Washington
November 28, 2012
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is creating Higher Education Partnerships to support the U.S. commitment to Burma, furthering President Obama’s call to “extend a hand” to Burma in its progress toward democracy.
USAID will build on its relationships with the U.S. university community and the private sector to mobilize institutional assets, funding, technology, innovations, expertise and training. These relationships will advance democratic rights, transparent governance, economic growth, food security, and the health and livelihoods of the people of Burma, USAID said in a November 27 press release.
During his visit to Burma on November 19, Obama announced the U.S.-Burma Partnership for Democracy, Peace and Prosperity, a joint U.S.-Burma framework to lay the groundwork for a peaceful and prosperous future for Burma.
“We have been excited to see a growing interest among the U.S. higher education community to support democratic development in Burma,” said Nisha Biswal, USAID’s assistant administrator for Asia. “We look forward to collaborating with American universities and businesses in partnership with Burma’s once-venerable universities to strengthen their capacity and advance social and economic development in the country.”
Under the new Higher Education Partnerships, USAID seeks concept papers from a wide range of U.S. organizations with a strong interest in higher education and development in Burma. The agency expects to turn those concepts into education partnerships in Burma.
For more on USAID’s efforts in Burma, visit www.usaid.gov/burma.