Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman participated in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 18-20, 2023. On Monday, September 18, the Deputy Administrator attended the opening session of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit during the 2023 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week. The Summit served as an opportunity for the United States to highlight its steadfast commitment to achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Deputy Administrator Coleman provided opening remarks at an event co-hosted by Microsoft and Truepic on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support assistance efforts in conflict zones and countries such as Ukraine and Belarus. The Deputy Administrator emphasized that USAID is focused on shaping a coherent vision for the responsible use of AI, one that supports democratic values and human rights, and is committed to an evidence-based approach that appreciates the technology's potential to benefit humanity, as outlined in the agency's AI Action Plan and the Donor Principles for Human Rights in the Digital Age.
The Deputy Administrator also met with the CEO of the Education Above All Foundation, Fahad Al Sulaiti, to discuss the state of education in Afghanistan following the Taliban's reprehensible edicts banning girls education beyond primary school. They addressed the need to protect access to education for women and girls and identified best practices for doing so in constrained environments.
At a USAID-hosted side event, the Deputy Administrator joined Administrator Samantha Power and Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim to launch a new multi-donor fund designed to unlock hundreds of millions in financing for small-and medium-sized agricultural businesses (agri-SMEs) in Africa.
On Tuesday, September 19, Deputy Administrator Coleman met with the UN Secretary-General's Envoy for Technology Amandeep Singh Gill to discuss collaboration with the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy for Technology (OSET) on shared priorities and relevant OSET activities, such as the recently announced Digital Public Infrastructure Safeguards Initiative, development-relevant topics in the UN-led Global Digital Compact, and the AI Advisory Board.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also met with Second Permanent Under-Secretary Nick Dyer of the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to discuss ongoing collaboration in Ukraine and efforts to address global challenges, such as the climate crisis and food insecurity.
The Deputy Administrator participated in a roundtable hosted by the Casey Foundation to highlight USAID's commitment to deeper collaboration with foundations and endowments to spur greater investment in Africa. In partnership with the U.S. government's Prosper Africa initiative, USAID will champion an effort to expand engagement with mainstream U.S. institutional investors and provide access to tools and services to help them better manage risk in Africa.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also participated in the Unlocking Blue Pacific Prosperity Initiative Event. The event convened various Pacific Island leaders, donors, partners, and relevant governments and agencies to discuss how continent-scale action can help meet their conservation and development goals for 2030 and achieve the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Later in the day, Deputy Administrator Coleman delivered opening remarks and participated in a panel discussion co-hosted by USAID and the Atlantic Council on anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine and Moldova. The Deputy Administrator emphasized USAID's ongoing support for efforts to enhance transparency, promote accountability, and strengthen oversight institutions in Ukraine and Moldova to help each country advance toward future EU membership. She urged donors to continue to equip Moldova and Ukraine with the tools and support they need to continue on the path toward stronger democracy and European integration. She also announced Doing Business With Integrity, a call for innovations under the Countering Transnational Corruption Grand Challenge for Development. These grants will support partnerships with the private sector on innovative activities that advance the range, depth, and impact of private-sector actions to reduce transnational corruption and demonstrate that anti-corruption efforts can be good for business.
On Wednesday, September 20, Deputy Administrator Coleman joined Administrator Power's meeting with the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu. They discussed Moldova's energy security, economic opportunities and outlook, and efforts to support the export of Ukrainian grain.
Deputy Administrator Coleman later joined Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Administrator Power at the second annual "Democracy Delivers" event. Participants at the event announced investments totaling more than $255 million to enhance the provision of essential services and bring about tangible progress for citizens in countries experiencing democratic openings.
The Deputy Administrator also met with Dr. Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, Yemen's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, to underscore the United States' unwavering support for a Yemeni-led durable peace and economic prosperity. Deputy Administrator Coleman reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the United States Government and the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) and expressed USAID's dedication to collaborating closely with the Yemeni Ministry of Health and enhancing maternal and child health outcomes through USAID's new flagship integrated health program. The United States remains committed to the people of Yemen and will continue to prioritize aid delivery to those in need, valuing the ROYG's ongoing engagement to address operational challenges in humanitarian and development work.
Additionally, the Deputy Administrator met with Belarusian Democratic Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Deputy Administrator Coleman emphasized USAID's strong support for the people of Belarus and engaged in a discussion on priorities of the Belarusian democratic forces, passport and visa issues facing Belarusian citizens abroad, and opportunities for deepened collaboration in the technology space.
Finally, Deputy Administrator Coleman participated in a panel discussion as part of Foreign Policy's annual Food + Summit, alongside Food for the Hungry's Mark Viso and PepsiCo's CD Glin. The discussion focused on fostering resilient food systems, particularly in light of challenges such as climate change, and the critical partnerships needed to advance change. Deputy Administrator Coleman highlighted USAID's support for innovative financing, such as the FASA fund announced by Administrator Power earlier in the week, and other strategies to support smallholder farmers such as prioritizing fertilizer use efficiency and soil health, as well as advancing climate action through the PREPARE private-sector Call to Action.
