United States

April 4, 2022: The Department is pleased to announce that the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) began operations today. A key piece of Secretary Blinken’s modernization agenda, the CDP bureau will address the national security challenges, economic opportunities, and implications for U.S. values associated with cyberspace, digital technologies, and digital policy. The CDP bureau includes three policy units: International Cyberspace Security, International Information and Communications Policy, and Digital Freedom. Ultimately, the bureau will be led by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large. Starting today, Jennifer Bachus, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the CDP bureau. PDAS Bachus will serve as Senior Bureau Official until an Ambassador-at-Large is confirmed. Michele Markoff is serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Stephen Anderson is serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Information and Communications Policy, and Blake Peterson is serving as Acting Digital Freedom Coordinator. The Department appreciates the service and collaboration of all who will work with and within the CDP bureau in the coming months and years to empower it to achieve its vital mission. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. Establishment of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy Submission Details Author: Marissa Scott from The Africa Regional Media Hub. More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact The Africa Regional Media Hub Facebook: Twitter: …

Unites States Agency for International Development Statement April 4, 2022: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has consistently come together in an inspiring show of bipartisan support to fund our response. The $10 billion agreement announced this afternoon, while helping to fund our immediate domestic needs like treatments and tests, unfortunately leaves out the resources we need to power our global COVID response—an effort that is critical to preventing the emergence of new deadly variants and moving the world beyond this pandemic Right now, the lowest-income countries—where vaccinations have reached less than 15 percent of people—need additional support to get the shots we are donating into arms. The Biden-Harris Administration launched the Global VAX initiative for this reason: to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination campaigns around the world, including by surging resources and other support to 11 countries. This effort is helping partner countries manage cold chain and distribution logistics to keep vaccines from spoiling, recruit and train health-care workers to reach rural populations living miles from the nearest health facility, and fight vaccine myths and disinformation that swirl throughout social media and hurt public trust. And it is making a crucial difference—our partnership has helped countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, and Zambia to increase their vaccination rates. The funding originally requested in the Administration’s $5 billion supplemental request would have enabled a significant expansion of our global vaccination drive, expanding the Global VAX initiative to another 20 surge countries and providing support to other global COVID-19 response priorities, like the rollout of boosters and pediatric doses. With more than 30 countries still off track to hit their vaccination coverage targets this year, it remains critical to expand the initiative beyond the 11 current surge countries. Our supplemental request would have also enabled …

On April 4, 2022, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs released the 21st Edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety, a report underscoring the accomplishments of the U.S. Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Program in 2021. The United States is the world’s single largest financial supporter of CWD. Since 1993, the United States has invested more than $4.2 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war, as well as the securing and safe disposal of excess small arms and light weapons and munitions in more than 100 countries and territories. In 2021, the United States funded CWD efforts in 62 countries with more than $265 million. Our assistance – that of the United States government and our global partners – is crucial to building a more safe, secure, and prosperous world. Thanks to strong bipartisan funding support from Congress, the Department of State looks forward to continuing this important work with other donor countries, those impacted by conflict, and the brave men and women who work in the field to secure at-risk weapons and munitions and clear landmines and other explosive hazards. For more information, please consult the PM website or to request a printed copy of To Walk the Earth in Safety, please contact the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, at pm-cpa@state.gov, and follow us on Twitter @StateDeptPM. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za International/. To Walk the Earth in Safety: New Report Showcases U.S. Global Leadership in landmine Clearance and Conventional Weapons Destruction Submission Details Author: Marissa Scott from The Africa Regional Media Hub. More Info link: Images: For a high res version of THIS image please contact The Africa Regional Media Hub Facebook: Twitter: …

Unites States Agency for International Development Statement April 4, 2022: Once again, the scientific community has delivered an urgent call to action for our planet. The new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)(link is external) is ominous, but it makes clear that limiting global warming and avoiding the worst case scenarios of the climate crisis remains possible if we rapidly reduce global emissions this decade. Critically, the IPCC shows that we already have all the options we need—in every sector—to cut global emissions in half by 2030. This is no longer a distant challenge for future generations. Climate change is here and we are already seeing its effects every day, as rising temperatures and sea levels lead to increased water and food scarcity and more frequent and intense climate-related disasters. These impacts will only intensify without significant efforts to bend the curve on global emissions. At the same time, we are witnessing how overreliance on the same fossil fuels that caused the climate crisis are a threat to our collective security. Revenue from oil and gas continues to empower, enrich, and embolden Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation in their unprovoked and brutal war in Ukraine. As the IPCC report finds, investments today in emissions-intensive infrastructure and fossil fuel use become the barriers of tomorrow. Now more than ever, transitioning away from fossil fuels to clean, reliable, renewable energy is not only essential for mitigating climate change and supporting sustainable development, but crucial for building a safer world. As part of our new Climate Strategy, which will be released later this month, USAID will ramp up support to our partners to transition away from fossil fuels to locally available, renewable energy. These efforts are essential for limiting global warming, building prosperity and resilience, and strengthening our own national security and the security of our …