Speech

Interagency Network for Education in Emergencies Reception

Remarks by USAID/East Africa Deputy Director

Nairobi, Kenya  | Friday, January 27, 2006

Let me just say welcome on behalf of the USAID Regional Office for Eastern and Central Africa. I am pleased to welcome all of you from the Interagency Network for Education in Emergencies Working Group to Nairobi. I’m also very happy to see some of our USAID colleagues involved in education here tonight.

 

I have been very interested in INEE’s work since Mitch first briefed me on it over a year ago. And I am very impressed that in a short period of time you all have established an international network that’s really doing some pioneering work to support education around the world. The Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies are very relevant to USAID’s new strategic focus on Fragile States. Our Fragile States approach recognizes what you all know very well, and that is the important role that education can play to mitigate the sources of conflict, promote stability, and to provide opportunity. The Minimum Standards are extremely relevant to education here in this region, especially Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and the DRC. So USAID is very glad to be part of the Working Group and we look forward to working with you all in the future.

 

I hope your meetings in Nairobi are fruitful. So, once again, welcome and enjoy.