required level of knowledge and ski ll 
is reached through a comprehensive process of competency -based training and practice, 
certification by Build Change and membership of REZO will enable them to successfully compe te in 
the formal market place. REZO will act as a resource for its members, linking them with REZO 
partners. Examples of partners are suppliers of high quality materials, private sector service 
providers capable of assisting in the process of formalization and business expansion such as IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  access to microfinance for the purchase of n ew tools and equipment, business skills training, 
insurance for employees and distribution rights or discounts for new construction materials and 
related products.  
6.11  Afghanistan Workforce Development Program (AWDP)  
67.  USAID 's Afghanistan Workforce Development P rogram (AWDP) complements the development 
goals of the Afghan and U.S. governments by supporting key growth opportunities in construction, 
information and communications technology, public -private partne rship and business 
management. The program seeks to i ncrease job placements and wages for 25,000 Afghan 
citizens – at least 25 % of them women – by strengthening the labor pool in major economic areas 
and addressing the difficulties of high unemployment, scarcity of technically -skilled Afghan labor, 
and trai ned business managers. It does this by providing demand -driven quality technical and 
business education, training, job placement, and support services.  
6.12  Afghanistan Investment Climate Reform Program (AICR)  
68.  USAID 's Investment Climate Reform $13.3 million pro gram supports the Afghan government 's 
efforts to improve Afghanistan 's investment climate by implementing business -enabling reforms 
that will make the country economically competitive,  both regionally and globally. The program 
supports a number of reforms,  such as special industrial licensing, construction permitting, and 
other areas associated with the World Bank 's (WB) "Doing Business " indicators in Afghanistan.  
7  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMM ING AND INCENTIVES T HROUGH PRIVATE SECTO R MODELS  
69.  Through the use of the public -private partnership (PPP) model, U.S. 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 developm ent 
challenges.  
7.1  Development Assistance Programming from the Millennium Challenge Corporation  
70.  The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a U.S. Government corporation that forms 
partnerships with some of the world's poorest countries, but only those comm itted to good 
governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens. MCC provides countries with 
large-scale grants to fund country -led solutions for achieving goals such as reducing poverty 
throug h sustainable economic growth. MCC has approved o ver US$11 billion in compact and 
threshold programs worldwide that support projects in agriculture and irrigation, anticorruption, 
business environment improvements, education, health, enterprise development, finance, land 
rights, trade and transport, and water suppl y and sanitation initiatives. MCC is currently 
implementing compact agreements or threshold progr ams with four WTO LDC Members: Benin, 
Liberia, Malawi, Ni ger, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. In the past, MCC has also completed programs 
with Benin, Bur kina Faso, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, 
Tanzania, Uganda, and Vanuatu. New programs are being developed with Burkina Faso, Leso tho, 
Nepal, Senegal, and Togo. Nepal will move from "developing " to "implementing " in mid -Septe mber 
2017 (see http://www.mcc.gov/ ). 
7.1.1   Benin Power Compact  
71.  The MCC Compact will increase the quantity and quality of electric power in Benin through 
policy reforms, institutional strengthening, and infrastructure inv estmen ts. It focuses on 
strengthening the management and operations of the electricity utility, shoring up sector financing 
through tariff reform and reduction in arrears, and establishing an enabling environment for off -
grid electrification and private sector i nvestment in power generation. The Compact will also 
modernize Benin 's electricity distribution infrastructure to reduce losses, improve reliability, reduce 
outages, and accom modate rapidly growing demand. MCA-Benin II has recently awarded key 
procurements  for the design of $81.5 million in electricity distribution works, studies to conduct 
tariff reforms in the electricity sector, and management of the off -grid clean energy facility – 
the U.S. Government 's largest off -grid investment in a single c ountry. Implementation of the five -
year Compact will increase Benin 's domestic generation capaci ty by up to 46 megawatts (MW). IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  An estimated 1.97 million households are expected to benefit over the 20 -year life of 
the investment, 49 % of whom are living on less than  $4 per day.  
7.2  Global Development Alliance Model  
72.  The Global Development Alliance (GDA) is USAID 's premiere model for public -private 
partnerships, helping to improve the social and economic conditions in developing countries and 
deepen USAID 's development imp act by leveraging the combined expertise, skills, assets, 
technologies and resources of the private,  public and nonprofit sectors. The GDA model stresses 
private sector engagement and working with and through global and local businesses, private 
philanthro py, and civil society. Since FY 2001, USAID has worked with more than 3,500 partner 
organizations from the private sector to form more than 1,500 partnerships that has mobilize more 
than $18 billion in non -USG funds (see http://www.usaid.gov/gda/ ). 
7.3  USAID 's Development Innovations/  Development Alternatives Inc.  
73.  The USAID - Development Innovations /Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) is a USAID -funded 
project, running from August 2013 to August 2018, designed to grow an d support a community for 
Information Communication Technology for De velopment (ICT4D) in Cambodia. The program 
enables innovation by building civil society 's capacity to design and implement ICT solutions to 
more effectively accomplish the missions of civ il society organizations, while it sensitizes 
technologists and technology companies to the needs o f civil society organizations. The program 
provided consultations, coached trainees, secured sponsorships, built public -private partnerships, 
established a "5D Lab, " and had a significant role in over 200 community events with over 12,000 
participants. It also awarded $1.5 million in small grants, which developed 50 ICT solutions, 
reaching over 1.4 million beneficiaries.  
7.4  Civil Society Mutual Accountability Project (CS:  MAP) - Nepal  
74.  Kathmandu Living Labs (KLL) is working to bring Information and Communication Technology 
(ICT) mainly to three areas in CS: MAP: government service oversight, CSO capacity building i n 
ICT, and citizen engagement. To this effect, KLL will:  (a) make municipal governments ' annual 
plans more transparent, use interactive maps, charts and build ICT tools to enable citizens' 
democratic deliberation and engagement; (b) build web, mobile and interactive voice recording 
(IVR) solutions tha t will enable CSOs to solicit, document, track and publish public's everyday 
concerns; and (c) train CSOs to build their capacity in taking these ICT tools to communities for 
data-driven, evidence -based campaigns. Together, through these efforts, KLL will enhance 
transparency in governance, foster mutual accountability between government and the governed, 
and promote more effective and equitable citize n participation and inclusion. Currently, 
the implementing partner KLL is conducting research and designin g the technological products. 
These products will be tested by end of December 2017 and replicated in 2018 and onwards.  
7.5  Access to Information (A2I) – Bangladesh  
75.  The Access to Information program of $6,100,001 aims to increase transparency, improve 
governanc e and reduce the time, difficulty and costs of obtaining government services for under -
served communities of Bangladesh. The specific objectives of the activity are:  
 Strengthen existing e -services and launch a second generation of integrated, inter -
operabl e e-government applications;  
 Sensitize government officials, train service providers and expand digital literacy among 
the general public;  
 Forge strong policy and strategy links to ensure implementation of needed legal and 
regulatory changes in support of  the activity.  
7.6  Cybersecurity Program - Benin  
76.  The State Department 's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) funded 
a Regional Cybersecurity Workshop for all 15 members of the ECOWAS. The workshop was held in 
June 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria and provided high -level guidance on development cybersecurity  
strategies and public policy. The subsequent announcement on July 10, 2017 by Nigeria that it has IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  started the process of joining the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest 
Conventi on) has strengthened a regional momentum and opened opportunities for INL to  further 
assist ECOWAS states. The June 2017 ECOWAS Cybersecurity Workshop and the FY 2016 donation 
(by International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP)) o f 50 mini laptops 
have helped bolster Benin 's Regional Cybersecurity Awareness and strengthen Benin 's 
technological defenses.  
7.7  Counternarcotics – Myanmar  
77.  INL funds implementing partners to provide training and technical assistance to health 
professionals an d community leaders to not only improve the quality of drug treatment services 
but also support local efforts to prevent drug use in their respective commun ities. INL funds also 
provide training and technical assistance to the Myanmar Police to address the  supply side of the 
drug issues in Myanmar.  
8  PROGRAMS AND INCENTI VES RELATED TO AGRIC ULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD 
SAFETY AND SECURITY  
8.1  Agricultural Technology Transfer Programming from the USDA  
78.  To facilitate technology transfer, USDA uses contractual instrum ents such as Cooperative 
Research and Development Agreement (CRADAs), invention licenses and material transfer 
agreements, and supports public dissemination of research results.  USDA pursues patent 
protection and licensing only when a private sector partn er 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 annual rep ort on technology transfer provides details about 
the mechanisms used for technology transfer and types of technologies transferred 
(see  https://www.ars.usda.gov/office -of-technology -transfer/tt -reports/ ). 
8.1.1  Agricultural Technology Transfer Programming from the ARS  
79.  By sharing knowledge and technology through close collaboration with national and 
international research institutions to i ncrease research capacity and speed technology 
development, ARS transfers technology and enhances international trade and diplomacy 
(see  http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=1 428). 
8.1.2   National Agricultural Technology Project - Phase II Project (NATP -2)  Bangladesh  
80.  The National Agricultural Technology Project - Phase II Project (NATP - 2) aims to increase 
agricultural productivity of smallholder farms and improve smallholder farmer s' access to markets 
in selected districts . The project will be implemented over a six -year period in 56 of the country 's 
64 districts and in up to 270 of the country 's 493  sub-districts (or upazillas). In compliance with 
Government policies and strategies , the primary target group for NATP -2 will be smallholder 
farmers (with special emphasis on women) who account for over 90 % of the country 's rural 
population and make up for the vast majority of Bangladesh 's poor. NATP-2 includes 
an agricultural research component and three sub -sector componen ts: crops, livestock, and 
fisheries. This approach is expected to lead to a better integration between agricultural resear ch, 
extension, and production. It is estimated that over 1 million farming households will directly 
benefit from project activities, including from improved extension services, stronger linkages with 
research, on -farm demonstrations of new technologies, capacity enhancement through training 
and skills development, as well as from  co-funding prod uctive assets. The specific objectives of 
the activity are:  
 Enhancing agricultural technology generation;  
 Supporting crop development;  
 Supporting fisheries development; and  
 Supporting livestock development.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  8.2  Programming Supporting Food Security  
8.2.1   Feed the F uture Program  
81.  Feed the Future (FTF) is the primary U.S. global hunger  and food security initiative. 
It supports country -driven approaches to address the root  causes of hunger and poverty. 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 li ke drought or extreme 
weather. As a result, food aid can be used for unforeseen catastrophes rather than for chronic food 
insecurity or predic table cycles of drough t 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 http://www.feedthefuture.gov/ ). FTF catalyzes 
technology transfer through agricultural -led economic growth and development by bridging 
the gap between innovative agricultural productivity solutions and sustainable market demand; 
improving the en abling environment for market led growth; and linking large commercial 
institutions with smallholder partners.  
82.  In providing technical assistance, USAID also seeks to expand markets and trade in LDC 
countries and FTF focus countries by expanding market info rmation; post -harvest market 
infrastructure; and access to business devel opment and financial services. ARS is engaged in 
research specifically targeting developing countries through FTF (see 
https://www.ars.usda.gov/office -of-international -research -programs/oirp -feed-the-future -
projects/ ). FTF's technical assistance will enhance animal, plant, and food safety by improving 
standards and creating  strong regulatory frameworks; reducing the time and cost of border 
movement of goods; and creating an enabling enviro nment for agribusiness growth. Under 
the Global Food Security Act passed in 2016, the U.S. Government will continue and strengthen 
these e fforts in line with the 2016 Global Food Security Strategy and the coordination among 
11 different U.S. Government agencies and departments.  
8.2.2   FTF Programming in Cambodia – Rice Field Fisheries  
83.  FTF Cambodia (June 2016 to June 2021), targets to increase produ ctivity and availability of 
food cr ops from Rice Field Fisheries. Its program aims to integrate systems to be more efficient, 
while equitabl y using local water resources. Well over 100 community fish refuges have been 
assessed, of which 58 have completed b udgets and received financial support.  
8.2.3   Feed the Future Programming - Uganda  
84.  In 2017, $15 million of FTF programming promoted science and technology innovatio ns in 
agricultural production. Specifically, FTF supports biotechnological research with Uganda's National 
Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) by improving local research capacity and creating 
a policy environment conducive to the development, management, and use of agricultural 
biotechnology. USAID is building on its partnership with NARO to pro mote vitamin -A enriched 
orange fleshed sweet potatoe s and iron biofortified beans. Through FTF, USAID supports adaptive 
research trials to test, validate, and refine newly developed agronomic practices and seed varieties 
for coffee, maize , and beans. Finally, USAID is also scaling up the use of information 
communication technology to rural farmers through the promotion of digital financial services, 
such as mobile money.  
8.2.4   Feed the Future Programming - Rwanda  
85.  The Private sector Driven Agricultural Growth  (PSDAG) project funded the development of 
an Agriculture Land Information System (ALIS), a web -based resource to be used by potential 
investors with key information necessary to make invest ment decisions in agriculture. This web -
based tool makes available  data such as, but is not limited to:  
 spatial data layers (aerial photos, satellite data, land, suitability analysis, and cadastral 
data for agriculture land);  
 current investments (irrigation schemes and related cost, and large substantial private 
agricult ural investment);  
 current land use and proposed land use;  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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   agricultural datasets;  
 soil types; and  
 rainfall.  
86.  ALIS is publicly accessible to investors and currently managed by the Rwandan Ministry of 
Agriculture and Animal Re sources (MINAGRI). Phase 1 of ALI S covers all agriculture lands 
currently owned by MINAGRI, which can be identified by private investors as ap propriate land for 
investment. Other procedures and guidelines will be in place to inform investors on how to use 
those lots of land.  
8.2.5   Production, F inance, Improved Technologies Plus (Profit+) - Zambia  
87.  Profit+ focuses on increasing agricultural productivity and expanding markets and trade in 
Feed the Future/Zambia value chains (maize, oilseeds, groundnuts, soya and s unflower) in Eastern 
Province. Activities include the identification and dissemination of productivity -enhancing 
technologies to farmers, the development of value chain finance schemes to increase access to 
credit, the development of an export strategy for these value chains, and improving the capacity 
and governance of smallholder cooperatives to increase market link ages to high -value processing. 
The program closed in May 2017. It directly benefited 200,000 smallholder farmers, processors 
and other value chain actors; created 339 community agro-input dealers (122 female -owned 
businesses); created more than 1,037 agribusiness savings and credit groups, with more than 
22,195 members as farmer structures to enhance farmer savings and support community agro -
input dealer businesses.  
8.2.6   Zambia Africa  RISING Agricultural Research and Development  
88.  Africa RISING works with international agricultural research institutions to build the capacity 
of Zambia's own agricultural research institutions to increase productivity, promote the adoption of 
climate -smart  agricultural systems, improve crop varieties, and offer low -cost technol ogies for 
smallholder farmers. Ongoing targets:  
 "Improving legume seed delivery systems: " developed seed roadmaps and seed 
demonstration kits, established demonstration plots, and org anized farmer participatory 
variety selection events.  Links with the private seed company Afriseed were established 
and the company received 150kg of soybean breeder seeds for the production of 
foundation seeds.  
 "Strengthening OFSP planting material syste ms:" trained and recruited decentralized 
vine multipliers in Lundazi, Chipata, Katete, and Petauke Districts in preparation for the 
rainy season.  These multipliers received vine cuttin gs for further multiplication. These 
were then distributed to households with children under 5.  
 "Proof of efficacy of Aflasafe and facilitation of commercialization: " established on -farm 
trials in Region I and III agro -ecological zones (AEZs) of Zambia to determine product 
efficacy as well as in Region II AEZ for pro duct value determination.  
8.2.7   Climate Services for Agriculture - Rwanda  
89.  Developed by IRI, a member of the CGIAR (a Global Research Partnership for Food Security) 
and funded by USAID in Rwanda, Maproom is a collection of online mapping tools that monitor 
climat e conditions at p resent and in the recent past. The Rwanda Meteo Authority now uses this for 
various weather -related analyses and forecasting.  
Maproom makes the following data available on line:  
 Historical climate information (daily precipitation analysis, historical onset and cessation 
date, historical seasonal totals);  
 Historical and forecast information for agriculture ( probability of exceedance and 
probability distribution graphs for the rainfall  forecast, seasonal anomalies)  
http://maproom.meteorwanda.gov.rw/maproom/Agriculture/#tabs -1 
 Under developmen t is the Water Balance Maproom that will be used to monitor crop 
yield and forecast food security in Rwanda : 
http://maproom.meteorwanda.gov.rw/maproom/Agriculture/#tabs -2 IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  90.  This tool has helped dis seminate data derived from merging weather/climate data (from 
physical stations) and surface weather observation data (by satellite) to fill the gaps in Rwanda 's 
historic weather data crea ted as result of the Genocide. Now, Rwanda has historical weather da ta 
for more than 60 years.  
8.2.8   FTF Research Commitments  
91.  A central feature of FTF is a commitment to harness science and technology to advance 
agricultural productivity and sustainability goals through increased collaboration between U.S. 
scientists and partner countries. FTF research investments address seven major program areas of 
the Fo od Security Innovation Centre: (1) Climate Resilient Cereals; (2) Legume Productivity; 
(3) Advanced Approaches to Pest and Disease; (4) Nutritious and Safe F oods; (5) Markets and 
Policy; (6) Sustainable Intensification; and (7) Human and Insti tutional Capacity Development. 
These research programs involve a range of implementing organizations, including U.S. 
universities, in close partnership with developing co untries, international agricultural research 
centers, and partnerships between private sector firms and partners in developing countries to 
advance food security research and the transfer of relevant technologies.  
92.  USAID funds 24 research programs based at U.S. universities across the seven program areas 
of the FTF Food Security Innovation Centre to develop relevant technologies and approaches to 
improving the sustainability, productivity and profi tability of smallholder farms. The programs 
include research in aquaculture, livestock, cereals, legumes, food safety, nutrition, and natural 
resources management (see https://feedthefuture.gov/article/feed -future -food-security-
innovation -center ). 
8.2.9   Nobo Jatra ( "New Beginning ") – Bangladesh  
93.  The goal of $73,999,840 Nobo Jatra program is to improve gender equitable food security, 
nutrition and resilience of vulnerable people in Bangladesh. Nobo Jatra will be working in 
Shyamnaga r, Kaliganj, Koyra and Dacope sub districts in the south -west coastal areas in 
Bangladesh. World Vision will be implementing the Nobo Jatra program in partnerships with World 
Food Program and Winrock International. Nobo Jatra activities include:  
 training o n alternative livelihoods and increasing literacy;  
 training to farmers on improved and climate smart technologies to increase production of 
safe, diverse, nutritious and high value food  
8.2.10   Bangladesh Aquaculture -Horticulture for Nutrition Collaborative Resear ch 
Project (Innovation Labs Research project)  
94.  This $4,250,000 research project is to generate credible evidence of programmatic impacts at 
a "meta" level (i.e. beyond a single intervention) of different approaches linking Agriculture, 
Nutrition and Health (ANH) on dietary diversity and nutritional status of beneficiarie s, on 
a population -wide basis. The project links three USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs (Nutrition, 
AquaFish and Horticulture) with five USAID/Bangladesh activities (AIN, CIP -Horticultur e, SPRING, 
IAHBI and SHIKHA), as well as with USAID international partners (WorldFish, CIP, IRRI and 
AVDRC) and Bangladesh academic and non-governmental institutions. It will also test  innovative 
technologies (e.g. a new strategy of floating gardens on sma llholder fish ponds, solar -powered 
cool rooms to extend the life of fresh fish, vegetables, and fruits, as well as chimney dryers for 
solar drying of fish, vegetables and fruits) that have potential for scale up within the direct target 
population in order  to improve shelf life and safety of commodities thereby improving nutrition 
through horticu lture and aquaculture actions. The findings from this four -year activity will 
contribute to enhancing the impacts of the Feed the Future investments, while also bet ter 
informing Bangladesh priorities for agriculture investments to support nutrition in coming years.  
8.2.11   Rice Value Chain Activity - Bangladesh  
95.  The $3,000,000 Rice Value Chain (RVC) activity builds on the lessons learned from the CSISA -
BD, Cereal Systems Initiative in Southeast Asia, and will support the private sector to improve 
the efficiency of the rice value chain. This will be achieved by improving access for 10,000 farmers 
to quality seed, farmer advisory services, and agricultural machinery services  and, through IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  contra ct grower schemes, to markets. It will also aim to improve access to improved processing 
equipment and niche markets for millers and access to tools that will improve market knowledge 
and better contract grower scheme man agement for the  food industry. It will aim to create off -
farm income generating activities for women and youth through the creation of at least 50 
enterprises run by individual wom en or groups managed by women. The activity will strengthen 
the private sector systems that  underpi n value added rice production. Lessons learned from this 15 
month project will be used to develop new activities based around rice cropping systems and to 
influenc e government and donor policy. The project will work out of hubs based in Jessore, Kh ulna, 
Barisal, and Faridpur.  
8.3  Programming in Support of International Agricultural Research  
96.  USAID supports the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), 
a global research -for-development partnership consisting of 15 international ag ricultural and 
natural resources research centers.  The CGIAR aims to reduce poverty and hunger, improve 
human health and nutrition, and enhance ecosystem resilience through high -quality international 
agricultural research, partnership, and leadership (see  http://www.cgiar.org/ ). 
8.4  Programming Supporting Agricultural Biotechnology and Innovation  
97.  Agricultural biotechnology offers an important tool to enhan ce crops and manage resources. 
To promote effective agricultural bio technology, U.S. agencies, including U.S. Department of 
Agriculture 's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Department of State's Economic and Business 
Affairs Bureau, and USAID, work with other countries and international bodies, such as the WTO 
and Org anization for Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). This work is meant to strengthen 
legislative frameworks and regulatory systems to support the development of biotechnology, 
ensuring that the transfer of technology is science -based, transparent, and creates the necessary 
environment for LDCs and the private sector to make effective use of the t echnology.  
8.4.1   USAID Biotechnology Programming  
98.  USAID has taken an innovative approach to biotechnology, integrating technological 
development with policy re forms in  developing countries. This integrated approach ensures 
countries can safely access biotechnology, and that a broader range of technologies are avai lable 
for small -scale farmers. This is accomplished by engaging U.S. and developing country experts 
from uni versities, the private sector, NGOs, and international institutions such as the CGIAR, to 
form an integrated strategy for developing and managing biotechnologies and securing biosafety. 
USAID Biotechnology strategic goals are:  
 developing new crops for smal lholder farmers to improve the availability of food and 
strengthen livelihoods;  
 developing and strengthening biosafety systems;  
 increasing developing countries' capacity for local technology development;  
 increasing public understanding of biotechnology and  biosafety;  helping public research 
systems address regulatory and IPR issues; and  
 supporting research to inform biotechnology risk assessment and management.  
8.4.2   Program for Biosafety Systems  
99.  USAID's Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) supports the development and implementation 
of national biosafety systems. PBS addresses biosafety through an integrated program of research, 
capacity development, and outreach (see  https://www.usaid.gov/kenya/fact -sheets/program -
biosafety -systems ). 
8.4.3   PASA Agreement – Haiti  
100.  This interagency effort aims to build the capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural 
Resources,  and Rural Development through t echnical assistance from USDA. Areas of  technical 
assistance include: developing vocational training schools, market information systems, 
phytosanitary capacity building, crop production surveys, and improving traceability s ystems.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  8.4.4   South Asia Biosafety Program  
101.  The South Asia Biosafety Program is dedicated to assisting U.S. partner countries in South 
Asia, including Bangladesh, in institutiona l governance of biotechnology. The program builds on 
existing efforts to advise gover nments on enhancing and streamlining systems to realize 
the benefits of agricultural biotechnology within a transparent, efficient, and responsive regulatory 
framework that ensures the safety of new foods and animal feeds and protects the environment 
(see http://ilsirf.org/centers -and-programs/sabp/ ). 
8.4.5   African Agricultural Technology Foundation  
102.  The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), funded by USAID and other donors, 
facilitates Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to enable access to innovative technologies and 
ensure the delivery of biotechnology through loc al private and public sectors. Through USAID 
support, AATF's management of these linkages upstream and downstream of public sector 
research facilitates access to innovative technologies and ensures the delivery of biotechnology 
through the lo cal private and public sectors.  These partnerships have been used to develop insect -
resistant cowpea, nitrogen -use efficient rice v arieties, and drought -tolerant mai ze using modern 
biotechnology. AATF works in 13 countries in Africa including Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique, 
Uganda, and Tanzania (see  http://www.aatf -africa.org/ ). 
8.5  Securing Water for Food (SWFF) Grand Challenge for Development (GCD)  
103.  The SWFF GCD, seeks innovations that help farmers prod uce more food with less water. 
Since launching in 2013, SWFF grantees have saved over 5 trillion liters of water, produced nearly 
662,000 metric tons of food, and served more than 1.5 million farmers and other customers in 
approximat ely 30 low -resource countries. One SWFF awardee, Reel Gardening, developed by 
a young South African woman, provides a convenient, water -saving way for fa milies and 
communities to grow their own vegetables using a biodegradable, color -coded paper tape that 
covers seeds and ferti lizer to optimize water usage. The company has sold seed tapes to 
200,000  households and is planning to triple sales in 2017.  
8.6  Feed the Future  Nepal  Seed and  Fertilizer  Project (NSAF) – Nepal  
104.  The goal of the NSAF project is to build competitive and synergistic seed and fertilizer 
systems for inclusive and sustainable growth in agricultural productivity, business development, 
and income  generation in Nepal. The project is expected to increase the role and capacity of public 
and private sector actors in technology development and dissemination; increase the number of 
productivity -enhancing technologies available to smallholder producers i n the Feed the Future 
Nepal Zone of Influence (ZOI) and five earthquake affected districts; and strengthen international 
partnership and adequate financing for agricultural research to increase productivity and maintain 
or improve soil fertility . 
8.7  Center of  Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE 
SAIN) - Cambodia  
105.  Begun in July 2017 in Cambodia with cooperating partners Kansas State University (KSU) 
and the Cambodian Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), this program is pla nned to run through 
June 2021. Its three core objectives are to (1) coordinate and leverage Innovation Labs; (2) build 
human and institutional capacity development of the RUA; and (3) establish technology parks to 
showcase high -potential technologies and str ategies to sustainably intensify small holder farming 
systems.  
8.8  Policy Research and Strategy Support Program (PRSSP) II – Bangladesh  
106.  106. The $8,101,528 Policy Research and Strategy Support Program will conduct a policy 
analyses on food security and agri cultural issues in Bangladesh. The analysis is intended to provide 
information that will enable interested stakeholders to enhance the efficiency of food production 
and marketing, accelerate income growth of the poor in rural and urban areas, improve nutrition 
for vulnerable groups, and strengthen the capacity for food policy analysis in  key Bangladeshi 
institutions.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  The specific objectives of the activity are:  
 Partner with Bangladeshi research institutions, NGOs and Universities;  
 Create an Agriculture Policy Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture; and,  
 Undertake policy research on issues impacting the agriculture sector and food s ecurity in 
general, including: production, technology, and natural resources; agricultural marketing 
and value chains; fisheries and livestock; international trade; social protection; public 
food distribution; nut rition security; gender issues; and governance.  
8.9  Agricultural Extension Support Activity - Bangladesh  
107.  The $19,102,419 Agricultural Extension Capacity Building activity focuses on increasing 
agricultural productivity and farm incomes through the formation of women and small farmers ' 
producer groups and facilitating the linkage between those groups and extension services. These 
groups will also provide group members with more negotiating power when selling produce to 
traders or buying inputs.  The activity will  develop a strategy to incorporate ICT technologies into 
extension services.  For example, it will train farmers and extension agents to create and share 
their own extension products such as videos, podcasts, power point presentations, thematic 
interest gr oup blogs, and web pages, allowing them to reach larger number of farmers with 
site-and crop -specific technical and commercial information.  
8.10  Appui à la Recherche et au Développement Agricole (AREA) - Haiti  
108.  AREA (May 2015 – May 2020) focuses on increasing t he availability of improved agricult ural 
technologies and systems. Examples of technology transfer include improved post -harvest 
systems, soil fertility management plans, and implementation of weather information systems . 
8.11  Safaa Paani - Nepal  
109.  The project im proves equitable access to drinking water supply systems, improves sanitation 
access in public areas and supports adoption of improved hygiene behaviors to maximize health 
impacts from the infrastructure investments in targeted areas of earthquake -affected district s, 
Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha. The project is targeted to construct 200 gravity flow water syst ems 
and 10 public toil ets by the end of the project. In the first year, the project conducted water 
source mapping of two earthquake -affected districts, which included assessments of locations, 
conditions and measurement of water yield of all viable drinki ng water and plot ted their location in 
GIS map. Altogether 2,406 sources were identified and plotted in GIS ma p with its detail 
information. With the reference of this assessment, Safaa Paani this year has started the 
construction in 50 water systems out o f which 20 were completed.  
8.12  Engineering Support Program (ESP) - Afghanistan  
110.  The $125 million Engineering Support Program (ESP) provides architectural and engineering 
services to improve infrastructure related to energy, transportation, drinking water and sa nitation, 
health, education, and agriculture.  ESP provides resident architect and engineering services to 
USAID, while at the same time, training Afghan government staff as well as technicians working in 
the national power utility, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS).  
8.13  Food Security and Livelihoods Trust Fund (LIFT) - Myanmar  
111.  USAID partners with United Nations Office of Projects and Services (UNOPS) to increase food 
availability and incomes for over two million poor people in Myanmar through improved prod uction 
and post -harvest technologies and improved access to inputs and markets.  
8.14  Strengthening Watershed and Irrigation Management (SWIM) - Afghanistan  
112.  The SWIM project supports sustainable, agriculture -led economic growth by increasing 
the sustainable and productive use of water and strengthening water resource managem ent. 
Specifically, SWIM will: increase the sustainable and productive use of water for agriculture in IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  targeted areas; strengthen the water regulatory environment; and strengthen local entities  to 
manage water resources.  
8.15  Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) Mechanization and Irrigation 
(MI), CSISA – MI Project – Bangladesh  
113.  The $12,500,000 CSISA -Mechanization and Irrigation (CSISA -M.I.) program will scale out 
agricultural mechanizatio n and irrigation services to benefit smallholder farmers in the Feed 
the Future  zones of Southern Bangladesh. CSISA -M.I. focuses on upstream market interventions 
involving machinery manufacturers, dealers, and local service providers to facilitate efficien cies in 
the value ch ain to reach farmers at scale. The project will promote commercialization of the axial 
flow pump to facilitate access to low -cost surface water  irrigation in the dry season. In addition, 
the project facilitates developing efficient agri cultural machinery and impr oving local service 
provision. The specific objectives of the activity are:  
 Sustainably intensify agricultural production in Southern Bangladesh through surface 
water irrigation supplied by local service providers (LSPs).  By ena bling farmers to 
produce a Rabi season crop, agricultural intensity and crop diversity will increase;  
 Transformation of agriculture the South through efficient and resource -conserving 
agricultural mechanization services provided by LSPs;  
 Develop/establish new models for public and private partnerships are deployed to 
provide the foundation for effective irrigation and mechanization service markets; and  
 Facilitate commercialization of essential agricultural machineries and associated services.  
8.16  Irrigation and  Rural Roads Infrastructure Project 3 - Tanzania  
114.  This activity supports a third Irrigation and Rural Roads Infrastructure Project (IRRIP 3) to 
improve the sustainable development of irrigation and roads infrastructure in the Southern 
Agriculture  Growth Corridor of Tanzania. IRRIP 3 will provide technical assistance to 
the Government of Tanzania (GOT) for irrigation and road infrastruc ture improvements to 
increase: 1) agricultural productivity and irrigation; 2) access to markets and resources; an d, 3) 
GOT's capacity to identify, deliver,  and maintain such facilities. IRRIP 3 will provide engineering 
services including detailed designs, procurement support, and construction supervision for a new 
irrigation scheme in Kilombero Valley of Morogoro Reg ion and the rehabilitation of rural district 
feeder road s in Iringa and Mbeya Regions. IRRIP 3 will provide technical assistance to 
the Government of Tanzania (GOT) for irrigation and road infrastruc ture improvements to 
increase: 1) agricultural productivi ty and irrigation; 2) access to markets and resources; and, 3) 
GOT's capacity to identify, deliver,  and maintain such facilities. IRRIP 3 will provide engineering 
services including detailed designs, procurement support, and construction supervision for a new 
irrigation scheme in Kilombero Valley of Morogoro Region and the rehabilitation of rural district 
feeder roads in Iringa and M beya Regions.  
8.17  Water Resources Integration Development Initiative (WARIDI) - Tanzania  
115.  USAID 's Tanzania Water Resources Integration Development Initiative (WARIDI), promotes 
integrated water resources management and delivery of services across multiple secto rs, with 
the specific goal of improving water  resources management, access to water -supply, sanitation 
and hygiene services, and climate change adaptation in the Rufi ji and Wami -Ruvu water basins. 
Speci fically the activity works to: 1) increase utilization  of sustainable multiple -use water, 
sanitation and hygiene services; 2) strengthen governance for sustainable and resilient 
management of water resources and services under a changing climate; and 3) increase 
livelihoods through private sector investment o pportunities for sustainable water services, 
agriculture, and natural resources management.  
8.18  Expanding Farm Advisory Services - Myanmar  
116.  USAID partners with Mercy Corps to assist the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and 
the Ministry of Livestock, Fishe ry, and Rural Development to serve 250,000 small holder farmers in 
28 townships with proximity designs, scale proven agriculture technologies, and farm advisory 
services, by using mobile technologies.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  9  PROGRAM MING AND INCENTIVES R ELATED TO ENERGY DEVELOPMENT  
117.  U.S. energy development  assistance programs bridge the gap between power shortages and 
countries' economic potential by working with partners to take the steps to:  
 help countries develop newly discovered, clean energy resources responsibly;  
 build out power generation and transmission;  
 support power sector reforms; and  
 expand the reach of mini -grid and off -grid solutions.  
9.1.1 Providing Energy Resources through the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)  
118.  CTF is a multilateral, multi -billion dollar effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 
developing countries by helping to finance the additional costs of cleaner technologies over 
conventional alternatives .  Over 66 % of CTF resources are approved and under implementation in 
clean technologies such as renew able energy, energy efficiency, and clean transport, with 
multilateral development bank financing. CTF aims to help countries attract investor ca pital into 
low-carbon sectors. To receive funding, countries must develop national investment plans that 
stimul ate low -carbon growth and the scalable  uptake of clean technologies. The United States is 
a contributor to the Strategic Climate Fund and its three sub -funds, the Forest Investment 
Program (FIP), the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), and the Program for Scaling -Up 
Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (SREP) (see 
https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/fund/clean -technology -fund). 
9.1.2   Program for Scaling -Up Renewable Energy for Low Income Countries  
119.  SREP focuses on deploying renewable energy to increase energ y access in several developing 
countries, including LDC pilot countries Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Haiti, Lesotho, Madagascar, 
Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Uganda, Vanuatu, 
Yemen, and Zambia.  To date, $264 mi llion is approved and under implementation for 23 projects 
and programs, expecting approximately 1.9 billion in co -financing from other sources (see 
https://www.cl imateinvestmentfunds.org/fund/scaling -renewable -energy -program ). 
9.2  Private Financing Advisory Network  
120.  The Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) is a multilateral public private partnership 
initiated by  the Climate Technology Initiative  and the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change (UNFCCC) . It identifies and nurtures promising, innovative clean and renewable 
energy p rojects by bridging the gap between investors, clean energy entrepreneurs and project 
developers.  PFAN mobilizes private sector's expertise in financing climate -friendly projects and 
technologies to screen business plans and select projects that are econo mically viable, as well as 
environmentally and socially beneficial.  For the selected entrepreneurs and businesses, PFAN 
provides guidance in areas such as economic feasibility, project structure, investment and 
financing, preparation of the business plan,  and introductions to investors.  PFAN's partners and 
donors include:  the Government of Australia; the International Development Research Centre, 
Canada; the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry/International Centre for Environmental 
Technology Transf er, Japan; the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; 
the United States Agency for International Development; the Asian Development Bank; 
the Climate Technology Initiative and  its Member States . PFAN is hosted by the United Nations 
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the  Program is executed in collaboration with 
the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).  
9.3  Regional Energy Initiatives  
121.  U.S. regional energy development programming focuses on sub -Saharan Africa and South 
Asia. U.S. agencies, including  OPIC and USAID, work closely with multilateral development banks, 
other U.S. government agencies, the private sector, and local banks or fi nancial institutions to 
engage on regional energy collaboration programs.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  9.3.1   Power Africa  
122.  Power Africa is a program aimed at doubling access to power in sub -Saharan Africa by 
supporting developers, investors, and African -owned enterprises in all stages of project 
development to remove barriers  and advance pow er projects toward completion. In parallel, Power 
Africa works with African governments and utilities to develop the legal, policy, and regulatory 
environment that will unlock private investment and the sustainable growth of Africa 's energy 
sector. To date, Power Africa 's initial $7 billion commitment has mobilized more than $52 billion in 
additional external commitments, including $47 billion in private sector commitments to invest in 
power generation and distribution across sub -Saharan Africa (see 
http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/ ). 
9.3.2   Energy Development Credit Authority and Enterprise - Tanzania  
123.  The activity will support two Development Credit Aut hority  (DCA) activities below. 
The remaining funds will come from Modern Energy pipeline (FY14 and  FY15) or directly from 
the Power Africa budget in Washington . The two targets are the fol lowing: DCA 1: Develop 
a $50-75 million, 8 -year, 50+ % DCA Loan Guarantee (LG) with Standard Chartered Bank to lend 
to PTA Bank and/or AfrExim for on -lending to TANES CO for specific capital investments such as 
the "Kilwa 2 " generation project and the Kilw a-Kinyerezi transmission line. DCA 2: Develop 
an approximately $10 million Loan Guarantee (LG) with CRDB or Stanbic Bank in support of Rift 
Valley Energy to develop a 5-megawatt wind farm, 4.5 megawatt of new hydropower and to 
expand their rural distribution network.  
9.3.3   Bangladesh Wind Resource Assessment  
124.  Through an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), USAID 
supports the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory to support the GOB to collect real -time 
wind data at a number of sites, input this data into computer -based resource mod els used to 
assess the feasibility for the development of wind po wer generation in the country. The specific 
objectives of the activity are:  
 Gather raw wind and other atmospheric data from nine selected  coastal and inland 
locations.  
 Model gathered data to produce a Bangladesh country map showing its wind resource 
potential to locate possible wind power generation facilities.  
 Train and build capacity of relevant GOB agencies in wind measurement campaign.  
9.3.4   Energy Improvement Program - Zambia  
125.  APHL (CDC Implement ing Partner) is installing electric power backup systems in central 
provincial and na tional reference laboratories. These consist of uninterrupted power systems (UPS) 
that, depending on the local situation, either using the public power grid, diesel genera tors or 
additio nal solar systems to recharge. The implementation begun in 2016 and provide 
16 laboratories with uninterrupted power to perform key tasks related to HIV and TB diagnostics.  
9.3.5   US-Africa Clean Energy Development and Finance Centre  
126.  At its US -Africa Clean Energy Development and Finance Centre, OPIC provides technical and 
financial support for clean energy project development by offering investors and sub -Saharan 
African developers centralized resources for identifying and accessing U. S. Government support for 
their clean energy export and investment needs.  OPIC has led the African Clean Energy Financing 
(ACEF) program since 2012 (ACEF expired in August 2017).  The four year program, which has 
already allocated all of its funds to viab le energy projects, is focused on catalyzing private sector 
investment in clean energy projects in Africa by funding early stage project development costs 
(see https://www.opic.gov/blog/power -africa/acef -unlocking -the-potential -for-clean-renewable -
african -power ). IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  9.3.6   South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration  
127.  USAID's South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration ( SARI/EI) focuses 
on supporting greater regional energy integration  by promoting cross -border power trade in South 
Asia through  harmonization of policy, legal, and regulatory mechanism;  advancement of 
transmission system interconnections; and establishment  of a South Asi a Regional Electricity 
Market. These will be catalyzed through three inter -governmental task forces (TFs) established 
under the program with representation from national  governments, power transmission utilities, 
regulators, and other releva nt representatives from partic ipating South Asian countries. 
The project is undertaking focused analyses to develop regional framework which would support 
power trade in the region such as regional regulatory guidelines, regional grid code framework, 
marke t rules and a broad roadmap for each South Asian country.  
128.  SARI/EI is also supporting two key bilateral power trade initiatives i.e. India -Nepal and 
India-Bhutan. It is building the institutional  capacity of the Government of Nepal and Bhutan to 
undertake p ower-trading, operate in a market platform, design/plan a hydro -power plant and 
conduct due diligence of large -hydro -power projects.  The capacity building focuses on  sharing of 
best practices between private -and-public sector system and transmission opera tors, as well as 
electricity traders in South Asia and the United States.  
9.3.7   South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Integration  
129.  Through the program, South Asian energy sector representatives gain an understanding of 
the positive impacts that transparent en ergy markets and CBET can have on attracting additional 
investm ents and meeting energy needs. The program facilitates exchanges among the South Asian 
countries to learn from the successful CBET in the region and provide a platform to discuss 
potential energy trade agreements. Exchanges explore the harmonization of economic and 
regulatory aspects for electricity at national and regional levels (see http://www.sari -energy.org ). 
9.4  Other U.S. Bilateral Energy P rograms  
130.  U.S. bilateral energy development programs focus on engagement with partner LDCs, 
including Burundi and Haiti, and in third -country partnerships involving  Bangladesh, Nepal, and 
India. U.S. agencies, including USAID and USTDA, work closely with mul tilateral development 
banks and other organizations.  
9.4.1 Bilateral and Third -Country Energy Initiatives in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal  
131.  Beyond its broader regional focus, SARI/EI will focus on supporting key bilateral initiatives 
that would lead to CBET through  India-Nepal and  India-Bangladesh power trade. This will be done 
through:  
 targeted advisory services and technical assistance to support key regional investments 
and create an enabling environment;  
 focused analyses and studies to unlock investments in cross -border investment projects;  
 skill development to build the technical and professional capacity; and  
 fostering partnerships among electricity traders, financial institutions, and regional 
transmission operators with counterpart agencies and organiz ations in South Asia.  
9.4.2   Capacity Building to Facilitate Independent Power Production – Mozambique  
132.  In Fiscal Year 2017, USAID worked with the Mozambique Ministry of Energy and Mineral 
Resources, providing technical  assistance to strengthen Mozambique 's energy  sector, generating 
more megawatts  at lower prices to consumers. The project specifically aims to improve 
the government 's ability to successfully conclude agreements, better manage its systems, and to 
clarify the legal framework for independent power prod uction.  
9.4.3   Assistance in Building Afghanistan by Developing Enterprises (ABADE) – 
Afghanistan  
133.  ABADE is a $105 million program that works with the private sector to strengthen 
productivity and help enterprises s ustain growth and create jobs. ABADE 's objectives  are to IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  increase domestic and foreign  investment, stimulate employment and improve sales of Afghan  
products. ABADE 's public -private alliances with Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (SMEs) help 
reduce the risks inv olved with business expansion. The project  coordinates with other USAID 
programs to improve the business -enabling environment, develop a skilled workforce and facilitate  
access to finance.  To date: over $261 million in total investments generated; the private sector 
provided 87 % of money; 284 pu blic-private alliances, 25 of which are Innovation Public -Private 
Alliances; 109 % average increase in sales attained by PPA -SMEs; ABADE supported 400 SMEs, 
196 have improved management practices and 274 have invested in improved technologies with 
ABADE 's assistance; 1,901 full -time jobs created; 55 initiatives provided alternative workplace 
models for women (these include working from home, providing off -site services or working in all -
women facilities); 235 women trained in "high demand " skills such as in formation and 
communication technology, business systems, marketing, and advertising; 3 business constraints 
identified in sectoral action plans addressed.  
9.4.4   Development Credit Authority - Loan Guarantees - Afghanistan  
134.  Through its Development Credit Authorit y (DCA) initiative, USAID provides partial credit 
guarantees to mobilize local financing .  Guarantee agreements encourage private lenders to 
extend financing to small -scale borrowers with less access to credit facilities.  USAID/Afghanistan 
has two DCA activities:  a $13.75 million Portable Guarantee for three microfinance institutions 
(MFIs):  FINCA Afghanistan, OXUS Afghanistan, and First Microfinance Bank Afghanistan, and 
a $10.3 million Loan Portfolio Guarantee with Afghan istan International Bank (AI B). To date: 
mobilized more than $24 million in private capital through the two DCAs; facilitated commercial 
banks to sustain offers of non -guaranteed loans to MFIs after the Portable Guarantee ends; 
successfully encouraged commercial banks to lend to more  MFIs and also MFIs to seek additional 
commercial loans from banks; expanded AIB 's SME loan portfolio and facilitated AIB to sustain 
loan offers to sector after the Loan Portfolio Guarantee ends; demonstrated the potential of SME 
lending to other local ban ks; enhanced financial inclusion through increased lending to micro, 
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); engaged with potential lenders to access wholesale 
financing under the Portable Guarantee; extended AIB loans to seven small and medium sized 
busines ses operating in the agriculture, construction, trade and manufacturing sectors (the AIB 
loan amounts range from $150,000 to $1 million and are primarily used for working capital 
purposes, including investing in new machineries).  
9.4.5   Energy Infrastructure in B urkina Faso  
135.  USTDA provides $1,019,031 to fund a feasibility study for Société de Production d' Energie 
Solaire de Kodéni SAS. The study  will determine the viability of two 17 megawatt solar 
photovoltaic projects near the villages of Pâ and Kod éni in southw est Burkina Faso. The projects 
will be developed by BioTherm Energy, a U.S. renewable energy company, and the study will be 
performed by  U.S. firm, Tetra Tech ES, Inc. (Pasadena, CA). This USTDA support will help provide 
the analysis necessary for these so lar plants to achieve financing and implementation, bringing 
affordable energy and economic opportunities to the people of Burkina Faso.  
9.4.6   Madagascar Solar and Battery Storage Minigrid Project  
136.  USTDA is financing a joint venture with Fluidic Inc. and Henri F raise Fils & Cie through 
a grant to support a feasibility study for a pilot project to deploy  mini-grid solar power generation 
units with battery storage, with the ability to connect up to 2000 people.  
9.4.7   Solar -powered charging stations in the DRC  
137.  Building o n the success of a solar -powered charging station demonstrated in Kinshasa with 
U.S. Embassy support, Boston -based WrightGrid USA obtained local financing   to establish 
a network of 50 charging stations   (with an option for 50 more) at universities through out 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  If the project successfully reaches scale, it will be 
good news for both a U.S. technology exporter seeking a beachhead in the African market, and 
Congolese cell phone users suffering from chronic city -wide blackouts.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  9.4.8   Southern Africa Energy Program - Madagascar  
138.  The Southern Africa Energy Program selected  Madagascar as a Focus Country. The Program 
will support expanding access  to on -grid and off -grid power for rural communities, improving 
government processes in the energy sector and enhancing the capacity of key energy sector 
institutions.  
9.4.9   Feasibility Study for Mobile Gas -fired Power Plant - Mozambique  
139.  USTDA has reserved funds in Fiscal Year 2017 to provide the majority of funding for 
a feasibility study to a ssess technical, financial, and economic aspects of a 78 megawatt mobile, 
gas-fired thermal power plant, including associated transmission lines and a gas pipeline spur in 
the Chokwe District of Gaza Province in Mozambique.  
9.4.10   "Fast Power " Reverse Trade Missi on – Mozambique, Angola, Benin and Nigeria  
140.  U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has reserved funds in Fiscal Year 2017 for a 
reverse trade mission to support  implementation of fast track and emergency power projects in 
select sub -Saharan African marke ts.  The reverse trade mission introduces public and private 
sector delegates from Mozambique, as well as Angola, Benin and Nigeria, to U.S. fast track power 
technologies and services, as well as sources of financing.  
9.4.11   Mozambique -Zambia 400 Kilovolt Transmi ssion Interconnector  
141.  U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has reserved funds in Fiscal Year 2017 for 
technical assistance to provide transmission design advisory services in relation to the planned 
Mozambique -Zambia 400 Kilovolt  transmission interconn ector, specifically the detailed design and 
technical inputs for the tender documents for the engineering, procurement , and construction 
contractor. Beneficiaries include the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), which operates under 
the auspices of the Sothe rn African Development Community, and the state -owned utilities of 
Mozambique and Zambia.  
10  PROGRAM MING AND INCENTIVES R ELATED TO ENVIRONMEN TAL PROTECTION  
142.  Since 2009, 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 -friendly 
technologies and practices, and responsible management of the environment and environmental 
resources.  
10.1  International Water Management Programming  
143.  The U.S. partnership approach on water has created momentum that helps ensure self -
sustainability in water governance  and management.  After receiving program funds from U.S. 
agencies, stakeholders have used enhanced capacity to yield positive results in t heir daily lives.  
10.1.1   U.S. Water Partnership  
144.  The U.S. Water Partnership (USWP) was launched at the Department of State in 2012 to 
mobilize U.S. expertise, knowledge and resources to increase global water security, particularly in 
developing countries. The USWP 's 119 members from the private sector, civil society, government, 
and academia have committed more than a billion dollars to address water and sa nitation 
challenges worldwide. On World Water Day 2014, the Department and the USWP co -hosted "US 
Tech H2.0 " a day-long event to publicly showcase innovativ e American water technologies. Later 
the same year, the Department and the USWP launched www.H2infO.us  – a web based platform 
for sharing American water knowledge and solutions with less developed countries. The H2infO 
portal (funded by State Department) contains over 3,500 resources and channels users from some 
160 countries to original source websites for more in -depth information. In 2015, the USWP co -
hosted with State and the IADB a hemisphere -wide conferenc e called "Water Tech for Resilient 
Cities " that linked American solution providers with Latin Ameri can decision -makers and users. 
Last, the USWP's Water Consultants Program (also funded by DOS) covers the costs of sending 
U.S. experts on various water topics to developing countries to help locals solve problems.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  10.2  International Forestry Management Programming  
145.  U.S. Forest Service (USFS) promotes capacity building for sustainable forest management 
and biodiversity conservation  internationally by linking the  skills of the field -based  staff with 
partners overseas. These activities  cover a wide range of topics, many of which are co -funded with 
the Department of State and USAID ( http://www.fs.fed.us/about -agency/international -
programs/program -topics ). This work involves a variety of partners, including intergovernmental 
organizations, international research and conservation organizations , and other environmental 
NGOs.  USFS sci entists and other agency technical experts contribute specialized technical 
assistance to existing projects, conduct training, facilitate research, and publish technical guides to 
promote sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. These a ctivities 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, watershe d management, protected areas and 
ecotourism, and sustainable forestry practices.  
10.2.1   USFS -International Union of Forest Research Organizations Partnership  
146.  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 implementation of sustainable forest resource 
management, particularly in economi cally disadvantaged countries. The agreement achieves 
technology transfer through strengthening  national forest research systems in Africa, Asia and 
Latin America, particularly through capacity development, assistance to scientists, and institution -
building. Further, the initiative supports IUFRO's global initia tives 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 A frica, Asia and Latin America. IUFRO implements capacity 
building activities through its Special Program for Developme nt of Capacities (IUFRO -SPDC). 
These  activities strengthen research programs and enhance the d evelopment 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 in stitutions in partner developing countries to effectively 
contribute to shaping national and local forest policies and sustainable forest management systems 
(see http://www.iufro.org/science/specia l/spdc/ ). 
10.2.2   Winrock International Program Supporting Forests and Biodiversity  
147.  USAID 's Supporting Forests and Biodiversity program is designed to improve forest 
conservation and governance of the Eastern Plains and Prey Lang regions of Cambodia, to adapt 
and mitigate climate change, while conserving  biodiversity. While improving coordination with 
government and community groups, this program has improved the management of approximately 
1.35 million hectares of forest. The program trained over 1,000 people in c limate change 
adaptation technologies, fostering the use of relevant technologies.  
10.2.3   Supporting Information Services and Knowledge Dissemination  
148.  The United States supports the provision of information services to scientists and 
policymakers in developing cou ntries through the Global Fore st Information Service (GFIS). GFIS 
provides a framework for sharing forest -related data and information through a single gateway 
and promotes the dissemination and sharing of forest information and knowledge by developing 
a common information exchange platform, building capacity, and enhancing partnerships among 
forestry information providers and users (see http://www.gfis.net/ ). 
10.2.4   U.S. Forest Service Inter -Agency Agreement - Zambia  
149.  This act ivity supports USFS assessments to identify priority issues that address climate 
change, biodiversity, forestry and other  natural resource managem ent. Technical assistance to 
the Government of Zambia (GRZ) includes training in cartography, use of Geographi c Information 
Systems software for an alysis, and in remote sensing.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  Ongoing targets:  
 Facilitate short -term technical assistance to the Zambia Environment Management 
Agency (ZEMA) through embedding an Environment Advisor to help with Greenhouse 
Gas Inventor y reporting;  
 Short -term technical assistance on forest management, including field guides for forest 
inventory design and implementation for DFOs and fire management activities to 
enhance their capacity;  
 Facilitate forest management workshop for Provincial  staff and DFOs to improve their 
forest management skills;  
 Facilitate procurement of topographic maps for all the nine districts at the Forestry 
Department in Eastern Province.  
10.3  International Climate -Related Programming  
10.3.1   U.S. Program on SilvaCarbon  
150.  SilvaCarbon is a technical cooperation program under the Global Climate Change Initiative, 
and a U.S. contribution to the Global Forest Observation Initiative of the intergovernmenta l Group 
on Earth Observations. SilvaCarbon draws on the strengths of coope rating U.S. partners,  NGOs, 
academia, and industry. Partner agencies  include the Department of State, the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
USAID, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Geograp hical Survey of the Department of Interior, an d the 
Smithsonian Institution. SilvaCarbon and its partners work with developing countries to build 
capacity for monitoring and managing forest and terrestrial carbon. SilvaCarbon helps to identify, 
test, and d isseminate good practices and cost -effective, accurate technologies (see 
http://www.silvacarbon.org/ ). 
10.4  Cross -Cutting Environmental Programming  
151.  The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public -private partnershi p led by the UN 
Foundation, saves lives, improves livelihoods, empowers women, and combats climate change by 
creating a thriving global market for clean and efficien t household cooking solutions. The Alliance's 
100-by-20 Goal calls for 100 million homes to  adopt clean and effic ient stoves and fuels by 2020. 
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over four million annual deaths are 
associated with exposure to cookstove smoke each year, ranking as the world's fourth worst 
health risk (see https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/170898.pdf ). To address this 
issue, the United States announced its contribution of up  to $325 million through 2020. 
This anticipated commitment in cludes leading diplomatic activities to advance the Alliance and 
the cookstoves sector; investing $125 million in new research to build the evidence base for clean 
cooking interventions; attracting up to $175 million in financing to cookstove  businesses; and 
contributing $25 million towards fi eld implementation activities. Participating U.S. agencies include 
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS), the Department of State, DOE, EPA , NIH, NOAA, NSF, OPIC, Peace Corps, USAID, 
and USDA.  
10.5  Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) – Bangladesh  
152.  USAID 's $1,746,228 project is implemented through a Grant Agreement with Asian Disaster 
Preparedness Center (ADPC).  The project aim s at earthquake capacity building of the Government 
of Bangladesh by (i) enhancing the capacity of the hospital management staff (doctors, nurses, 
administrative staff, et al.) in 20 public hospitals in the cities of Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, 
Gazipur, Mym ensingh, Narayeangonj, Manikgonj, Rangpur and Tangail for preparedness to 
manage mass casualties after an earthquake; and ii) strengthening capacity of Fire Service and 
Civil Defense (FSCD), by providing equipment to volunteers for conducting search and re scue 
operations.  Under the program 660 hospital personnel will be trained and 171 sets of rescue and 
search equipment will be provided to FSCD.  
10.6  Programming Supporting Oceans and Maritime Ecosystems  
153.  The United States continues to promote and support the ad option of best practices in 
regional ocean governance and the management of coastal and marine ecosystems to ensure the IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  long-term provision of essential services to affected communities.  Such best practices include 
strengthening institutions to sustain cl imate -related impact; harmonizing and implementing 
ecosystem approaches to fisheries management; establishing a six -country system of marine 
protected areas; and a region -wide early action plan for climate change adaptation.  
10.7  University Partnership:  Sustai nable Fishing Industry – Myanmar Ecosystems  
154.  USAID partners with the University of Arizona, Yangon University, and Pathein University to 
move Myanmar 's seafood sector  towards an industry that improves processing and marketing 
capabilities to meet global standards of sustainability, equitability, profitability, and food safety.  
10.8  Coastal City Adaptation Project (CCAP) – Mozambique  
155.  This FY2017 USAID project, in partnership  with UN Habitat, is designed to increase climate 
resilience in selected cities on the Mozambique coast by constructing 24 model houses that are 
low-cost, made of local materials, and resilient to high winds, flooding, and other cl imate -related 
natural haz ards. A key component of the project will be to disseminate the construction techniques 
to home builders, students, designers, government officials, and other decision makers across 
Mozambique.  
10.9  Stress Tolerant Rice in Vulnerable Environments - Myanmar  
156.  USAID partners with the International Rice and Research Institute to Contribute to resiliency 
to drought, flooding, and cyclones  by reducing rice crop losses to improve the ability of 
communities to recover from natural disasters.  
10.10   Clean Air Partnership for Sou th Asia (CAPSA) Project – Nepal  
157.  The Secretary of State 's Office of Global Programs provided $50,000 and $25,000 to 
the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Bidhee Pvt. Ltd., 
respectively to support the establishment of a pa rtnership on air quality monitoring, known as 
Clean Air Partnership for South Asia (CAPSA).  ICIMOD will organize a South Asia Regional Air 
Quality Monitoring (AQM) workshop that will engage regional AQM policy makers, civil society, 
scientists, and those working with AQM systems at U.S. embassies and consulates. The goal of 
the workshop is to improve understanding of AQM data and how it relates to public health; to 
share best practices and policies to improve air quality; and to support the lau nch of a reg ional 
AQM network. Bidhee will develop an Air Quality App aimed at disseminating air quality 
information from the USG and AQM stations of partner countries and increase public awareness 
and activism.  
10.11   The USAID/Biodiversity Program - Uganda  
158.  The USAID/Biodiv ersity Program trains Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers to use high -tech 
equipment to collect and analyze  ecological monitoring data. The $130,000 program provides 
rangers with 180 smart phones (50 CAT B15Q and 130 Rubno ) with 75 power banks, 15 range 
finders, 30 GPS units, 30 binoculars, three cameras, four laptops, three desktops, "Cyber Tracker " 
software, and "Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) " software to help analyze data 
collected through "Cyber Tracker. " Additionally the National Forestry Authority has received four 
computers, 32 tablets wit h the Open data kit installed. A total of 207 UWA rangers and National 
Forestry Authority (NFA) staff have been trained and equipped to collect ecological monitoring data 
in five biodiversity sites including Lake Mburo, Kidepo Valley and Murchison Falls National Parks 
as well as Budongo and Ka linzu Central Forest Reserves. The training included the development 
and testing of the relevant tools for data collection.  
10.12   Geog raphic Information System (GIS) I ntegrated Project (Nepal AWARE)  
159.  The project purpose is to identify and integrate GIS capabilities and resources within the 
GON to enhance disaster management and readiness in support of the National Disas ter Response 
Framew ork (NDRF). The specific objectives are to 1) identify GON geospatial gaps and shortfalls 
and discuss ways to address these; 2) build a web -accessible GIS Resource to more openly share 
geospatial information; 3) demonstrate  the Disaster AWARE Decision -Support System (DSS); 4) IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  prepare a Nepal Integrated Geospatial Capability (NIGC) Concept of Operations (CONOPS); 5) 
design and install Nepal AWARE, a customized DSS to support emergency management in Nepal; 
and 6) provide instruction and maintenance for Nepal AWARE.  The project is currently delayed, 
awaiting GON signature on the project Administrati ve Procedures Agreement (APA). Upon 
signature, the project will re -commence in Phase 5, which is focused on the development and 
installation of Nepal AWARE, a centr alized decision -support system designed to assist GON with 
having a common operation picture of all hazards in the country and integrating data across 
ministries and departments.  
11  PROGRAMMING AND INCE NTIVES RELATED TO HE ALTH  
160.  Health research through biomedic al and behavioral funding activities of U.S. agencies, 
including the FDA and NIH, have contributed to technology transfer and research capac ity 
strengthening in many LDCs.  For new technologies developed by U.S. scientists, NIH licenses 
biological materials and/or patent rights, to institutions that can bring products to the market in or 
for LDCs.  
11.1  Biomedical and Behavioral Research  
161.  Scientists often provide know -how to those receiving biological materials such as vaccine 
seed strains with specialized growth  requirements. Most of these technologies are associated with 
diagnostic tests, treatment, vaccination, and prevention for pathoge ns such as dengue, Ebola, 
Haemophilus Influenzae type b, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), human papillomavirus, 
meningococcus, rotavirus, typhoid bacteria, Zika virus, M ers CoV, and varicella -zoster. This 
technology transfer builds manufacturing capacit y and associated skill sets by providing access to 
diagnostics and vaccines that meet public health needs (see http://www.ott.nih.gov/licensing/ ). 
11.2  Technology Licenses   
162.  National Institutes of Health (NIH) is considering multiple new license agreements related to 
vaccines for Zika virus in response to the epidemic in Latin America. At least two companies 
(GeoVax and Flucell) have signed licenses for Zika related vaccines and materials. NIH continues 
to partner  with companies that licensed its Ebola vaccines and monitor their development. In 
addition, NIH has several new licenses for the development of live -attenuated , tetravalent dengue 
vaccines. These licensees include manufacturers in Brazil and India that ca n prod uce low -cost 
vaccine for LDCs. NIH also executed  licenses for Chikungunya vaccine an d a diagnostic for 
Filariasis. NIH is partnering with CAPRISA in South Africa to co -develop a HIV antibody based 
therapeut ic. CDC has licensed a Zika  diagnostic assay to InBios International which has already 
delivered thousands of these tests and is working to dev elop a second -generation test. CDC has 
also licensed a rabies vaccine strain to a company in Ethiopia for a vet erinary rabies vaccine.  
11.3  Inter national Research Initiatives  
163.  NIH collaborations with partner countries and international organizations seek to develop 
solutions aimed at specific, high -priority disease s that affect LDC populations. For example, NIH 
has been working in Ebola and Zika aff ected regions to study the outbreak, isolate pathogen 
strains and develop countermeasures.  
11.3.1   HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks, Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) and Clinical 
Research Sites (CRSs)  
164.  The NIH -funded HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks conduct clinical research around the world 
to address the highest priorities in HIV/AIDS research, including:  1) therapeutics for HIV/AIDS 
and HIV -associated infections in adults, including HIV cure, as well as co -occurring noninfectious 
and infectious diseases, including  hepatitis and tuberculosis, 2) HIV/AIDS and HIV -associated 
infections in children and mothers, 3) integrated strategies to prevent HIV infection, 4) vaccines to 
prevent HIV infection, and 5) microbic ides to prevent HIV infection. The networks comprise of 
the leadership groups and CTUs. The leadership groups are responsible for developing the clinical 
research agendas, while the CTUs along with their associated CRSs are responsible for 
implementing the scientific agendas. The research sites are located at h ospitals, outpatient clinics, 
health maintenance organizations, community health centers, private ph ysician practices and IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  clinics. Through these networks, the research activities and training programs support 
the expansion of clinical research skill sets i n LDCs, the strengthening of infrastructures to support 
the development of new drugs and vaccines, and the exchange of scientific knowledge worldwide.  
11.3.2   Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative  
165.  NIH licensed a technology  from FDA researchers for cutaneous and post kala -azar dermal 
leishmaniasis to Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi).  The FDA submitted a proposal to 
WHO, which selected the proposal for further development with DNDi as the development partner.  
11.3.3   Initiatives Focusing on Giardiasis  
166.  Giardiasis, caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia, has a significant public health impact in 
Africa, In dia and certain other regions. NIH licensed, under its start -up license program, 
a technology for developing novel com pounds against this parasite.  
11.3.4   Multilateral Initiative on Malaria  
167.  NIH and WHO's Special Program for Training and Research in Tropical Diseases cofounded 
the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria  (MIM) that focusses on LDCs and othe r malaria -prevalent 
countries . MIM's mission is to increase and enhance worldwide malaria research by facilitating 
multinational research cooperation.  NIH has also established malaria research facilities in Mali and 
Uganda and has trained local scientists and physicians to conduct ma laria research from within 
endemic countries, including th ose in several LDCs in Africa. NIH also has established 
an international network of centers of excellence for research focused on malaria endemic 
countries (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3741/ ). 
11.3.5   Improvement of National Reference Laboratory and National Surveillance 
Systems' Data Management - Guinea  
168.  Following the Ebola outbreak, the Guinean Ministry of Health (MoH) has been working to 
improve their epidem ic prone disease surveillance. Guinea faces several challenges concerning 
the management, analysis, and presentation of surveillance data, including limited tracking of data 
sources and information, lack of a strong system that synth esizes information from the various 
surveillance entities in the MoH, and la ck of timely analysis of data. CDC has supported the MoH to 
strengthening surveillance procedures  and data management practices. CDC has conducted a data 
management needs assessment for the National Reference Laboratories and plans to support MoH 
in the implementation of recomm endations from the assessment. Additionally, CDC has developed 
an Excel tool that streamlines the managemen t and analysis of surveillance d ata from a variety of 
sources. This tool includes dashboards that automatically update as new data is added allowing for 
an immediate look a t key surveillance indicators.  
11.3.6   Initiative for improving the quality and increasing d emand for reproductive, 
maternal, neonatal and child health services - Guinea  
169.  USAID and CDC are conducting the initiative for improving the quality and increasing 
demand for reproductive, maternal, neona tal and child health services. The goals are to impro ve 
health behaviors and increase the demand  for reproductive, maternal and child health services to 
mitigate the impact of Ebola.  
11.3.7   Establishment of an electronic reporting system for the reporting of integrated 
disease surveillance and response (IDSR) data - Guinea  
170.  The rapid transmission of  data and event alerts is the cornerstone of  a strong surveillance 
system. The District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) is a free and open -source software that 
can facilitate the real -time reporting of  surveillance and  health data. CDC and its partner, Research 
Triangle Institute International, are supporting the implementation of DHIS2 for monthly reporting 
of health indicators and immediate and weekly r eporting of surveillance data. CDC/RTI supported 
the implementatio n of DHIS2 for the reporting  of monthly health indicators. All 33 prefecture and 
the 5 communes of Conakry report their monthly health ind icators to the national level. CDC/RTI is 
also supporting the implementation of DHIS2 for the reporting of immediately  reportable and IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  weekly  reportable surveillance data. The project is currently being piloted in the regions of 
Labe and Boke.  
11.3.8   Commtrack platforms – Benin  
171.  In FY2017, USAID/Benin supported community services by funding the design and 
development of Commtrack , a stock management software module to assist health facilities and 
Community Health Workers (CHW) i n commodity supply management. The new module was 
deployed in two health zones. Fourteen contraceptives, integrated community case management 
commodities, and supplies are tr acked through the application. It also helped support the complex 
operations of the annual anti -mosquito  Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) campaign, facilitating daily 
reports across multiple warehouses on coverage of spraying, insecticide stocks, and improving 
the supervision of spraying teams. In addition, Peace Corps Volunteers used the same platform to 
develop modules for bed net distribution efforts which the Ministry of Health anticipates using for 
the 2017 National bed n et mass distri bution campaign. USAID Benin continues to work with 
Benin 's Ministry of Health to impro ve the use of the application. Implementation of this project will 
increase the efficiency in whic h patients are given treatment.  The project will help to reduce 
the delays in treatment by providing the means to closely track the stock of health commodities, 
their expiration dates, and other supply management issues that hinder the performance of 
community health centers.  
11.3.9   District Health Information Software (DHIS2) – Uganda  
172.  The Ministry of Health (MoH), together with implementing partners and support from 
the USG, identified, customized and rolled out the first ever web -based aggrega te reporting 
system in Uganda. CDC staff and USG Implementing partners supp ort the $50 0,000 DHIS2 
system. The DHIS2 incorporates the routine reporting requirements for the Uganda Health 
Management Information Systems (HMIS) with data entry and aggregation at bot h district and 
facility level. DHIS2 provides internet connectivity  to enable re mote data entry into an online 
system and leverages existing infrastructure at the district level (comput er hardware and 
connectivity). DHIS2 is currently the largest reporting syst em in Uganda and provides for: District 
reporting needs, including monitori ng and evaluation activities; MoH reporting needs, aggregating 
reports at a  national and subnational level to inform programming.  
11.3.10   Mobile Health (mHealth) Fairs  
173.  Since FY2016, USAID/Benin has hosted a series of mHealth fairs, bringing the private sector, 
the Government of Benin, and implementing partners together to showcase many of the efforts 
being undertaken to use mobile technology to im prove health service delivery. The mHealth fairs 
have provided information useful for the development of a cyber strateg y documen t for all health 
interventions.  Increase use of mobile technologies for health service delivery, increasing delivery 
of these services to rural/remote/hard -to-reach areas.  
11.4  Regionally -Focused U.S. Health Programming  
174.  HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB cause  millions of deaths each year. These three diseases are 
a major cause of poverty through their debilitating impact on the active workforce, and 
significantly affect econo mic development and stability. U.S. agencies, notably NIH, support 
research activities  in many L DCs affected by these diseases.  NIH programs support 37 African 
count ries, including 19 LDCs, with $243 million . These research activities contribute directly to 
the strengthening of research capacity in these countries, enhancing capacity to man age transfers 
of technology.  
11.4.1   President 's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID Malaria 
program – Burundi  
175.  Through USAID/Burundi 's PEPFAR program, several projects are providing technical 
assistance and capacity  building on the use of mobile plat forms and technology to strengthen 
health management information systems, laboratory information systems and reporting, supply 
chain management and logistics, and health progr am surveillance and reporting. PEPFAR and 
the USAID malaria and maternal and chil d health programs also provide technical assistance and IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  capacity building to health care workers and community health workers on using mobile 
technologies and platforms for clinical case management and reporting. Additionally, PEPFAR 
supports capacity buil ding on the use of viral load testing for HIV m achines, Abbott 
and GeneXpert.  
11.4.2   EQUIP Consortium/Zambia  
176.  EQUIP, a mechanism designed by USAID to respond globally to HIV and AIDS, works to 
advance state -of-the-art models  of [HIV] Anti -Retroviral Therapy (ART) service delivery, 
implementing Test and Start strategies, and incorporate innovative approaches t o support viral 
load scale -up. It also develops strategies and technologies to more effectively identify and link ART 
patients to treatment and foster ongoing adherence and retention, while targeting methods that 
address the needs of key populations. Targets:  
 Provide experience and technical expertise in high -quality HIV services delivery  
 Innovate new approaches to service  delivery  
 Scale -up viral -load technology  
 Analyze cost and outcome data to optimize cost -effectiveness of HIV programming  
11.4.3   NIH Infectious Disease Research Focus in sub -Saharan Africa  
177.  NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) support s HIV/AIDS 
research in many LDCs in sub-Saharan Africa, with most projects conducted in areas with 
the highest incidence of infection and disease, includi ng Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia. The recent 
increase of multidrug -resistant TB and extensively drug -resistant TB, including in the context of 
HIV/AIDS infection, is being addressed by NIAID -funded projects conducted in several countries 
including Tanzania and Uganda. Malaria remains a major threat, and NIAID conducts clinical, 
epidemiological, drug, and vacc ine and vector research in countries, including Burkina Faso, 
The Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda 
(see  https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/niaid -resear ch-sub-saharan -africa ). 
11.4.4   Kibong 'oto TB Hospital – Tanzania  
178.  Kibong 'oto National Tuberculosis Hospital (KNTBH) provides Multi -Drug Resistant (MDR) 
tuberculosis (TB) case management for an increasing number of MDR TB cases, with demand likely 
to increase as a result of improved diagno stics and increased awareness. In FY 2016, funds were 
used to improve MDR TB services in newly decentralized health facilities and strengthen KNTBH 
staff training to provide technical assistance, supportive supervision, and mentoring to lower -level 
regiona l and district hospital staff. Lower -level staff training strengthened effective management of 
MDR TB cases, including domiciliary treatment that helps to provide an unin terrupted course of 
treatment. Funds also assist KNTBH to provide technical assistance to district hospital laboratories 
to carry  out improved TB diagnostics capacity and support the procurement of reagents for light -
emitted diode (LED) microscopy.  
11.4.5   Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) - 
Bangladesh  
179.  Through the $22,000,000 Systems for Improved Access to  Pharmaceuticals and Services 
(SIAPS) project, USAID funded the development of several digital, internet -based tools that allow 
the government to track contraceptive stocks at all service delivery points in the country and to 
monitor the status of proc urements online. This has resulted in increased efficiency, reduced costs, 
and improved transparency  and governance. USAID will expand the use of these online 
procurement tracking tools for all health commodities and tra in GOB employees in their use. 
USAID wil l also provide technical assistance to set up and manage a central procurement cell 
within the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) to improve the transparency, efficiency, 
and credibility of the procurement process across all units.  
11.4.6   Promoting the Q uality of Medicines (PQM) - Bangladesh  
180.  The overall goal of the $6,000 000 PQM program in Bangladesh is to provide technical 
assistance to the DGDA to improve their pharmaceutical regulatory system through IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  the strengthening of the DTL.  The ultimate goal is  for the DTL to obtain either WHO 
prequalification or ISO 1 7025 laboratory accreditation. The specific objectives are:  
 The implementation of a robust system that ensures the reliability of the data produced 
by the DTL;  
 Improve the safety of medicinal products through the strengthening of the DTL to 
conduct quality sample testing of pre and post approval samples in order to address 
quality -assurance related aspects of procurement;  
 Improve the compliance of selected pharmaceutical manufacturers with rega rds to good 
manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and support them in dossier preparation for WHO 
prequalification systems for public health medicines such as; MNCH and TB drugs;  
 Collaborate with SIAPS to expand the availability of quality -assured medicines and 
support system strengthening efforts directed toward improving the quality of medicines 
at the country level;  
 Test medicine samples, as needed, for USAID and USAID 's collaborating partners; and  
 Develop pharmacopeia monographs and reference standards, as wel l as new medicines 
quality assurance tools, approaches, and methodologies as needed.  
11.4.7   NIH Neglected Diseases Research Focus in sub -Saharan Africa  
181.  181. NIAID has a long -standing program of research devoted to better understanding, 
treating, and preventing ne glected tropical diseases (NTDs).  Neglected diseases such as filariasis, 
schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness , and others are receiving support from NIAID in countries 
including Malawi, Mali, and Uganda.  NIAID conducts its own basic and clinical studies an d 
supports researchers based in the United States and in countr ies where NTDs are widespread. NIH 
supported research has helped with training in state -of-the-art research techniques and 
conducting clinical trials in sub -Saharan Africa.  
11.4.8   President 's Emergenc y Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID Malaria 
program – Burundi  
182.  Through USAID/Burundi 's PEPFAR program, several projects are providing technical 
assistance and capacity building  on the use of mobile platforms and technology to strengthen 
health management information systems, laboratory information systems and reporting, supply 
chain management and logistics, and health progr am surveillance and reporting. PEPFAR and 
the USAID mal aria and maternal and child health programs also provide technical assistance and 
capacity building to health care workers and community health workers on using mobile 
technologies and platforms for clinical case management and reporting.  Additionally, PEP FAR 
supports capacity building on the use of viral load testing for HIV machines, Abbott and 
GeneXpert.  
11.4.9   Human Heredity and Health in Africa  
183.  The aim of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative is to enhance 
the ability of African scient ists to apply genomic and epidemiological approaches to shed light on 
the determinants of chronic and infectious diseases in Africa. H3Africa, now funded at US$76 
million over five years, is focused on capacity building, as well  as specific scientific goal s. These 
research grants are awarded directly to African institutions where principal investigators are based, 
which allow African scientists to develop and direct their  independent research agendas. 
The program encourages the formation of intracontinental  collaborations and development of 
specific infrastructural elements, i.e., African -based biorepositories and a pan -African 
bioinformatics network. H3Africa also includes training programs aimed at retaining African 
scientists on the continent to help buil d a sustainable, critical mass of researchers.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  11.4.10   Mobilizing Maternal Health in Tanzania  
184.  This mechanism strengthens efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity by building 
a direct link from pregnant girls and women at risk to community health wor kers and hospitals. 
MMH focuses on the Mwanza and Shinyanga reg ions and Dar es Salaam proper. MMH will continue 
to co-manage a 24 -hour emergency dispatch system for maternal health emergencies using local 
taxis, mobile payments, and a real -time on -line m onitoring platform. In addition, MMH will 
continue to support the previously established facility -based Council Health Management Team, 
train health workers in emergency obstetric care, use private partner funding to upgrade delivery 
facilities, and improve post-natal care by increasing referrals to family planning services.  
11.4.11   Preparedness & Response (P&R) – Bangladesh  
185.  The $21,000,000 Preparedness and Response Project (P&R) aims to support multisectoral 
coordination and collaboration to promote a One Health app roach for the prevention, detection, 
and response to emerging threats.  P&R, through a suite of facilitation and technical services 
(including institutional  capacity building and organization development expertise), will work with 
the national government t o implement their One Health strategy and strengthen the  functionality 
and effectiveness of their National One Health Platform in areas such as One  Health advocacy and 
multisectoral preparedness planning.  
11.4.12   NIH Research Training Programs for Low -and-Middle -Income -Countries  
186.  NIH's Fogarty International Centre supports several research training programs that include 
training for low -and-middle –income -country (LMIC) biomedical researchers and research 
institutions and contribute to technology t ransfer and capacit y building. Programs include the AIDS 
International Training  and Research Program, the Global Infectious Disease Research Training 
Program, the Fogarty HIV Research Training Program and the Medical Education Partnership 
Initiative. The programs involve res earchers and medical personnel from LMIC countries 
(see https://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/default.aspx ). 
11.4.13   Live Free under EGPAF and Integrated Decision and Analytics Support (IDeAS ) 
for Zambia under Broadreach Inc.  - Zambia  
 
187.  Broadreach supports the ministry of health to maximize the application of health information 
systems (HIS) for data management  and increase data use by all cadres of personnel in the health 
sector to improve qu ality of data for evidence -based policy and decision -making. It supports 
the national electronic health record system and has harnessed mobile technology to enhance 
the use of the EHR to support community services using hand held devices; in addition to li nking 
the EHR with other systems like Laboratory Information Systems and Electronic Logistic 
Management Information System. Targets:  
 Increase access to and use of data from HIS for program planning, policy and decision 
making in the health sector;  
 Improve programs in country using evidence -based and data driven approach;  
 Improve the quality of health care to help achieve the best possible outcomes for HIV/TB 
clients.  
11.4.14   STRIDE Service Coverage Assessment - Nepal  
188.  The project improves the quality, accessibility,  and sustainability of rehabilitation services in 
Nepal, through direct technical and financial support to five physical rehabilitation centers (local 
partner organizations) and three satelli te units. The activity has completed data collection and 
target s etting to understand the need for people with disabilities in Nepal and an action plan to 
implement the project.  
11.4.15   Health Information Policy and Advocacy (HIPA) in Cambodia  
189.  Implemented by Palladium International LLC, the HIPA program began in March of 2014, and 
is scheduled to continue through June 2018. The program has three goals: (1) foster IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  the Cambodian Ministry of Health (MOH) ownership of health information systems (HIS) at 
the district, regional and national levels ; (2) build MOH management and technical capacity with 
a focus on strong HIS oversight; and (3) bring HIS partners together across vertical programs to 
better coordinate resources to support the MOH.  The program has resulted in an increasing trend 
in registration for health care, a fun ctioning helpdesk for operators and users of HIS, and a draft 
report/road map was submitted to MOH and USAID in January 2017.  
11.4.16    TB Care – Challenge TB in Tanzania  
190.  Challenge TB will support Tanzania to reduce the incidence of TB by 25 % and mortality due 
to TB by 50 % by 2020, in line with nati onal strategic plan goals, by: 1) expanding access to 
prevention services; 2) improving patient -centered quality care systems for TB, multidrug -
resistant TB and TB/HIV; and, 3 ) sustain and enhance systems. This activity  provides support and 
technical assistance to the Government of Tanzania 's National Tuberculosis & Leprosy Program 
(NLTP) and will support program implementation in the regions of Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Geita, 
Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Pwani , and Zanzibar until  a handover to the new Comprehensive Health 
Service Delivery (CHSD ) awards begin implementation. Challenge TB planned outcomes include 
increases in TB case detection; in the percent age case notification of childhood TB; and in 
Multidrug Resistance (MDR) TB  case detection and treatment enrollment.  
11.4.17   Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management in 
Cambodia  
191.  The Global Fund's Health System Strengthening program provided a grant to Chemonics  
International to modernize the existing Logistics Management Information System at Cambodia 's 
Ministry of Health, thereby improving logistics capacity.  This project is slated to run from April 
2015 to April 2020.  
11.4.18   Social Health Protection Program in Cambo dia 
192.  University Research  Co., LLC is implementing a Social Health Protection program, begun in 
September 2013, running until December 2018, in order to strengthen the national Health Equity 
Funds (HEFs), increasing access to health services among the poor a nd most vulnerable 
populations. The program will include building a system for independent mon itoring of HEF 
implementation. Patient Management Registration Systems have been expanded.  
11.4.19   Quality Health Services in Cambodia  
193.  Implemented by University Research Co., LLC, the Quality Health Services Program started 
in January 2014, and is scheduled  to run to January 2019. The program aims to strengthen and 
improve the quality and availability of services in Cambo dian public health facilities. The program 
employs o n-site coaching techniques, as well as technolog ical innovations and job aids.  
11.4.20   Swachchhata (originally named Health and Hygiene Activity) – Nepal  
194.  Swachchhata is enhancing the quality of health service delivery through improving the water 
supply, toilets, e lectrical power supply, medical waste management and infection prevention 
measures at 80 health facilities in Nepal 's Mid -Western Development Region.  Technologies being 
transferred include indoor water supply plumbing at health facilities, automatic chlor ine dosing for 
community water reservoirs, tree plantation to enhance water recharge at the water source, 
installation of solar photovoltaic equipment, and establishment of medical waste management 
infrastructure and practices.  
11.4.21   Strengthening Health System and HIV Response – Mozambique  
195.  This HHS/CDC -sponsored, PEPFAR -funded five year project began in Fiscal Year 2016, with 
the focus on prevention and health sy stem strengthening activities. These activities include 
implementing bio -medical  prevention services,  such as HIV testing and counseling; voluntary 
medical male circumcision; health communication activities; and assisting the Mozambique 
Ministry of Health in allocating appropriate resources to achieve epidemic control for HIV and TB.  IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  11.4.22   Strengthening Laborat ory Systems - Mozambique  
196.  This HHS/CDC -sponsored, PEPFAR -funded, Fiscal Year 2017 project aims to support and 
strengthen the laboratory network in Mozambique, in order to ensure timely and accurate 
diagnosis of diseases, primarily  focusing on HIV and TB. This project includes improving 
the capacity of health directorate and health facility personnel for an effective TB specimen referral 
system, as well as to strengthen HIV and TB diagnostics, quality and biosafety practices.  
11.4.23   Pandemic Preparedness in South Asia Workshop Project – Nepal, Bhutan, 
Bangladesh, India  
197.  The goal of this project is to develop a platform to encourage countries to fully implement 
the International Health Regulations (IHR) and develop more robust p andemic preparedness 
capacity. The 3 -day workshop in Kathmandu on March 13 -15, 2017, brought together 100 health 
experts, stakeholders and decision -makers from throughout South Asia to share best practices in 
preparing for emerging zoonot ic (animal to human) diseases. Workshop participants incl uded 
public health and animal health officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, as well as 
regional representativ es from the FAO, WHO, and CDC. Acknowledging that South Asia remains 
largely unprepared for health emergencies at national levels, par ticipants stressed the need to 
move beyond traditional health -focused "silos," and to instead use a "One Health " perspective, 
which ensures that all aspects of human and animal health are integrated in to pandemic 
preparedness work. The workshop included fi eld exercises in outbreak investigation and 
data analysis.  
12  PROGRAMMING AND INCE NTIVES RELATED TO BU ILDING LABOUR CAPACI TY 
198.  U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), seek to ensure that workers 
around the world are treated fairly and are  able to share in the b enefits of the global economy. 
USDOL 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 strengt hen international labor sta ndards and worker protections. These programs build 
capacity in global labor markets and help to level the playing field among trading partners.  
12.1  Improving Working Conditions in Bangladesh through Building and Fire Safety 
Programming  
199.  In response to the Bangladesh Rana Plaza disaster, USDOL is funding a US$1.5 million Fire 
and General Building Safety project that aims to improve Bangladesh's fire and building safety 
policies and plans; enhance its capacity to efficiently and effectively  inspect and ensure timely 
remediation of fire and general building hazards and protection against employer retaliation for 
reporting hazards; and provide education and outreach to employers and workers on fire and 
general building safety, with improved so cial dialogue among tripartite partners (government, 
worker organizations and employer organizations). The project, spanning from 2013 -2017, 
provides assistance to the Bangladesh Ministry of Labor in the development of a protocol for 
remediation, and to th e Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in approving 
factory corrective action plans (CAP).  Active partners in the project include the ILO, 
the Government of Bangladesh Ministry of Labor 's Directorate of Inspections and Fire Safety an d 
Civil Defense (FSCD) and BUET. This group focusses on vetting structural and fire/electrical 
consultants, tracking the CAPs, and monitoring remediation work.  The project has also supported 
FSCD training, which has increased the number of inspectors from  55 to 268 over the term (see 
http://www.dol.gov/ilab/projects/summaries/Bangla percent20ILO percent20 percent20Project 
percent20Summary.pdf ). 
13  PROGRAM AND IN CENTIVES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION   
200.  U.S. agencies, including the Department of State and Department of Transportation (DOT), 
operate programs such as Safe Skies for Africa. The Safe Skies for Africa Program (SSFA) is based 
on the premise that "Safe Skies" are a prerequisite for African economic development through 
increa sed trade and investment. SSFA works to promote sustainable improvements in aviation 
safety in Africa as a means of advancing economic development and increased investment for 
Africa.  The o verarching goal of the program is to increase the number of African nations meeting IP/C/W/631/Add.2  
 
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  International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Through the program, the DOT has 
directly trained African experts through the U.S. Federal Aviation Administrati on, both in 
the United States and in -country. These capacity -building efforts have resulted in thousands of 
personnel receiving state -of-the-art training to address airworthiness, operations, air navigation, 
aviation security (in partnership with the Trans portation Security Administration), as well as 
accident investigation processes and procedures (in partnership with the U.S. National  
Transportation Safety Board). SSFA participants include several LDCs, including Angola,  
Cameroon, Mali, and Tanzania. SSFA's efforts have also included regional outreach through 
the EAC and the Banjul Accord Group - see http://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Documents/Safe 
percent20Skies percent20for percent20Africa.pdf . 
13.1  Regional Connectivity - Department of Transportation (DOT) – Nepal   
201.  DOT selects in -country partners to conduct workshops to build capacity on transportation -
related topics for participants from South Asia an d the Lower Mek ong Sub -region. The last DOT 
workshop on "Improving Regional Connectivity and Cross -Border Transport in South and 
Southeast Asia " took place June 26 -28, 2017 in Kathmandu, Nepal. This workshop – the third in 
a series of workshops to build regional capacity  on transportation -related topics for the South 
Asian and Lower Mekong countries – featured several panel discussions led by subject mat ter 
experts on topics such as: enhancing existing economic corridors; conducting regional border 
planning that engages n ational, state, and local authorities from both sides of the border, with 
a focus on mitigating congestion and speeding up the flow of people and freight; promoting 
physical connectivity and prioritizing investments across borders; facilitating multi -modal  
transportation planning; and coordinating among multi -jurisdictional plannin g and transportation 
entities. Three additional workshops are planned through December 2017. The total award for this 
project is  $930,000.  
 
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