TOP USAID OFFICIALS VISIT NEPAL

April 1, 2007                                                      

Two senior USAID officials arrived in Kathmandu today for a six-day visit to Nepal.  They are Mike Hess, Assistant Administrator for USAID's Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, and Robert Jenkins, Acting Director of USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).

The officials will evaluate opportunities for the United States to further support the ongoing peace process and review how USAID programs are assisting Nepal's political transition, food security, and disaster preparedness.  They will meet with political leaders, civil society representatives, and beneficiaries of USAID programs in Kathmandu and in the far western districts.

Biographical summaries:

Michael Edward Hess:

Michael Edward Hess is the Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at USAID.   Prior to his appointment to USAID, he worked as a Senior Risk Reviewer and Vice President at Citibank.  Hess has over 30 years of active and reserve service in the United States Military.   He has served in humanitarian operations in Turkey, Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo.  Hess holds degrees from the United States Military Academy at West Point, Columbia University, New York University, and is a graduate of the National Strategic Studies Program at the United States Army War College in Carlisle.

Robert Jenkins:

Robert Jenkins is the Acting Director of the USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).   Jenkins previously served as OTI's Operations Coordinator and Iraq Team Leader.  He has provided Washington-based support to OTI's programs in Iraq, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro , Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria.  Before joining USAID, Jenkins designed and implemented emergency relief and recovery programs with World Vision International in southern Sudan and Sierra Leone.  Jenkins holds a B.A in History and Government from Bowdoin College.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, extends assistance from the American people to peoples of other countries struggling to build better lives. This support ranges from helping to recover from a natural disaster to working to create a free and democratic nation. For 55 years, USAID/Nepal has provided assistance to the people of Nepal in the areas of conflict mitigation and peace building, democracy and governance, health and family planning, economic growth, and disaster and humanitarian aid.