Greetings from Washington,

Spring is upon us and as we enter this new season there is much to look forward to as the agency continues to undergo  Transformation  and focus on what we call the  Journey to Self-Reliance.

I would like to draw your attention to three new initiatives by the agency that I believe you will find helpful and inspiring as we work together.

First, the new  Acquisition & Assistance Strategy  that outlines new guiding principles that will encourage innovation among our partners and create a more adaptive and resilient USAID. Second, the new  USAID Policy Framework , that will serve as our guiding policy document that presents our mission and our vision for ending the need for foreign assistance. Lastly, USAID just yesterday launched the  New Partnerships Initiative   (NPI) that will allow USAID to work with a more diverse range of partners and provide more entry points for organizations to work with the Agency.

Kirsten Evans
Director
Center for Faith & Opportunity Initiatives 

PS - Today is the National Day of Prayer and you can read the President’s proclamation here .
New Partnerships Initiative

USAID launched the New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) on May 1st. NPI will allow USAID to work with a more diverse range of partners and provide more entry points for organizations to work with the Agency. Under NPI, USAID will engage new and underutilized partners through a series of solicitations designed to help countries be self-reliant and meet the needs of their people.

Learn more .
RECENT ACTIVITIES
Ensuring Sustainable WASH in Healthcare Facilities
Early in April, CFOI convened a historic gathering of Faith-based leaders to shed light on critical issues surrounding water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities. Discussion covered creating innovative ideas to ensure safe, sustainable, WASH in hospitals and clinics in low-income countries.
Critical Conversation: Rohingya

On April 29th, CFOI along with the Asia Bureau, and the Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Bureau hosted practitioners and experts for a critical conversation on the humanitarian and human rights crisis facing the Rohingya and other persecuted minorities in Burma. The focus of the conversation centered on mitigating conflict, fostering dignity and promoting self-reliance.
World Malaria Day Roundtable
For World Malaria day on April 25th, CFOI and the President's Malaria Initiative ( PMI ) hosted a World Malaria Day Faith-based Roundtable to explore how the U.S. Government partners with the faith community to deliver lifesaving malaria intervention.
Stories from the Field
WORKING WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES TO PREVENT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – Elisée used to wake up every night to fetch more than 50 gallons of water to use for laundry, dishes, bathing, etc. And, her husband, Alain, simply thought that was part of her role as his wife, but little did they know when they decided to participate in USAID’s Transforming Masculinities program that he would soon be sharing her burden and helping to fetch water.

Follow Administrator Mark Green