African Diaspora Marketplace Program Receives 733 Business Plan Proposals for Economic Growth in African Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. and DENVER - August 13, 2009 - The inaugural African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) closed its call for proposals and has exceeded expectations by collecting 733 business proposals. The ADM is a business entrepreneurship program fostering economic development ideas from U.S.-based African diaspora to create plans for sustainable start-up and established businesses in 19 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A collaboration between Western Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the ADM aims to leverage the know-how and commitment of diaspora communities to help address poverty and unemployment issues in the region. "We are thrilled to have received so many proposals for the launch of this pilot program," said Alonzo Fulgham, Acting USAID Administrator.

"The African Diaspora Marketplace provides a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs with great ideas and dedication to support economic development in Africa. This incredible response underscores the enormous demand for this type of partnership."

"Through remittances, diaspora are among the strongest and most consistent financial supporters of their countries of origin. By removing some of the barriers to job-creating investment, the ADM provides a new way for diaspora entrepreneurs to generate more sustainable economic opportunity," said Anne McCarthy, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Western Union.

The ADM will award matching grants of between $50,000 and $100,000 to approximately 10-20 small-and-medium businesses with the strongest proposals for boosting economic opportunity and job creation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The initial business proposals will undergo review by a panel of independent reviewers, and finalists will be announced in late October 2009. The grant pool is financed jointly by USAID, The Western Union Company and the Western Union Foundation, as well as through Western Union® Agent Giving Circles featuring Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) in Africa and Irv Barr Management in the U.S.

TOP UN OFFICIAL MEETS WITH US LEADERS ON AFGHANISTAN

The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan is in Washington D.C. this week ahead of a key international meeting later this month which will assess the current political, security and development issues in the South Asian nation.

Kai Eide met yesterday with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser James Jones, both of whom expressed their "full support" for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

They discussed the US strategy review and preparations for the International Conference on Afghanistan, to be held on 31 March in The Hague, according to a news release issued by UNAMA.

Mr. Eide also met on Monday with Richard Lugar of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senator Carl Levin of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

He is expected to meet today with, among others, Vice-President Joseph Biden and Secretary of Defence Robert Gates.

Yesterday the UN Security Council extended UNAMA's mandate until March 2010, while emphasizing the role of the Mission and Special Representative Eide in leading international civilian efforts in the country.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson following the Council's decision, Mr. Ban warmly welcomed the 15-member body's recognition of Mr. Eide's leadership, "who working closely with Afghan political leaders, has led the efforts of the international community to set priorities and rationalize their assistance to Afghanistan."
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